For nearly 15 years, Francis S. Collins occupied a post that might now informally be called genetics czar. As head of the National Human Genome Research Institute, he oversaw the successful completion of the Humane Genome Project, which has served as the launching pad for a whole new era of genetic learning.
But now it’s over and Collins, 58, has become a genetics laureate. Though he claims his decision to leave was not in any way affected by situations at NHGRI, one can’t help but wonder why now, and what’s in store for him next.
In late May, President Bush signed legislation to protect people from losing their jobs or health insurance when genetic testing reveals they are prone to diseases that could be expensive to treat. The signing was all the more poignant given the absence of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who had just learned he had a malignant brain tumor.
This law sets the stage for a more productive era of personal health information, in which people can feel secure in keeping their health records online without fear of insurance companies withholding coverage. The law isn’t perfect, but it is telling that Collins left his post so soon after the bill he championed so heavily was finally signed into law.
Genetics is a sensitive area of research, and Collins performed admirably in both advancing the field and keeping scientific ethics and integrity intact. Personally, I find this achievement remarkable given his overt avowal of evangelical Christianity. It’s a position that might normally cause controversy and Collins was mostly successful in fending off criticism.
Only Collins knows where he’ll be headed next. A revealing book is one the horizon, which may shed more light on his one recurring criticism of his recent years at NHGRI: lack of funding for research. Hopefully, this will bring him back to National Institutes of Health as part of an effort to reverse that trend.
