Genome Sequencing is a cornerstone of the rapidly emerging area of Precision Medicine. Globally, national-scale efforts have put forth the goal of sequencing at the million-genome scale, and integrating this with other health data to develop a knowledge base for Precision Medicine. Dr Craig Venter, who sequenced the first human genome in 2001, has recently launched a major private initiative at Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI) to sequence 1 Million Genomes and realize Big Data driven Precision Medicine.
In this talk, the speaker will summarize these global efforts, as well as the status of the “$1000 genome” and sequencing technology. He will then focus on the work underway at HLI, including sequencing 25,000+ genomes at the largest genome sequencing facility in the world, and how this Big Data can provide new insights into the human genome. He will also show how this data is being integrated to realize a comprehensive vision for Precision Medicine and Precision Oncology.
About the speaker
Dr Barry Merriman received his BS degrees in Math and Physics from University of Washington in 1984 and PhD in Applied Math from University of Chicago in 1989. In 1989, he joined University of California at Los Angeles and became the research professor in the departments of Math, Nuclear Engineering, and Human Genetics before he left in 2010. He was then appointed as the Lead Architect of the Advanced Sequencing Technology program, and the Chief Science Officer of their Enterprise Genomics unit of Life Technologies, Inc. In 2014, he was hired by Human Longevity, Inc. as the Vice-President of Global Technology Assessment.
Dr Merriman’s research has been focused in genomics, both sequencing technology development and applications to solving for the genetic causes of human disease. His work in industry has focused on developing advanced genome sequencing technology, and applying it in national scale genomic medicine projects. Dr Merriman has 90 scientific publications spanning the disciplines of math, computer science, physics, engineering, molecular biology and human genetics, with over 11,000 citations.
For attendees’ attention
The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
