Richard A. Gibbs PhD

Richard Gibbs is a human geneticist and technologist and played a key role in the Human Genome Project (HGP). In 1996 he Founded the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center, one of three NIH groups to complete the final phase of the HGP. Under his leadership the group undertook deciphering the genomes of different model organisms, including drosophila, rat, the honey bee, sea urchin, rhesus macaque and the bovine. Dr. Gibbs has made fundamental contributions to human genetics, through developing key methods for mutation detection, including direct fluorescent DNA sequencing and whole exome capture sequencing. The group pioneered ‘personal genome’ analysis by sequencing the first genomes using next-generation technologies. These methods have enabled identification of rare variants in human diseases and in population studies. Most recently the methods have been translated into clinical applications for detecting genetic disease and somatic changes in cancer. Dr. Gibbs has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Michael E. DeBakey, MD, Excellence in Research Award, election to the IOM and recognition as one of the top 400 highly influential biomedical researchers, 1996–2011.