Dr. Lincoln Stein – Director, Informatics and Bio-computing, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research: A prominent figure in the genomics data-sharing community, Dr. Stein has led major bioinformatics platforms like the Reactome pathway database and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) Data Portal.
Dr. Pavel Pevzner – Professor, University of California, San Diego: A highly cited scientist in the field, Dr. Pevzner has authored influential textbooks on bioinformatics and has developed algorithms pivotal to genome assembly.
Dr. Janet Kelso – Bioinformatician, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology: Renowned for her work on the Neandertal genome project, Kelso focuses on developing computational tools to analyze ancient DNA sequences and understanding human evolution.
Dr. Søren Brunak – Research Director, Technical University of Denmark: His work on network biology and disease systems has earned him acclaim. Brunak’s research is foundational in integrating clinical and molecular data to discern human diseases’ patterns.
Dr. Ewan Birney – Director, European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI): Ewan has played pivotal roles in many large-scale genomics projects, including ENCODE. His guidance at EBI ensures that vast genomic databases are accessible to the scientific community.
Dr. Manolis Kellis – Professor, MIT: Kellis’s work has been influential in comparative genomics, revealing mechanisms in epigenomics and disease genomics. He played significant roles in projects like Roadmap Epigenomics and ENCODE.
Dr. Jill Mesirov – Associate Vice Chancellor, UC San Diego: Recognized for her computational platforms and applications, Dr. Mesirov’s tools are widely used for genome analysis, especially in cancer research.
Dr. Olga Troyanskaya – Professor, Princeton University: Her work bridges biology with computational methods, focusing on predicting gene functions and dissecting genetic pathways, especially in contexts with limited experimental data.
Dr. Aviv Regev – Executive Vice President, Genentech Research and Early Development: Previously a professor at MIT and core member of the Broad Institute, Regev is known for her trailblazing work on single-cell genomics and complex molecular circuits in cells.
Dr. Ben Langmead – Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University: A key figure in algorithm development, Langmead’s tools like Bowtie and HISAT are fundamental in genomics research, enabling efficient and accurate alignment of sequencing reads.
