Photo: Cmichel67 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Francis Collins is, to me, a towering figure who made genetics feel humane. Born in Staunton, Virginia in 1950, he led the Human Genome Project, the audacious effort to read our entire DNA, and later guided the National Institutes of Health through three presidencies. His shelf of honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science, barely captures his impact. What I respect most is how he paired rigorous science with thoughtful engagement on faith and ethics, refusing to treat them as enemies. People like Collins are why science never feels cold to me; his blend of intellect and warmth is genuinely rare.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Francis Collins
- Name (Japanese)
- フランシス・コリンズ
- Reading
- ふらんしす・こりんず
- Born
- April 14, 1950 (age 76)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Tiger
- Origin
- Staunton, Virginia, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- geneticist / physician / author / physicist / chemist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Staunton High School
- University
- University of Virginia
Awards & achievements
- 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom
- 2001 Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research
- Arthur S. Flemming Award
- 2002 Canada Gairdner International Award
- 2001 AMA Scientific Achievement Award
- 2008 National Medal of Science
- 2010 Albany Medical Center Prize
- 1992 Dickson Prize in Medicine
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Francis Collins born?
Born April 14, 1950 (age 76).
Where is Francis Collins from?
Francis Collins is from Staunton, Virginia, United States.
What does Francis Collins do?
Francis Collins works as geneticist, physician, author, physicist, chemist.
Physician — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.