Francis Collins: Difference between revisions

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| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| occupation = Physician-scientist, geneticist, government official
| occupation = Physician-scientist, geneticist, government official
| known_for = [[Human Genome Project]], gene discovery, director of the [[National Institutes of Health]]
| known_for = [[Human Genome Project]], gene discovery, directing the [[National Institutes of Health]]
| education = [[University of Virginia]] (BS)<br />[[Yale University]] (MS, PhD)<br />[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] (MD)
| education = [[University of Virginia]] (BS)<br />[[Yale University]] (MS, PhD)<br />[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] (MD)
| spouse = Diane Baker
| spouse = Diane Baker
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'''Francis Sellers Collins''' (born April 14, 1950) is an American physician-scientist and geneticist whose work identifying the genes responsible for several major diseases helped reshape the landscape of modern medicine. He is perhaps best known for his leadership of the [[Human Genome Project]], the international effort to map and sequence the entirety of human DNA, which he guided to its completion in 2003. Collins served as director of the [[National Human Genome Research Institute]] (NHGRI) from 1993 to 2008 and subsequently as the 16th director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) from August 2009 to December 2021, a tenure that spanned the administrations of Presidents [[Barack Obama]], [[Donald Trump]], and [[Joe Biden]].<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Francis Collins {{!}} Biography, NIH, Religion, Human Genome Project, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Collins |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In February 2022, he joined the Biden Cabinet as Acting Science Advisor to the President. Beyond his scientific career, Collins has engaged in public discourse on the relationship between science and religious faith, authoring the ''New York Times'' bestseller ''The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief'' and founding [[The BioLogos Foundation]]. He has been elected to the [[National Academy of Sciences]] and the [[National Academy of Medicine|Institute of Medicine]], and has received both the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] and the [[National Medal of Science]]. Collins announced his retirement from the NIH on March 1, 2025, after 32 years of service to the agency.<ref name="byu">{{cite web |title=Forum: Dr. Francis Collins |url=https://news.byu.edu/intellect/forum-dr-francis-collins |publisher=BYU News |date=2026-01 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
'''Francis Sellers Collins''' (born April 14, 1950) is an American physician-scientist and geneticist who played a central role in some of the most consequential biomedical research efforts of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. He is best known for his leadership of the [[Human Genome Project]], the international effort to map and sequence the entirety of human DNA, and for his subsequent tenure as director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) from 2009 to 2021, during which he served under three U.S. presidents. Before his work on the Human Genome Project, Collins gained prominence as a gene hunter, contributing to the discovery of genes responsible for several major diseases, including [[cystic fibrosis]], [[neurofibromatosis]], and [[Huntington's disease]]. He has been elected to both the [[National Academy of Sciences]] and the [[National Academy of Medicine]] (formerly the Institute of Medicine), and has received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] and the [[National Medal of Science]]. Beyond his scientific work, Collins has become a prominent public voice on the relationship between science and religious faith, authoring the ''New York Times'' bestseller ''The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief'' and founding [[The BioLogos Foundation]]. Following his departure from the NIH directorship, he served as Acting Science Advisor to [[President of the United States|President]] [[Joe Biden]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Collins |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Francis Sellers Collins was born on April 14, 1950, in [[Staunton, Virginia]].<ref name="britannica" /> He grew up on a small farm in the [[Shenandoah Valley]] of Virginia, where his parents fostered a creative and intellectually stimulating environment. His father, Fletcher Collins, was a professor of drama, and his mother, Margaret James Collins, was a playwright. The household placed a strong emphasis on the arts, literature, and independent thinking. Collins was homeschooled by his mother through the sixth grade, an experience he later credited with nurturing his curiosity and love of learning.<ref name="byu" />
Francis Sellers Collins was born on April 14, 1950, in [[Staunton, Virginia]].<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Francis Collins {{!}} Biography, NIH, Religion, Human Genome Project, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Collins |publisher=Britannica |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He grew up in a rural setting in the [[Shenandoah Valley]] of Virginia. His parents were intellectually engaged and unconventional educators; his father was a professor of English at [[Mary Baldwin College]] and his mother was a playwright. Collins was homeschooled until the sixth grade, receiving an education that emphasized creativity, the arts, and independent thinking. His early childhood was characterized by an immersion in music and the humanities rather than the sciences.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forum: Dr. Francis Collins |url=https://news.byu.edu/intellect/forum-dr-francis-collins |publisher=BYU News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


As a young man, Collins developed an early interest in science, particularly chemistry. He has described his childhood as one that did not include formal religious instruction; his family's approach was broadly ecumenical, and Collins himself identified as an agnostic and later as an atheist during his young adult years. His journey toward religious faith would not begin until his years in medical school, a transformation that would later become central to his public identity as a scientist who advocates for the compatibility of science and belief.<ref name="premier">{{cite web |title=Francis Collins: The Christian scientist who discovered a Covid vaccine…and then became a figure of hate |url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/interviews/francis-collins-the-christian-scientist-who-discovered-a-covid-vaccineand-then-became-a-figure-of-hate/20316.article |publisher=Premier Christianity Magazine |date=2025-10-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Collins has described his upbringing as one in which formal religious instruction was largely absent. His family's approach to faith was casual, and by his teenage years he identified as an [[agnosticism|agnostic]], a position that later shifted toward [[atheism]] during his early years in graduate school. His eventual conversion to [[Christianity]] as a young physician, influenced in part by the writings of [[C. S. Lewis]], became a defining element of his public identity and the subject of much of his later writing and public speaking.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins: 'I think of science as glimpsing God's mind' |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/20/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-transcript/ |publisher=STAT |date=2025-12-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Collins's formative years in rural Virginia, combined with his parents' emphasis on intellectual engagement and the arts, created a foundation that informed his later multidisciplinary approach to science, ethics, and public service. He has frequently spoken about his upbringing in public lectures and interviews, including a 2025 forum address at [[Brigham Young University]], where he recounted details of his childhood and its influence on his research career.<ref name="byu" />
Growing up on a small farm, Collins developed an early interest in chemistry, which he pursued initially as a hobby before it became a serious academic focus. His path into science was not straightforward; he has recounted that his interests shifted considerably during his undergraduate and graduate education before he settled on the intersection of genetics and medicine.<ref name="britannica" />


== Education ==
== Education ==


Collins pursued his undergraduate education at the [[University of Virginia]], where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He then enrolled at [[Yale University]], where he obtained both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in physical chemistry. His doctoral thesis, completed in 1974 under the supervision of James Cross, was titled "Semiclassical theory of vibrationally inelastic scattering, with application to H<sup>+</sup> + H<sub>2</sub>."<ref name="britannica" />
Collins earned his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in chemistry from the [[University of Virginia]] in 1970.<ref name="britannica" /> He then pursued graduate study in [[physical chemistry]] at [[Yale University]], where he completed both a [[Master of Science]] and a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] degree. His doctoral dissertation, completed in 1974, was titled ''Semiclassical theory of vibrationally inelastic scattering, with application to H⁺ + H₂'' and was supervised by James Cross.<ref>{{cite web |title=Semiclassical theory of vibrationally inelastic scattering |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/288233821/ |publisher=ProQuest |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Despite his training in physical chemistry, Collins's interests shifted toward biology and medicine during his time at Yale. This intellectual transition led him to pursue a medical degree at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], where he earned his MD. It was during his medical training that Collins encountered patients with genetic diseases, experiences that redirected his career toward the emerging field of molecular genetics.<ref name="britannica" /> His exposure to patients suffering from conditions with no known genetic basis or treatment catalyzed what would become a lifelong dedication to gene discovery and genomic medicine. Collins has also described his medical school years as the period during which he began a spiritual journey that eventually led him to embrace [[Christianity]], influenced in part by the writings of [[C. S. Lewis]].<ref name="premier" />
During his time at Yale, Collins became increasingly drawn to the biological sciences, particularly the emerging field of [[molecular biology]] and its potential applications to human medicine. This interest prompted him to pursue a medical degree after completing his PhD. He enrolled at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] School of Medicine, graduating with his [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] in 1977.<ref name="britannica" /> The combination of a PhD in physical chemistry and an MD gave Collins an unusual interdisciplinary foundation that would prove instrumental in his later career as a gene hunter and leader of large-scale genomic initiatives.


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Gene Discovery at the University of Michigan ===
=== Early Research and Gene Discovery ===


After completing his medical training and a fellowship in human genetics, Collins joined the faculty at the [[University of Michigan]], where he developed a technique known as "positional cloning," a method that allowed researchers to identify disease genes without prior knowledge of the gene's biochemical function. This approach proved transformative for the field of genetics. Using positional cloning, Collins and his collaborators identified the genes responsible for several major diseases, establishing his reputation as one of the foremost "gene hunters" of his generation.<ref name="britannica" />
Following his medical training, Collins completed a residency in [[internal medicine]] and a fellowship in [[human genetics]] at Yale University. He subsequently joined the faculty of the [[University of Michigan]], where he rapidly established himself as one of the foremost gene hunters in the field of molecular genetics. At Michigan, Collins developed a technique known as [[positional cloning]], sometimes referred to as "chromosome jumping," which enabled researchers to identify disease-causing genes without prior knowledge of the protein they encoded. This method represented a significant methodological advance and was instrumental in several landmark discoveries.<ref name="britannica" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Genetic Trail |url=http://www.hhmi.org/genetictrail/a120.html |publisher=Howard Hughes Medical Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Among the most significant discoveries of Collins's career at Michigan was the identification of the gene responsible for [[cystic fibrosis]] in 1989, a breakthrough achieved in collaboration with [[Lap-Chee Tsui]] and John R. Riordan. The cystic fibrosis gene discovery was a landmark in the history of genetics and demonstrated the power of positional cloning as a tool for identifying the molecular basis of inherited diseases.<ref name="hhmi1">{{cite web |title=Genetic Trail: Cystic Fibrosis |url=http://www.hhmi.org/genetictrail/a120.html |publisher=Howard Hughes Medical Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Collins's laboratory also contributed to the identification of genes associated with [[neurofibromatosis]], [[Huntington's disease]], and a gene linked to adult-onset ([[type 2 diabetes|type 2]]) [[diabetes]].<ref name="hhmi2">{{cite web |title=Genetic Trail |url=http://www.hhmi.org/genetictrail/a130.html |publisher=Howard Hughes Medical Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Among the most significant of Collins's gene discoveries was the identification in 1989 of the gene responsible for [[cystic fibrosis]], a common and often fatal genetic disorder. Collins and his collaborators pinpointed mutations in the [[CFTR]] gene on chromosome 7 as the cause of the disease. This discovery was hailed as a major breakthrough in medical genetics and opened the door to potential therapeutic interventions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Genetic Trail |url=http://www.hhmi.org/genetictrail/a130.html |publisher=Howard Hughes Medical Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


These gene discoveries brought Collins national and international recognition and positioned him as a leading candidate to direct the growing national effort to sequence the human genome.<ref name="usnews">{{cite web |title=Francis Collins: Leader for the 21st-Century NIH |url=http://health.usnews.com/blogs/heart-to-heart/2009/07/09/francis-collins-leader-for-the-21st-century-nih.html |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Collins's laboratory also contributed to the identification of genes associated with [[neurofibromatosis]], [[Huntington's disease]], and a rare form of [[progeria|premature aging syndrome]], among other conditions. His work during this period established him as a leading figure in human genetics and earned him numerous accolades from the scientific community.<ref name="britannica" />


=== Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute ===
=== Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute ===


In April 1993, Collins was appointed director of the [[National Human Genome Research Institute]] (NHGRI), one of the 27 institutes and centers that constitute the NIH. He succeeded Michael M. Gottesman, who had served in an acting capacity.<ref name="nhgri_bio">{{cite web |title=Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. |url=http://www.genome.gov/10001018 |publisher=National Human Genome Research Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In this role, Collins assumed leadership of the United States' contribution to the [[Human Genome Project]], the ambitious international scientific collaboration aimed at determining the complete sequence of the approximately three billion [[base pair]]s that make up human DNA.
In April 1993, Collins was appointed as director of the [[National Human Genome Research Institute]] (NHGRI), one of the 27 institutes and centers that constitute the National Institutes of Health. In this role, he succeeded [[James Watson]] (with [[Michael M. Gottesman]] serving as acting director in the interim) as head of the U.S. government's contribution to the [[Human Genome Project]], an ambitious international effort to sequence the approximately three billion base pairs of the human genome.<ref>{{cite web |title=About NHGRI: Director |url=http://www.genome.gov/10001018 |publisher=National Human Genome Research Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Under Collins's direction, the Human Genome Project achieved several major milestones. The project released a working draft of the human genome sequence in June 2000, an event announced jointly by Collins and [[Craig Venter]] of [[Celera Genomics]] at a [[White House]] ceremony hosted by President [[Bill Clinton]].<ref name="harvard">{{cite web |title=Genome |url=http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/leadership/usnews/genome.html |publisher=Harvard Kennedy School |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The finished sequence, covering approximately 99 percent of the gene-containing portion of the human genome, was published in April 2003, marking the completion of the project two years ahead of schedule and under budget.<ref name="britannica" />
Under Collins's leadership, the Human Genome Project achieved several major milestones. The project had been launched in 1990 with the goal of completing the sequence by 2005, but under Collins's direction the timeline was accelerated. In June 2000, Collins and [[Craig Venter]], the head of the private firm [[Celera Genomics]], jointly announced, alongside President [[Bill Clinton]], the completion of the first draft of the human genome sequence. The finished sequence was published in 2003, two years ahead of the original schedule.<ref name="britannica" /><ref>{{cite web |title=President Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair Deliver Remarks on Human Genome Project |url=http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/leadership/usnews/genome.html |publisher=Harvard Kennedy School |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Collins also oversaw the development of policies governing data access and sharing in genomic research, helping to establish the principle that the human genome sequence should be freely available to all researchers. His tenure at NHGRI included the expansion of the institute's research portfolio to encompass not only sequencing but also the study of the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic research.<ref name="nhgri_plan">{{cite web |title=NHGRI Strategic Plan |url=http://www.genome.gov/10001036 |publisher=National Human Genome Research Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The sequencing of the human genome was widely recognized as one of the most important scientific achievements in history, comparable in its significance to the [[Apollo program|Moon landing]]. Collins shepherded the publicly funded effort through a period of intense competition with Venter's privately funded initiative, navigating complex scientific, ethical, and political terrain. He was a strong advocate for making the genome data freely and publicly available, a position that stood in contrast to the approach favored by some commercial entities.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Human Genome Project |url=http://www.genome.gov/10001036 |publisher=National Human Genome Research Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Collins served as NHGRI director until August 1, 2008, when he stepped down. He was succeeded in an acting capacity by Alan Edward Guttmacher.<ref name="nhgri_bio" />
Collins continued to lead NHGRI through 2008, overseeing the transition from the Human Genome Project to a broader agenda of genomics research, including efforts to understand the functional significance of the genome sequence, develop new genomic technologies, and translate genomic knowledge into clinical practice. He also championed the [[International HapMap Project]] and the [[Encyclopedia of DNA Elements]] (ENCODE) project during this period.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHGRI History and Timeline |url=http://www.genome.gov/27540084 |publisher=National Human Genome Research Institute |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Collins stepped down as NHGRI director on August 1, 2008.<ref name="britannica" />


=== The BioLogos Foundation ===
=== The BioLogos Foundation ===


After leaving NHGRI and before his appointment as NIH director, Collins founded [[The BioLogos Foundation]] in 2007. The organization promotes discussion on the relationship between science and religion, advocating the position that belief in [[Christianity]] can be reconciled with the acceptance of [[evolution]] and modern science. BioLogos advances the perspective of [[theistic evolution]]—the idea that God brought about the natural world, including human life, through evolutionary processes. Collins served as president of the foundation until his confirmation as NIH director in 2009.<ref name="biologos">{{cite web |title=Francis Collins Confirmed as Director of the National Institutes of Health |url=http://biologos.org/news-events/francis-collins-confirmed-as-director-of-the-national-institutes-of-health/ |publisher=BioLogos Foundation |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In the interval between leaving NHGRI and becoming NIH director, Collins founded [[The BioLogos Foundation]] in 2007. The organization was established to promote discourse on the relationship between science and religious faith, particularly [[Christianity]]. BioLogos advocates the perspective that acceptance of [[evolution]] and modern science can be reconciled with belief in God, a position known as [[theistic evolution]] or [[evolutionary creation]]. The foundation grew out of themes Collins explored in his 2006 book ''The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief'', which became a ''New York Times'' bestseller.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins Confirmed as Director of the National Institutes of Health |url=http://biologos.org/news-events/francis-collins-confirmed-as-director-of-the-national-institutes-of-health/ |publisher=BioLogos Foundation |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


The foundation grew out of themes Collins had explored in his 2006 book ''The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief'', which became a ''New York Times'' bestseller. In the book, Collins described his personal journey from atheism to Christianity and argued that faith and science are complementary rather than contradictory pursues.<ref name="premier" />
Collins served as president of BioLogos until his confirmation as NIH director, at which point he resigned to avoid potential conflicts of interest. The foundation has continued its work independently and remains an active participant in conversations about science and faith.<ref name="britannica" />


=== Director of the National Institutes of Health ===
=== Director of the National Institutes of Health ===


On August 17, 2009, Collins was sworn in as the 16th director of the National Institutes of Health, following his nomination by President Barack Obama and confirmation by the United States Senate. He succeeded Raynard S. Kington, who had served in an acting capacity.<ref name="biologos" /><ref name="usnews" /> Collins became the longest-serving presidentially appointed NIH director, serving under three consecutive presidents: Obama, Trump, and Biden.<ref name="britannica" />
On August 17, 2009, Collins was sworn in as the 16th director of the [[National Institutes of Health]], having been nominated by President [[Barack Obama]] and confirmed by the [[United States Senate]]. He succeeded [[Raynard S. Kington]], who had served as acting director.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins Confirmed as Director of the National Institutes of Health |url=http://biologos.org/news-events/francis-collins-confirmed-as-director-of-the-national-institutes-of-health/ |publisher=BioLogos Foundation |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Karen |date=2009-07-09 |title=Francis Collins: Leader for the 21st-Century NIH |url=http://health.usnews.com/blogs/heart-to-heart/2009/07/09/francis-collins-leader-for-the-21st-century-nih.html |work=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


As NIH director, Collins oversaw the agency's annual budget of more than $30 billion—the largest source of biomedical research funding in the world. He led the NIH through a period of significant scientific advancement and public health challenges. Among the major initiatives launched or expanded during his tenure were the [[Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies]] (BRAIN) Initiative, the [[Precision Medicine Initiative]] (later renamed the [[All of Us]] Research Program), and the [[Accelerating Medicines Partnership]].<ref name="britannica" />
As NIH director, Collins oversaw the agency's annual budget of more than $30 billion and its portfolio of biomedical and public health research spanning 27 institutes and centers. He served in the role for over twelve years, making him one of the longest-serving NIH directors in the agency's history and the only director to be appointed by three consecutive presidents: Obama, [[Donald Trump]], and [[Joe Biden]].<ref name="britannica" />


Collins's tenure as NIH director included the agency's response to several public health emergencies, most notably the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] beginning in 2020. Under his leadership, the NIH played a central role in the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines through [[Operation Warp Speed]] and related federal programs. Collins has stated that the record-breaking speed of vaccine development was among the most significant achievements of his career, and he has described the effort as one that reinforced his belief in the value of scientific collaboration.<ref name="premier" />
During his tenure, Collins led or advanced a number of high-profile research initiatives. These included the [[Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies]] (BRAIN) Initiative, launched in 2013 to accelerate the development of technologies for understanding the human brain; the [[Precision Medicine Initiative]] (later renamed the [[All of Us Research Program]]), aimed at building a large-scale research cohort to advance individualized medical treatments; and the [[Cancer Moonshot]], an effort to accelerate cancer research. Collins also oversaw NIH's response to multiple public health challenges, including the [[Ebola virus disease|Ebola]] outbreak and the [[Zika virus]] epidemic.<ref name="britannica" />


The pandemic period also brought controversy. Collins became the subject of criticism from some quarters for his public advocacy of masking, social distancing, and vaccination, as well as for his characterization of the [[Great Barrington Declaration]]—a document signed by several scientists advocating a focused protection strategy rather than broad lockdowns—as the work of "fringe epidemiologists." This characterization, revealed in emails that became public, generated debate about the NIH's approach to pandemic policy and scientific dissent.<ref name="stat_bhatt">{{cite news |title=Jay Bhattacharya says he and Francis Collins 'forgave each other' after Covid clash |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/health-news-nih-bhattacharya-francis-collins-aspen-2025-vaccines-morning-rounds/ |work=STAT |date=2025-06-25 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In June 2025, [[Jay Bhattacharya]], one of the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration who was later nominated to serve as NIH director, stated publicly that he and Collins had "forgiven each other" following their clash over pandemic policy.<ref name="stat_bhatt" />
Perhaps the most consequential challenge of Collins's directorship was the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], which began in early 2020. Collins played a central role in the federal government's scientific response, including the [[Operation Warp Speed]] initiative that supported the record-breaking development of [[COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccines]]. Under his leadership, NIH made significant investments in the development, testing, and distribution of vaccines and therapeutics. Collins has stated that the rapid development of effective vaccines represented one of the most significant achievements in the history of biomedical research.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins: The Christian scientist who discovered a Covid vaccine…and then became a figure of hate |url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/interviews/francis-collins-the-christian-scientist-who-discovered-a-covid-vaccineand-then-became-a-figure-of-hate/20316.article |publisher=Premier Christianity Magazine |date=2025-10-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Collins also addressed ethical questions during his directorship. In 2013, he issued a public statement regarding the use of [[HeLa cell]]s, the widely used cell line derived from [[Henrietta Lacks]] without her consent, acknowledging the ethical failures involved and announcing new policies governing access to the HeLa genome data.<ref name="hela">{{cite web |title=Statement from NIH Director on HeLa Genome Data Access |url=http://www.nih.gov/about/director/statement-hela-08072013.htm |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=2013-08-07 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Collins's role during the pandemic also drew criticism from some quarters. His public disagreements with scientists who favored alternative approaches to pandemic management, including the authors of the [[Great Barrington Declaration]], became a source of controversy. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor who co-authored the declaration and who was later nominated as NIH director by President Trump, stated in 2025 that he and Collins had "forgiven each other" following their clash over COVID-19 policy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jay Bhattacharya says he and Francis Collins 'forgave each other' after Covid clash |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/health-news-nih-bhattacharya-francis-collins-aspen-2025-vaccines-morning-rounds/ |publisher=STAT |date=2025-06-25 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


On October 5, 2021, Collins announced that he would resign as NIH director by the end of the year. His last day in the position was December 19, 2021, after which he was succeeded by Lawrence A. Tabak in an acting capacity.<ref name="britannica" />
In August 2013, Collins issued a statement on behalf of NIH regarding the use of [[HeLa cells]], establishing a new framework for access to the HeLa genome sequence data in consultation with the family of [[Henrietta Lacks]], from whom the cells had been derived without consent in 1951.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement from NIH Director Francis Collins on HeLa |url=http://www.nih.gov/about/director/statement-hela-08072013.htm |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=2013-08-07 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Acting Science Advisor to the President ===
On October 5, 2021, Collins announced his intention to resign as NIH director by the end of the year. He stepped down on December 19, 2021, with [[Lawrence A. Tabak]] serving as acting director following his departure.<ref name="britannica" /><ref>{{cite web |title=NIH Director Announces Plan to Step Down |url=http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2011/od-23.htm |publisher=National Institutes of Health |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


On February 18, 2022, Collins was appointed Acting Science Advisor to the President and co-chair of the [[President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology]] (PCAST) in the [[Biden Administration]], replacing [[Eric Lander]], who had resigned. Collins served in this role until October 3, 2022, when he was succeeded by [[Arati Prabhakar]].<ref name="britannica" />
Collins announced his formal retirement from NIH on March 1, 2025, after 32 years of service to the agency.<ref name="britannica" />


=== Post-Government Career ===
=== Acting Science Advisor to the President ===


Following his departure from the White House, Collins announced his retirement from the NIH on March 1, 2025, after 32 years of service to the agency.<ref name="byu" /> He has continued to engage in public speaking, appearing at universities and public forums to discuss science, faith, and public policy. In October 2025, he visited Spokane, Washington, for a discussion on science and faith, during which he cautioned audiences against "tribal alliances" and encouraged people to "listen and love each other again."<ref name="spokesman">{{cite news |title=Former NIH director Francis Collins cautions against 'tribal alliances,' encouraging Spokane to 'listen and love each other again' |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/02/former-nih-director-francis-collins-cautions-again/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=2025-10-03 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In late 2025, he appeared in interviews discussing the intersection of medicine and faith, describing science as "glimpsing God's mind."<ref name="stat_faith">{{cite news |title=Francis Collins: 'I think of science as glimpsing God's mind' |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/20/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-transcript/ |work=STAT |date=2025-12-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
On February 18, 2022, Collins joined the [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] of President Joe Biden as Acting Science Advisor to the President, replacing [[Eric Lander]], who had resigned from the position. In this role, Collins advised the president on matters of science and technology policy. He served in the position until October 3, 2022, when he was succeeded by [[Arati Prabhakar]].<ref name="britannica" />


Collins has also returned to academic engagement, participating in events at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, including a fireside chat at the [[Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy]] titled "Leading Beyond the Lab."<ref name="uva">{{cite web |title=Leading Beyond the Lab with Dr. Francis Collins |url=https://engineering.virginia.edu/news-events/events/leading-beyond-lab-dr-francis-collins |publisher=University of Virginia |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
== Personal Life ==


== Personal Life ==
Collins is married to Diane Baker, a genetic counselor. He has two children.<ref name="britannica" />


Collins is married to Diane Baker, a genetic counselor. The couple has two children.<ref name="britannica" /> Collins has spoken publicly about his conversion to Christianity during medical school, a journey he has described as prompted by encounters with patients facing death and by reading the works of C. S. Lewis, particularly ''Mere Christianity''. He has described himself as a serious Christian and has been open about how his faith informs his approach to both science and public service.<ref name="premier" /><ref name="stat_faith2">{{cite news |title=Francis Collins and Marc Siegel say medicine is a gift from God |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-science-god-vaccines/ |work=STAT |date=2025-12-17 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Collins is an outspoken [[Evangelical Christian]], having converted to Christianity from atheism at the age of 27, influenced by his experiences as a medical student caring for dying patients and by the writings of C. S. Lewis, particularly ''[[Mere Christianity]]''. His faith has been a defining aspect of his public life, and he has spoken and written extensively about his belief that science and religion are compatible rather than contradictory. In interviews, he has described science as "glimpsing God's mind" and has argued that the study of nature deepens rather than undermines religious faith.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins: 'I think of science as glimpsing God's mind' |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/20/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-transcript/ |publisher=STAT |date=2025-12-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins and Marc Siegel say medicine is a gift from God |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-science-god-vaccines/ |publisher=STAT |date=2025-12-17 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 2009, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] appointed Collins to the [[Pontifical Academy of Sciences]].<ref name="britannica" />
In 2009, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] appointed Collins to the [[Pontifical Academy of Sciences]].<ref name="britannica" />


Collins is also known for his musical interests. He plays guitar and has performed at NIH events, including appearances with a band composed of NIH scientists and staff.<ref name="band">{{cite web |title=Battle of the Bands |url=http://www.nih.gov/catalyst/back/98.01/battle_of_bands.html |publisher=NIH Catalyst |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Collins is also known for his musical interests. He plays guitar and has performed in a rock band composed of NIH scientists and other government officials, known informally as the "NIH Directors' Band" or similar ensembles. He has been known to perform at various NIH events and public gatherings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle of the Bands |url=http://www.nih.gov/catalyst/back/98.01/battle_of_bands.html |publisher=NIH Catalyst |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
Following his departure from government, Collins has remained active as a public speaker, addressing audiences on topics at the intersection of science, faith, and public policy. In 2025, he delivered addresses at venues including [[Brigham Young University]] and events in Spokane, Washington, where he cautioned against "tribal alliances" and encouraged civil dialogue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forum: Dr. Francis Collins |url=https://news.byu.edu/intellect/forum-dr-francis-collins |publisher=BYU News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2025-10-02 |title=Former NIH director Francis Collins cautions against 'tribal alliances,' encouraging Spokane to 'listen and love each other again' |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/02/former-nih-director-francis-collins-cautions-again/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Collins has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science and public service. He has been elected to both the [[National Academy of Sciences]] and the [[National Academy of Medicine|Institute of Medicine]] (now the National Academy of Medicine), two of the highest honors in American science and medicine.<ref name="britannica" />
Collins has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. Among the most significant are the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the highest civilian award in the United States, and the [[National Medal of Science]], recognizing his contributions to genetics and genomics.<ref name="britannica" />


Among his most significant awards, Collins received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]], the highest civilian honor in the United States, and the [[National Medal of Science]].<ref name="britannica" /> He has also received the Inamori Ethics Prize from [[Case Western Reserve University]].<ref name="inamori">{{cite web |title=Past Recipients |url=http://case.edu/events/inamori/prize/pastrecipients.html |publisher=Case Western Reserve University |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
He has been elected to both the [[National Academy of Sciences]] and the [[National Academy of Medicine]] (formerly the Institute of Medicine), two of the most prestigious scientific bodies in the United States. His election to both academies reflects the breadth of his contributions, spanning basic science and clinical medicine.<ref name="britannica" />


In December 2011, the NIH announced additional honors and recognitions for Collins's leadership during his tenure as director.<ref name="nih_dec2011">{{cite web |title=NIH News |url=http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2011/od-23.htm |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=2011-12-23 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2012, further recognition of his work was noted in the ''NIH Record''.<ref name="nihrecord2012">{{cite web |title=NIH Record |url=http://nihrecord.od.nih.gov/newsletters/2012/06_22_2012/story1.htm |publisher=NIH Record |date=2012-06-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Collins is a recipient of the [[Inamori Ethics Prize]], awarded by the [[Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence]] at [[Case Western Reserve University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Recipients – Inamori Ethics Prize |url=http://case.edu/events/inamori/prize/pastrecipients.html |publisher=Case Western Reserve University |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Collins has been profiled extensively in media outlets. He appeared on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' in October 2009, shortly after becoming NIH director, to discuss his work and views on science and faith.<ref name="colbert">{{cite web |title=Francis Collins |url=http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/250628/october-01-2009/francis-collins |publisher=Comedy Central |date=2009-10-01 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He was described by ''[[The New Republic]]'' as one of "Washington's most powerful, least famous people."<ref name="tnr">{{cite news |title=Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People |url=http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/96131/washingtons-most-powerful-least-famous-people?passthru=ZTM3Y2VhYmZjNmIzMjllNzQ3MjMxOGEzMmJlZjg1NzI |work=The New Republic |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Collins to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, a recognition of his contributions to science and his engagement with questions of faith and ethics.<ref name="britannica" />
 
Collins has appeared in numerous media outlets to discuss his work and views. He appeared on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' in October 2009, shortly after becoming NIH director, to discuss science and faith.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins on The Colbert Report |url=http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/250628/october-01-2009/francis-collins |publisher=The Colbert Report |date=2009-10-01 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has also been profiled in publications including ''[[The New Republic]]'', which described him as one of Washington's most powerful yet least famous figures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People |url=http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/96131/washingtons-most-powerful-least-famous-people?passthru=ZTM3Y2VhYmZjNmIzMjllNzQ3MjMxOGEzMmJlZjg1NzI |publisher=The New Republic |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Collins's contributions to genetics and genomic medicine have had a lasting impact on the understanding and treatment of human disease. His development of positional cloning techniques in the 1980s and 1990s provided a foundational methodology that enabled the identification of numerous disease-causing genes, a body of work that helped usher in the era of molecular medicine. The completion of the Human Genome Project under his leadership provided the reference sequence that continues to underpin genetic research, diagnostics, and the development of targeted therapies worldwide.<ref name="britannica" />
Francis Collins's career spans a period of extraordinary transformation in the biomedical sciences, and his contributions have been at the center of several of its defining moments. His work in gene discovery during the 1980s and 1990s helped establish the field of positional cloning and led directly to the identification of genes responsible for some of the most significant genetic diseases, altering both the scientific understanding of these conditions and the possibilities for diagnosis and treatment.


As NIH director, Collins presided over a period of expansion in biomedical research funding and the launch of several large-scale research programs, including the BRAIN Initiative and the All of Us precision medicine program, that continue to shape the research agenda of the agency. His role in the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in facilitating the rapid development and distribution of vaccines, remains a defining chapter of his career, though it is also the subject of ongoing debate regarding pandemic policy and the handling of scientific dissent.<ref name="stat_bhatt" /><ref name="premier" />
His leadership of the Human Genome Project is widely considered one of the most important scientific management achievements of the modern era. The decision to make the human genome sequence freely available to all researchers has had lasting implications for the pace and direction of biomedical research worldwide. The project laid the groundwork for the field of [[genomics]] and enabled subsequent large-scale efforts such as the ENCODE project and genome-wide association studies that continue to shape the understanding of human biology and disease.<ref name="britannica" />


Collins's public engagement with questions of science and faith has also left a distinct mark. Through ''The Language of God'', The BioLogos Foundation, and decades of public lectures and interviews, he has been a prominent voice arguing that scientific inquiry and religious belief need not be in conflict. His appointment to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2009 reflected the international recognition of his efforts in this area.<ref name="britannica" />
As NIH director, Collins steered the agency through a period of significant challenges and opportunities, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development of mRNA vaccines under NIH's support has been described as one of the most consequential achievements in public health history, though Collins's role in pandemic policy has also been subject to debate and scrutiny.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins: The Christian scientist who discovered a Covid vaccine…and then became a figure of hate |url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/interviews/francis-collins-the-christian-scientist-who-discovered-a-covid-vaccineand-then-became-a-figure-of-hate/20316.article |publisher=Premier Christianity Magazine |date=2025-10-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


His 32 years of service at the NIH, spanning roles from institute director to agency head to presidential science advisor, make Collins one of the most prominent figures in the history of American biomedical research. His career trajectory—from a small farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley to the leadership of the world's largest biomedical research agency—has been the subject of extensive media coverage and public commentary.<ref name="byu" /><ref name="uva" />
Collins's public engagement with questions of science and faith has distinguished him from many of his scientific contemporaries. Through his writings, public lectures, and the BioLogos Foundation, he has contributed to ongoing discussions about the compatibility of scientific inquiry and religious belief, reaching audiences well beyond the scientific community. His conversion story and advocacy for the harmony of faith and reason continue to resonate in both religious and academic settings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Collins and Marc Siegel say medicine is a gift from God |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-science-god-vaccines/ |publisher=STAT |date=2025-12-17 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
In 2025, Collins continued to participate in public discourse, delivering lectures and engaging in conversations about the future of science, the importance of civil dialogue, and the role of faith in public life.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-10-02 |title=Former NIH director Francis Collins cautions against 'tribal alliances,' encouraging Spokane to 'listen and love each other again' |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/02/former-nih-director-francis-collins-cautions-again/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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Latest revision as of 04:27, 24 February 2026


Francis Collins
BornFrancis Sellers Collins
14 4, 1950
BirthplaceStaunton, Virginia, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPhysician-scientist, geneticist, government official
Known forHuman Genome Project, gene discovery, directing the National Institutes of Health
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BS)
Yale University (MS, PhD)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MD)
Spouse(s)Diane Baker
Children2
AwardsPresidential Medal of Freedom, National Medal of Science

Francis Sellers Collins (born April 14, 1950) is an American physician-scientist and geneticist who played a central role in some of the most consequential biomedical research efforts of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. He is best known for his leadership of the Human Genome Project, the international effort to map and sequence the entirety of human DNA, and for his subsequent tenure as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2009 to 2021, during which he served under three U.S. presidents. Before his work on the Human Genome Project, Collins gained prominence as a gene hunter, contributing to the discovery of genes responsible for several major diseases, including cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, and Huntington's disease. He has been elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine), and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science. Beyond his scientific work, Collins has become a prominent public voice on the relationship between science and religious faith, authoring the New York Times bestseller The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief and founding The BioLogos Foundation. Following his departure from the NIH directorship, he served as Acting Science Advisor to President Joe Biden in 2022.[1]

Early Life

Francis Sellers Collins was born on April 14, 1950, in Staunton, Virginia.[2] He grew up in a rural setting in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. His parents were intellectually engaged and unconventional educators; his father was a professor of English at Mary Baldwin College and his mother was a playwright. Collins was homeschooled until the sixth grade, receiving an education that emphasized creativity, the arts, and independent thinking. His early childhood was characterized by an immersion in music and the humanities rather than the sciences.[3]

Collins has described his upbringing as one in which formal religious instruction was largely absent. His family's approach to faith was casual, and by his teenage years he identified as an agnostic, a position that later shifted toward atheism during his early years in graduate school. His eventual conversion to Christianity as a young physician, influenced in part by the writings of C. S. Lewis, became a defining element of his public identity and the subject of much of his later writing and public speaking.[4]

Growing up on a small farm, Collins developed an early interest in chemistry, which he pursued initially as a hobby before it became a serious academic focus. His path into science was not straightforward; he has recounted that his interests shifted considerably during his undergraduate and graduate education before he settled on the intersection of genetics and medicine.[2]

Education

Collins earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Virginia in 1970.[2] He then pursued graduate study in physical chemistry at Yale University, where he completed both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy degree. His doctoral dissertation, completed in 1974, was titled Semiclassical theory of vibrationally inelastic scattering, with application to H⁺ + H₂ and was supervised by James Cross.[5]

During his time at Yale, Collins became increasingly drawn to the biological sciences, particularly the emerging field of molecular biology and its potential applications to human medicine. This interest prompted him to pursue a medical degree after completing his PhD. He enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, graduating with his MD in 1977.[2] The combination of a PhD in physical chemistry and an MD gave Collins an unusual interdisciplinary foundation that would prove instrumental in his later career as a gene hunter and leader of large-scale genomic initiatives.

Career

Early Research and Gene Discovery

Following his medical training, Collins completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in human genetics at Yale University. He subsequently joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, where he rapidly established himself as one of the foremost gene hunters in the field of molecular genetics. At Michigan, Collins developed a technique known as positional cloning, sometimes referred to as "chromosome jumping," which enabled researchers to identify disease-causing genes without prior knowledge of the protein they encoded. This method represented a significant methodological advance and was instrumental in several landmark discoveries.[2][6]

Among the most significant of Collins's gene discoveries was the identification in 1989 of the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis, a common and often fatal genetic disorder. Collins and his collaborators pinpointed mutations in the CFTR gene on chromosome 7 as the cause of the disease. This discovery was hailed as a major breakthrough in medical genetics and opened the door to potential therapeutic interventions.[7]

Collins's laboratory also contributed to the identification of genes associated with neurofibromatosis, Huntington's disease, and a rare form of premature aging syndrome, among other conditions. His work during this period established him as a leading figure in human genetics and earned him numerous accolades from the scientific community.[2]

Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute

In April 1993, Collins was appointed as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the 27 institutes and centers that constitute the National Institutes of Health. In this role, he succeeded James Watson (with Michael M. Gottesman serving as acting director in the interim) as head of the U.S. government's contribution to the Human Genome Project, an ambitious international effort to sequence the approximately three billion base pairs of the human genome.[8]

Under Collins's leadership, the Human Genome Project achieved several major milestones. The project had been launched in 1990 with the goal of completing the sequence by 2005, but under Collins's direction the timeline was accelerated. In June 2000, Collins and Craig Venter, the head of the private firm Celera Genomics, jointly announced, alongside President Bill Clinton, the completion of the first draft of the human genome sequence. The finished sequence was published in 2003, two years ahead of the original schedule.[2][9]

The sequencing of the human genome was widely recognized as one of the most important scientific achievements in history, comparable in its significance to the Moon landing. Collins shepherded the publicly funded effort through a period of intense competition with Venter's privately funded initiative, navigating complex scientific, ethical, and political terrain. He was a strong advocate for making the genome data freely and publicly available, a position that stood in contrast to the approach favored by some commercial entities.[10]

Collins continued to lead NHGRI through 2008, overseeing the transition from the Human Genome Project to a broader agenda of genomics research, including efforts to understand the functional significance of the genome sequence, develop new genomic technologies, and translate genomic knowledge into clinical practice. He also championed the International HapMap Project and the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project during this period.[11]

Collins stepped down as NHGRI director on August 1, 2008.[2]

The BioLogos Foundation

In the interval between leaving NHGRI and becoming NIH director, Collins founded The BioLogos Foundation in 2007. The organization was established to promote discourse on the relationship between science and religious faith, particularly Christianity. BioLogos advocates the perspective that acceptance of evolution and modern science can be reconciled with belief in God, a position known as theistic evolution or evolutionary creation. The foundation grew out of themes Collins explored in his 2006 book The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, which became a New York Times bestseller.[12]

Collins served as president of BioLogos until his confirmation as NIH director, at which point he resigned to avoid potential conflicts of interest. The foundation has continued its work independently and remains an active participant in conversations about science and faith.[2]

Director of the National Institutes of Health

On August 17, 2009, Collins was sworn in as the 16th director of the National Institutes of Health, having been nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate. He succeeded Raynard S. Kington, who had served as acting director.[13][14]

As NIH director, Collins oversaw the agency's annual budget of more than $30 billion and its portfolio of biomedical and public health research spanning 27 institutes and centers. He served in the role for over twelve years, making him one of the longest-serving NIH directors in the agency's history and the only director to be appointed by three consecutive presidents: Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.[2]

During his tenure, Collins led or advanced a number of high-profile research initiatives. These included the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, launched in 2013 to accelerate the development of technologies for understanding the human brain; the Precision Medicine Initiative (later renamed the All of Us Research Program), aimed at building a large-scale research cohort to advance individualized medical treatments; and the Cancer Moonshot, an effort to accelerate cancer research. Collins also oversaw NIH's response to multiple public health challenges, including the Ebola outbreak and the Zika virus epidemic.[2]

Perhaps the most consequential challenge of Collins's directorship was the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020. Collins played a central role in the federal government's scientific response, including the Operation Warp Speed initiative that supported the record-breaking development of COVID-19 vaccines. Under his leadership, NIH made significant investments in the development, testing, and distribution of vaccines and therapeutics. Collins has stated that the rapid development of effective vaccines represented one of the most significant achievements in the history of biomedical research.[15]

Collins's role during the pandemic also drew criticism from some quarters. His public disagreements with scientists who favored alternative approaches to pandemic management, including the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, became a source of controversy. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor who co-authored the declaration and who was later nominated as NIH director by President Trump, stated in 2025 that he and Collins had "forgiven each other" following their clash over COVID-19 policy.[16]

In August 2013, Collins issued a statement on behalf of NIH regarding the use of HeLa cells, establishing a new framework for access to the HeLa genome sequence data in consultation with the family of Henrietta Lacks, from whom the cells had been derived without consent in 1951.[17]

On October 5, 2021, Collins announced his intention to resign as NIH director by the end of the year. He stepped down on December 19, 2021, with Lawrence A. Tabak serving as acting director following his departure.[2][18]

Collins announced his formal retirement from NIH on March 1, 2025, after 32 years of service to the agency.[2]

Acting Science Advisor to the President

On February 18, 2022, Collins joined the Cabinet of President Joe Biden as Acting Science Advisor to the President, replacing Eric Lander, who had resigned from the position. In this role, Collins advised the president on matters of science and technology policy. He served in the position until October 3, 2022, when he was succeeded by Arati Prabhakar.[2]

Personal Life

Collins is married to Diane Baker, a genetic counselor. He has two children.[2]

Collins is an outspoken Evangelical Christian, having converted to Christianity from atheism at the age of 27, influenced by his experiences as a medical student caring for dying patients and by the writings of C. S. Lewis, particularly Mere Christianity. His faith has been a defining aspect of his public life, and he has spoken and written extensively about his belief that science and religion are compatible rather than contradictory. In interviews, he has described science as "glimpsing God's mind" and has argued that the study of nature deepens rather than undermines religious faith.[19][20]

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Collins to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.[2]

Collins is also known for his musical interests. He plays guitar and has performed in a rock band composed of NIH scientists and other government officials, known informally as the "NIH Directors' Band" or similar ensembles. He has been known to perform at various NIH events and public gatherings.[21]

Following his departure from government, Collins has remained active as a public speaker, addressing audiences on topics at the intersection of science, faith, and public policy. In 2025, he delivered addresses at venues including Brigham Young University and events in Spokane, Washington, where he cautioned against "tribal alliances" and encouraged civil dialogue.[22][23]

Recognition

Collins has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. Among the most significant are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, and the National Medal of Science, recognizing his contributions to genetics and genomics.[2]

He has been elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine), two of the most prestigious scientific bodies in the United States. His election to both academies reflects the breadth of his contributions, spanning basic science and clinical medicine.[2]

Collins is a recipient of the Inamori Ethics Prize, awarded by the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University.[24]

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Collins to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, a recognition of his contributions to science and his engagement with questions of faith and ethics.[2]

Collins has appeared in numerous media outlets to discuss his work and views. He appeared on The Colbert Report in October 2009, shortly after becoming NIH director, to discuss science and faith.[25] He has also been profiled in publications including The New Republic, which described him as one of Washington's most powerful yet least famous figures.[26]

Legacy

Francis Collins's career spans a period of extraordinary transformation in the biomedical sciences, and his contributions have been at the center of several of its defining moments. His work in gene discovery during the 1980s and 1990s helped establish the field of positional cloning and led directly to the identification of genes responsible for some of the most significant genetic diseases, altering both the scientific understanding of these conditions and the possibilities for diagnosis and treatment.

His leadership of the Human Genome Project is widely considered one of the most important scientific management achievements of the modern era. The decision to make the human genome sequence freely available to all researchers has had lasting implications for the pace and direction of biomedical research worldwide. The project laid the groundwork for the field of genomics and enabled subsequent large-scale efforts such as the ENCODE project and genome-wide association studies that continue to shape the understanding of human biology and disease.[2]

As NIH director, Collins steered the agency through a period of significant challenges and opportunities, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development of mRNA vaccines under NIH's support has been described as one of the most consequential achievements in public health history, though Collins's role in pandemic policy has also been subject to debate and scrutiny.[27]

Collins's public engagement with questions of science and faith has distinguished him from many of his scientific contemporaries. Through his writings, public lectures, and the BioLogos Foundation, he has contributed to ongoing discussions about the compatibility of scientific inquiry and religious belief, reaching audiences well beyond the scientific community. His conversion story and advocacy for the harmony of faith and reason continue to resonate in both religious and academic settings.[28]

In 2025, Collins continued to participate in public discourse, delivering lectures and engaging in conversations about the future of science, the importance of civil dialogue, and the role of faith in public life.[29]

References

  1. ↑ "Francis Collins".Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Collins.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 "Francis Collins | Biography, NIH, Religion, Human Genome Project, & Facts".Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Collins.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Forum: Dr. Francis Collins".BYU News.https://news.byu.edu/intellect/forum-dr-francis-collins.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "Francis Collins: 'I think of science as glimpsing God's mind'".STAT.2025-12-20.https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/20/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-transcript/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Semiclassical theory of vibrationally inelastic scattering".ProQuest.https://www.proquest.com/docview/288233821/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Genetic Trail".Howard Hughes Medical Institute.http://www.hhmi.org/genetictrail/a120.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Genetic Trail".Howard Hughes Medical Institute.http://www.hhmi.org/genetictrail/a130.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "About NHGRI: Director".National Human Genome Research Institute.http://www.genome.gov/10001018.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "President Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair Deliver Remarks on Human Genome Project".Harvard Kennedy School.http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/leadership/usnews/genome.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "About the Human Genome Project".National Human Genome Research Institute.http://www.genome.gov/10001036.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "NHGRI History and Timeline".National Human Genome Research Institute.http://www.genome.gov/27540084.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Francis Collins Confirmed as Director of the National Institutes of Health".BioLogos Foundation.http://biologos.org/news-events/francis-collins-confirmed-as-director-of-the-national-institutes-of-health/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Francis Collins Confirmed as Director of the National Institutes of Health".BioLogos Foundation.http://biologos.org/news-events/francis-collins-confirmed-as-director-of-the-national-institutes-of-health/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ KaplanKarenKaren"Francis Collins: Leader for the 21st-Century NIH".U.S. News & World Report.2009-07-09.http://health.usnews.com/blogs/heart-to-heart/2009/07/09/francis-collins-leader-for-the-21st-century-nih.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Francis Collins: The Christian scientist who discovered a Covid vaccine…and then became a figure of hate".Premier Christianity Magazine.2025-10-22.https://www.premierchristianity.com/interviews/francis-collins-the-christian-scientist-who-discovered-a-covid-vaccineand-then-became-a-figure-of-hate/20316.article.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Jay Bhattacharya says he and Francis Collins 'forgave each other' after Covid clash".STAT.2025-06-25.https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/25/health-news-nih-bhattacharya-francis-collins-aspen-2025-vaccines-morning-rounds/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Statement from NIH Director Francis Collins on HeLa".National Institutes of Health.2013-08-07.http://www.nih.gov/about/director/statement-hela-08072013.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "NIH Director Announces Plan to Step Down".National Institutes of Health.http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2011/od-23.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Francis Collins: 'I think of science as glimpsing God's mind'".STAT.2025-12-20.https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/20/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-transcript/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Francis Collins and Marc Siegel say medicine is a gift from God".STAT.2025-12-17.https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-science-god-vaccines/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Battle of the Bands".NIH Catalyst.http://www.nih.gov/catalyst/back/98.01/battle_of_bands.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Forum: Dr. Francis Collins".BYU News.https://news.byu.edu/intellect/forum-dr-francis-collins.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Former NIH director Francis Collins cautions against 'tribal alliances,' encouraging Spokane to 'listen and love each other again'".The Spokesman-Review.2025-10-02.https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/02/former-nih-director-francis-collins-cautions-again/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "Past Recipients – Inamori Ethics Prize".Case Western Reserve University.http://case.edu/events/inamori/prize/pastrecipients.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ "Francis Collins on The Colbert Report".The Colbert Report.2009-10-01.http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/250628/october-01-2009/francis-collins.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  26. ↑ "Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People".The New Republic.http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/96131/washingtons-most-powerful-least-famous-people?passthru=ZTM3Y2VhYmZjNmIzMjllNzQ3MjMxOGEzMmJlZjg1NzI.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  27. ↑ "Francis Collins: The Christian scientist who discovered a Covid vaccine…and then became a figure of hate".Premier Christianity Magazine.2025-10-22.https://www.premierchristianity.com/interviews/francis-collins-the-christian-scientist-who-discovered-a-covid-vaccineand-then-became-a-figure-of-hate/20316.article.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  28. ↑ "Francis Collins and Marc Siegel say medicine is a gift from God".STAT.2025-12-17.https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/17/francis-collins-marc-siegel-interview-science-god-vaccines/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  29. ↑ "Former NIH director Francis Collins cautions against 'tribal alliances,' encouraging Spokane to 'listen and love each other again'".The Spokesman-Review.2025-10-02.https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/oct/02/former-nih-director-francis-collins-cautions-again/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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