Please join us at the

ARCS Scientist of the Year Dinner

honoring

Dr. Karen E. Nelson

Friday, April 28, 2017

Sheraton Harbor Island

1380 Harbor Island Dr

San Diego, California 92101

6:00 PM Reception 7:30 PM Dinner

2017 Scientist of the Year

 Dr. Karen E. Nelson

President, J. Craig Venter Institute

 Head, Microbiome Area - Human Longevity, Inc.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Karen E. Nelson will be honored as the ARCS 2017 Scientist of the Year at the annual Scientist of the Year dinner held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, Harbor Island on April 28, 2017. Dr. Nelson is the current president of the J. Craig Venter Institute, a non-profit institute located in San Diego and Rockville, Maryland, which conducts genomics research. She also heads the Microbiome group at Human Longevity Inc., in La Jolla.  Dr. Nelson received her undergraduate degree from the University of the West Indies, and her Ph.D. from Cornell University. Known for her work in human microbiome research, Dr. Nelson conducted research which discovered the existence of Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) across the archael and bacterial domains, an important factor in the evolution of many organisms. Additional ongoing studies in her group include metagenomic approaches to study the ecology of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals, studies on the relationship between the microbiome and various human and animal disease conditions, reference genome sequencing and analysis primarily for the human body, and other -omics studies.
We are proud to welcome Dr. Karen E. Nelson as our 2017 Scientist of the Year.

"The field of human microbiome research will significantly change how we think about human health and disease.  The potential for new diagnostics and treatments from the observations and findings is astounding."  - Dr. Karen E. Nelson

Diamond Title Sponsors

 

Gold Sponsors

 

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Scientist of the Year Dinner 2017 Honorary Committee

Reena Horowitz, Honorary Chair

Founder Fishman Fund, Sanford Burnam Presbys Medical Discovery Institute, Businesswoman, Philanthropist

Honorary Members

David Brenner, M.D. Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine, UC San Diego

Linda Chester, Literary Agent, Philanthropist

Peter F. Cowhey, Executive Vice Chancellor - Academic Affairs, UC San Diego

Martha Dennis, Ph.D., Principal, Gordon Knot

James Dunford, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Emergency Medicine, UCSD, City of San Diego EMS Director

Cheryl Goodman, Executive Director, Athena

James T. Harris III, Dr. Ed., President, University of San Diego

*Irwin Jacobs, Co-Founder and CEO Emeritus, Qualcomm, Inc.

Jeanne Jones, Author, Businesswoman, Philanthropist

Pradeep K. Khosla, Ph.D., Chancellor, UC San Diego

Jesse J. Knight, Jr., Civic Leader

Jack McGrory, JCVI Board Member

Greg McKee, Chief Executive Office, CONNECT

Joe Panetta, President and CEO, BIOCOM

Kirk Peterson, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C., Professor of Medicine, Director Emeritus Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Deputy Dean UC San Diego School of Medicine

Kit Pogliano, Ph.D., Dean Graduate Division, UC San Diego

Ramin Pourteymour, Businessman, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

Kenneth W. Rind, Ph.D., Venture Capitalist, Scientist

*J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman, and CEO, J. Craig Venter Institute

Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., President, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Dr. David Wellis, Chief Executive Officer, San Diego Blood Bank

Ruth Westreich, President, Westreich Foundation

Judith K. White OCR, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

*Former Scientist of the Year

Mary Fitz, ARCS President

Perry Colapinto, Event Chair

For information call Perry Colapinto (858) 259-6911 or email: perrya@san.rr.com
 

ARCS MISSION

ARCS Foundation advances science and technology in the United States by providing financial awards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering and medical research. 

The San Diego Chapter of the ARCS Foundation is one of 16 chapters nationwide dedicated to advancing science in America by providing Scholar Awards to U.S. citizens working to complete their degrees in the sciences, medical research, and engineering. The chapter supports Scholars at San Diego State University, The Scripps Research Institute, University of California, San Diego, and the University of San Diego.