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Francis Collins official portrait.jpg Photo by Bill Branson, NIH –

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Francis Collins

He was born on April 14, 1950, in Staunton, Virginia. His parents were Fletcher Collins and Margaret James Collins. He was home-schooled until he reached grade six then progressed to Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, Virginia. His family lived on a small farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Later, he attended the University of Virginia and graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He furthered his education at Yale University where he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Physical chemistry in 1974. With consultation with his mentor Carl Trindle, he enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a Doctor in Medicine in 1977. His decision to venture into medicine was reached when he gained an interest in biochemistry. He was among the team that worked towards identifying genes and their loci as a cause of cystic fibrosis. He worked together with a team from Toronto University led by Lap-Chee Tsui who 1989 discovered the gene. He was appointed director of the National Center for Human Genome Research in 1993. The Human Genome Project was carried out successfully under his leadership. He is known as the American physician-geneticist. 

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1. Interesting Presidential Appointment

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The President of the United States of America nominated him to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology as co-chair. He was named as the acting science advisor to the president on February 17, 2022. This was after Eric Lander’s resignation. Another interesting appointment was by former United States President Barack Obama as the director of the National Institute of Health. Further, the senate unanimously confirmed him for the post, and was subsequently sworn in by the Health and Human Services  Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on August 17, 2009. When former President Donald Trump came into office in 2017, he confirmed that Collins can continue serving as the NIH Director. The announcement of a working draft of the human genome was made in 2000 in conjunction with then-President Bill Clinton and a famous biologist, Craig Venter. His faith in God was witnessed in his speech when he said “it is humbling for me and awe-inspiring to realize that we have caught the first glimpse of our own instruction book, previously known only to God.” This is an indication that Collins’ performance has been recognized by both the democrats and the republican governments which is very interesting.

2. Activities outside his career

Bill Gates, Francis Collins, and NIH Vaccine Research Center scientists.jpg Photo by Lisa Helfert –

Interestingly, Collins loves playing the guitar to such a level that he formed a rock band with other scientists in his leadership at NHGRI. It is more interesting that the band is called the Directors and jointly with a rock band from Johns Hopkins University led by cancer researcher Bert Vogelstein for the rock band. More importantly, he performed during the StandUpToCancer campaign, TEDMED, and in the Southern Methodist University Commencement in 2017 and the Rock Stars of Science hence, promoting science using his love for music. He was stimulated by his passion for music to partner with the Kennedy Center on a project to expand the Sound health initiative. The expansion was announced in 2017. The use of music to inspire neurological and other disorders is one of his ideas to expand the current knowledge.

3. He Founded NHGRI

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Photo by U.S. Government –

Collins founded the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Division of Intramural Research in 1994.  His team of scientists successfully carried out the Human Genome Project. As a director, this was seen as his initiative. It is important to note that Collins was the lead team in the International Human Genome Sequencing consortium.

4. Attention to Detail 

Collins is known for his detailed attention in the area of ethical and legal issues in genetics. His focus on this area is outstanding. It is interesting that he has been a strong advocate for protecting the privacy of genetic information. More importantly, he has been a national leader in securing the passage of the federal Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act. This act ensures that gene-based discrimination in employment is implemented.

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5. His Interest in the Developing Nations

NIH Director Francis Collins (14357802372).jpg Photo by NIH History Office from Bethesda –

Collins has a lot of interest in opening branches for genome research that can assist the health of people living in the global south. In addition, he volunteered as a physician in a rural missionary hospital in Nigeria. For instance, he advanced African capacity by establishing an initiative called Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa).

6. He Initiated Government Projects

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Collins initiated President Obama’s initiative to galvanize the nation’s research efforts against cancer. He also instituted various clinical trial reforms to enhance the protection of participants in research and the improvement in reporting of research results in clinical trials. To keep up with the federal funds granted for study at NIH, Collins implemented the Next Generation Research Initiative.

7.  Fascinating Testimony of His Christian Faith

He described both science and religion as complex social and cultural beliefs that vary from one society to another, and change over time. In actual fact, Collins indicated that before the scientific revolution, technical innovations were achieved by societies organized by religious traditions. For instance, he said that the pioneer religious scholars, those that were pagan, Islamic, and Christian started the elements of the scientific methods. He further compared the 21st-century Buddhists who view science as complementary to their beliefs. 

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8. He was a Prize Winning Author

He was the author of the bestseller that clarified the previous belief that science cannot mix with religion. The two are different in that scient has a restriction on life beyond physical while ‘faith refuses rational. In his book “The Language of God” he highlighted the relationship between science and God in the book some of which was “If God exists, then He must be outside the natural world, and therefore the tools of science are not the right ones to learn about him.” In addition, the book is a true testimony that there is power in faith in God. Further, he gives his own personal experience and the many revelations God reviewed to him in the world around us.

9. He is Against the Abortion

He was interviewed by Scientific American in which he said he was uncomfortable with abortion. He emphasized the importance of life. In an interview with Scientific American, he stated that he was uncomfortable with abortion.

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10. The Most Interesting Award

He was awarded the Noble Prize jointly with Steven Weinberg, During his award, he discussed the interplay between science and religion. Other awards he received in a very interesting way were in 2012, the Pro Bono Humanum Award of the Galien Foundation, and the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize in 2018.

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