Over the last 30 years, a small group of visionaries in science, technology, legislation and business have driven the development of biotechnology. THE Today, in the midst of tremendous advances in medicine and agriculture, this exhibition and accompanying brochure pays tribute to the leaders that have shaped the biotechnology industry. TOP The Top 100 Living Contributors to Biotechnology have been selected by their peers and through independent polls conducted by Reed Exhibitions, a division of Reed Elsevier. Senior staff throughout the biotechnology industry have identified the most influential and inspirational pioneers. The results 100 are presented here alphabetically. LIVING CONTRIBUTORS To those named in the Top 100, and the many other contributors not listed, TO BIOTECHNOLOGY the biotechnology community is deeply appreciative. P 1 4 MICHAEL ASHBURNER SEYMOUR BENZER PAUL BERG Michael Ashburner is Professor Seymour Benzer instilled the Paul Berg is Cahill Professor in of Biology at the University of fundamental idea that genes Cancer Research, Emeritus, at Cambridge where he received his control behaviour. He began his the Stanford University School undergraduate degree and PhD, career studying gene structure of Medicine, and director emeri- both in genetics. Ashburner’s and code, developing a method tus of the Beckman Centre for current major research interests to determine the detailed struc- Molecular and Genetic are the structure and evolution of ture of viral genes in 1955. He Medicine. He is one of the prin- genomes. Most of his research then switched to the field of cipal pioneers in the field of 33 has been with the model organ- neurogenetics, focusing on “gene splicing.” Berg, along with ism Drosophila melanogaster, the inheritance of behaviour. his colleagues Walter Gilbert and about which he has written the Benzer used gene mutations to Frederick Sanger, was awarded 1 book Drosophila: A Laboratory DAVID BALTIMORE dissect the underlying events in the 1980 Nobel Prize in Handbook. His research has cov- the nervous system of the fruit Chemistry for developing meth- David Baltimore, one of the ered a range of subjects, from fly, Drosophila. His work led to ods that make it possible to map world’s most distinguished biol- classical genetics, developmen- the discovery of specific genes the structure and function of ogists and winner of the 1975 tal biology, cytogenetics to evolu- that participate in various DNA. His work on the genetic Nobel Prize for his work in virol- tion, at both molecular and behavioral phenomena includ- apparatus that directs the syn- ogy, became president of the organismal levels. Ashburner is a ing control of the biological thesis of proteins earned Berg California Institute of Technology founder of FlyBase, and of the clock, and those important in the Eli Lilly Award in Biochem- in 1997. Previously he was a pro- Gene Ontology Consortium. the prevention of neurodegen- istry in 1959 and the California fessor at the Massachusetts From 1994-2001 Ashburner eration. At age 82, Professor Scientist of the Year Award in Institute of Technology, founding served first as research coordina- Benzer continues his research 1963. He has twice been hon- director of the Whitehead tor and then joint-head of the focusing on the problem of ored with the Henry J. Kaiser Institute for Biomedical Research European Molecular Biology aging as the James Griffin Award for Excellence in Teaching at MIT, and the president of Laboratory - European Bioinfor- Boswell Professor of Neurosci- at the Stanford University School Rockefeller University. His career matics Institute at Hinxton, ence, Emeritus at the California of Medicine and has won the has been distinguished by his Cambridge. Ashburner is a Institute of Technology. Roche Institute for Molecular dual contribution to biological Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology’s V. D. Mattia Prize, the research and to national science London and of the Academia Sarasota Medical Awards for policy. He helped pioneer the Europeae; he is a foreign hon- Achievement and Excellence, the molecular study of animal virus- orary member of the American Annual Award of the Gairdner Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Foundation, the Albert Lasker member of the European Benzer instilled the fundamental Basic Medical Research Award, Molecular Biology Organisation, and the New York Academy of and past president of the British idea that genes control behaviour. Sciences Award. He also has Genetical Society. He also is a won the American Association Professorial Fellow of Churchill for the Advancement of Science es, and his research in this field College, Cambridge. Scientific Freedom and Respons- had profound implications for ibility Award, the National Medal understanding cancer and, later, of Science, and the National AIDS. In 1999 he was awarded Library of Medicine Medal. the National Medal of Science, he was a co-recipient of the 2000 P Warren Alpert Foundation Prize and was awarded the 2002 AMA Scientific Achievement Award. 5 1 ERNESTO BERTARELLI J. MICHAEL BISHOP SIR WALTER BODMER Ernesto Bertarelli is CEO and J. Michael Bishop, is Chancellor, Sir Walter Bodmer’s interest in Chairman of Serono. He has Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock statistics spurred him into the transformed Serono into the Distinguished Professor, and world of genetics and subse- third largest biotech company in Professor of Microbiology and quently obtained a PhD in popu- the world, with revenues dou- Immunology at the University lation genetics under the inspir- bled and profits increasing ten- of California, San Francisco. A 5 ing influence of Sir Ronald fold under his leadership. recognized authority on the ELIZABETH BLACKBURN Fisher at Oxford University. In Bertarelli broadened Serono’s molecular mechanisms of can- Elizabeth Blackburn is a leader 1970 Walter took up the chair of product range beyond fertility cer, he shared numerous awards in the area of telomere and Genetics at Oxford. In 1979, he treatments, boosting research with his colleague Harold telomerase research, and is a became Director of Research at spending on drugs to combat Varmus, including the 1982 world-renowned expert on both the Imperial Cancer Research 1 1 diseases such as rheumatoid 1 Fund in London and in 1991 was Albert Lasker Award for Basic their influence in cells and their BARUCH S. BLUMBERG KAREN BERNSTEIN arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Medical Research, the 1984 implications for human health. appointed Director in General of Baruch S. Blumberg is a Karen Bernstein is the co- He is a member of the Harvard Alfred P. Sloan Jr. Prize from She has made several key dis- the Fund. He retired from his Distinguished Scientist at Fox founder, Chairman and Editor-in- Medical School Biological the General Motors Cancer coveries in different aspects of position in 1996 to become Chase Cancer Centre, and Chief of BioCentury Publications Chemistry and Molecular Research Foundation, the 1984 telomere function and biology, Principal of Hertford College, University Professor of Medicine Inc. which provides business- Pharmacology Advisory Council, Gairdner Foundation Inter- including their molecular struc- Oxford from which he retired in and Anthropology at the oriented information services national Award, and the 1989 ture and discovery of the ribonu- August 2005. He was made a University of Pennsylvania. He for life science executives Nobel Prize in Physiology or cleoprotein enzyme, telomerase. Fellow of the Royal Society in has served as director of the and investors. For 10 years Medicine. Bishop has received More recently, Blackburn has 1974, and received a knighthood Bertarelli has transformed National Aeronautics and Space BioCentury has published the 2003 National Medal of been applying her insights into in 1986. Sir Walter, with Julia Administration (NASA) Astro- business intelligence affecting Science; is a member of the telomere biology to the develop- Bodmer, was a pioneer in the biology Institute and in 2001 decisions made by bio-industry Serono into the third largest National Academy of Sciences, ment of a new anti-cancer thera- development of the human tis- was Senior Advisor to the leaders and investors around the the Institute of Medicine, the py that forces cancerous cells sue typing, or HLA system and Administrator of NASA; was RENE BERNARDS world. Bernstein has researched American Academy of Arts and with active telomerase to make has worked to understand how and written on biotechnology biotech company in the world... Master of Balliol College, Oxford cancer cells can escape from Rene Bernards has worked for 25 Sciences, and the American errors during telomere synthe- topics since 1987, she previously University, (1989-1994) and was attack by the immune system. years in oncology research, most Philosophical Society; and holds sis, effectively triggering cellular was senior editor of Bio World on the staff of the National His current scientific work at his recently developing functional honorary degrees from several suicide. Blackburn is currently and director of research at the GORDON BINDER Institutes of Health. (1957-1964). laboratory, the CRUK Cancer & genetic approaches to aid cancer and a member of the PhRMA universities. He continues to the Morris Herzstein Professor Centre for Science Information Gordon Binder is the former Blumberg received the Nobel Immunogenetics Laboratory at treatment. His work at Utrecht and BIO boards in the United teach medical students and of Biology and Physiology in the in San Francisco. She has held CEO of Amgen. During his prize in Medicine in 1976 for the Weatherall Institute of University focuses on the cre- States. He is also the President supervise a research team study- Department of Biochemistry and faculty positions at Stanford of the Alinghi team that success- tenure as first CFO then CEO, work on the hepatitis B virus Molecular Medicine, Oxford, is ation of genome-wide genetic ing the molecular pathogenesis Biophysics at the University of University, Mills College, the Amgen grew from a start-up (HBV). Baruch and colleagues aimed at working out the mech- screens for the identification of fully won the America’s Cup in of cancer.