J. Craig Venter, PhD, is regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 21st century for his numerous invaluable contributions to genomic research. He is founder, chairman, and CEO of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit, research organization with approximately 250 scientists and staff dedicated to human, microbial, plant, synthetic and environmental genomic research, and the exploration of social and ethical issues in genomics.
Dr. Venter, who received a Research Starter Grant in Pharmacology/Toxicology from the PhRMA Foundation in 1977, is featured in a new video from the Foundation that highlights his work and the role the Foundation played in helping him early in his career.
His work is an example of the kind of innovation the Foundation is dedicated to supporting – scientific research that is aimed at preventing diseases and finding cures. Dr. Venter is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, public honors and scientific awards, including the 2008 United States National Medal of Science. He is a member of numerous prestigious scientific organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
“When you are starting out as an assistant professor, you have to get your own funds to
really do research,” Dr. Venter said. “Getting an initial PhRMA Foundation grant made a huge start in my research career.”
