Founder

Dr. Eric Topol Future of Genomic Medicine

Eric J. Topol

Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute
Chief Academic Officer, Scripps Health
Professor of Genomics, The Scripps Research Institute

Eric Topol is a Professor of Genomics at the Scripps Research Institute, the Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI), and the Chief Academic Officer for Scripps Health. As a researcher, he has published 1100 peer-reviewed articles, with over 160,000 citations, elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and is one of the top 10 most cited researchers in medicine (Thomson Reuters ISI, “Doctor of the Decade”). His principal scientific focus has been on the genomics of coronary artery disease and heart attack, with work that has been recognized twice as American Heart Association Top 10 Advances and as a TIME Magazine Top Medical Breakthrough in 2010. In recent years, he has expanded such research efforts with the use of genome editing, biosensors and new digital tools to foster individualized (aka “precision”) approaches in medicine.

Before coming to lead STSI in 2007, for which he is founder and principal investigator of a flagship $33M NIH grant, he led the Cleveland Clinic to become the #1 center for heart care, started a new medical school—the Lerner College of Medicine—and spearheaded the discovery of multiple genes that increase susceptibility for heart attacks, along with directing several worldwide clinical trials to advance the care for heart disease. The latter included the very first patients and clinical trials with recombinant t-PA, a monoclonal antibody (abciximab) and a new small molecule platelet inhibitor (clopidogrel, Plavix).

His medical school alma mater, the University of Rochester, awarded him the Hutchison Medal, which is the highest recognition of achievement by an alumnus. The University of Michigan, which was his first faculty position from 1985-1991, used its endowment in 2011 to set up the Topol Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine. In 2012, he was voted as the #1 most Influential physician executive in the United States in a national poll conducted by Modern Healthcare. Besides editing several textbooks, he has published 2 books: The Creative Destruction of Medicine (Basic Books, 2012) and The Patient Will See You Now in 2015.

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Disclosures – 

Board of Directors: Dexcom, MyoKardia
 Co-Founder: Cypher Genomics, Molecular Stethoscope
 Scientific Advisory Board: Gilead, Edico Genome, Biological Dynamics, Genapsys
 Advisor: Walgreens, Illumina, Google, Apple, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Quanttus, ToSense