The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which was founded in 1780, is one of the nation’s oldest learning societies and independent policy research centers, convening leaders from the academic, business and government sectors to respond to the challenges facing — and opportunities available to — the nation and the world.
Members of the 2016 class include winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the Wolf Prize; MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships; the Fields Medal; the Grammy Award and National Book Award.
A world leader in pediatric cancer research, Dr. Downing has dedicated more than two decades to uncovering the genetic basis of childhood cancer. He was instrumental in launching the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, which has sequenced the normal and cancer genomes of more than 800 young cancer patients with some of the least understood and most aggressive tumors. The project made TIME magazine’s 2012 list of top 10 medical breakthroughs. In 2013, Dr. Downing was a finalist on TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in the world.
The PCGP has produced groundbreaking discoveries in brain tumors, childhood leukemia, a cancer of the peripheral nervous system, an eye tumor and the degenerative disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The project has also produced new computational tools that benefit the broader field of genomic medicine.
Most recently, Dr. Downing was appointed to a Blue Ribbon Panel to advise Vice President Joe Biden’s National Cancer Moonshot Initiative through the National Cancer Institute.
More articles on leadership:
How Yale New Haven Health System emphasizes quality to reduce costs: 6 questions with Stephen Allegretto
The cost of overconfidence
Geisel School of Medicine to restructure, cut 30 jobs: 6 things to know
