ISB is the first institute dedicated to systems biology.
ISB was founded in 2000 by systems biologist Leroy Hood, immunologist Alan Aderem, and protein chemist Ruedi Aebersold. It was established on the belief that conventional models for exploring and funding breakthrough science have not caught up with the real potential of what is possible today.
Dr. Lee Hood pictured with one of his first generation DNA sequencers. Photo credit: ISB
Hood Envisioned an Integrated Approach to Biology
From Caltech to UW: Hood’s Time in Academia
Dr. Lee Hood dedicated over three decades to academia, including 25 years at Caltech – 10 of those as Chair of Biology, and eight years at the University of Washington.
Inventing Technologies to Advance Genomics
At Caltech, Hood and his team developed four groundbreaking sequencer and synthesizer instruments, crucial for the Human Genome Project’s success in mapping the human genome. At the University of Washington, he founded and chaired the Department of Molecular Biotechnology, UW’s first academic department focused on cross-disciplinary biology.
Recasting the Mold: Founding Institute for Systems Biology
These achievements established Hood as a leading figure in biological research. During this time, he envisioned a new scientific approach that integrated biology, technology, and computation, which he called systems biology. This innovative field couldn’t thrive within the traditional academic structure, so in 2000, Hood co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) with immunologist Alan Aderem and protein chemist Ruedi Aebersold.
A Legacy of Impact in Biology, Medicine and Health
Hood’s foresight enabled systems biology to become a cornerstone of modern biological research. Today, many organizations and university departments are built on this foundation. He has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for his scientific achievements, including receiving the National Medal of Science from Barack Obama in 2011, for his work on automating DNA sequencing.
“Don’t underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global movement, you need to have a core belief that what you contribute can fundamentally change the paradigm or way of thinking about problems.”
Dr. Lee Hood, ISB Co-founder and Professor
Cover image for Nature Biotechnology. In July 2017, ISB and Hood’s wellness spinout company, Arivale, published a significant peer-reviewed paper in the journal Nature Biotechnology, demonstrating that combining data clouds with tailored behavioral coaching has the potential to optimize individual wellness. Cover art credit: Allison Kudla and John Earls/ISB.
A Philosophy that Pioneered A Paradigm Shift in Health
Hood pioneered P4 medicine, a new healthcare concept that is predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory. He emphasized the importance of focusing on both wellness and disease, which was a significant shift away from the traditional disease-centric approach of 20th-century medicine.
The P4 philosophy is embodied in what Hood termed scientific wellness, to describe this new method of providing insights into human biology and disease. The approach enables people to improve their health and wellbeing while generating the data that’s needed to optimize wellness and to slow down or avoid the transition into disease states. In the research community, this form of collecting and analyzing biological data is referred to as multi-omic data and deep phenotyping.
Providence logo
A Partnership To Translate Our Science
In 2016, Lee Hood and Dave Sabey, former ISB board chair and director emeritus, facilitated an affiliation with Providence, one of the largest healthcare networks in the United States. This partnership aimed to integrate ISB’s systems approaches with Providence’s clinical expertise, transforming healthcare delivery from a disease focus to a wellness focus with powerful strategies for prediction and prevention. The ISB-Providence affiliation was a tremendous success, and continues to benefit both organizations today.
Dr. Jim Heath in the ISB lobby. Photo credit: Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures
Hood Names Heath as His Successor
Hood led ISB as president and professor from 2000 until 2017, when Dr. Jim Heath took over as president of Institute for Systems Biology. To fully appreciate Heath’s relationship with ISB, you have to go back to its early days – shortly after the research organization was founded in 2000.
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