James D Watson was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1928 and educated at the University of Chicago. In 1953, while at Cambridge University, he and Francis Crick successfully proposed the double helical structure for DNA, a feat described by Sir Peter Medawar as "the greatest achievement of science in the twentieth century." For this work, Watson and Crick, together with Maurice Wilkins, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.

While a Professor at Harvard, Watson started a writing career that generated the seminal text, Molecular Biology of the Gene, the best-selling autobiographical volume, The Double Helix, and most recently Avoid Boring People. Later, while leading the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, he was a driving force behind setting up the Human Genome Project, a major factor in his receipt in 1993 of the Copley Medal from the Royal Society that elected him a member in 1981.

Dr Watson will also receive an Honorary Doctorate from University College Cork on Wednesday 8th September.

Dr Watson’s lecture, an invitation only event, will focus on cancer research outlining emerging perspectives on the metastatic pathways of cancer and opportunities for a cure within ten years.

A video of the lecture will be available on the Cork Cancer Research Centre’s website (http://www.ccrc.ie/) the day after the lecture, (Thursday, 9th September).

Speaking about Dr Watson’s upcoming visit, Founder Director of Cork Cancer Research Centre, Professor Gerald C O’Sullivan said: “We are very much looking forward to Dr Watson’s visit. We feel greatly honoured that one of the greatest biological scientists ever is visiting our centre and the University and that he will give the inaugural Cork Cancer Research Centre annual lecture.”

Among many other honours, Dr Watson was elected in 1962 to the National Academy of Sciences and, in 1977, received from President Ford the Medal of Freedom. He received the National Medal of Science in December 1997, the City of Philadelphia Liberty Medal on July 4, 2000, the Benjamin Franklin Medal awarded by the American Philosophical Society in 2001. Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed him an honorary Knight of the British Empire on January 1, 2002. He received the Capo d’Orlando Prize in Vico Equense, Italy in 2009 and the Prizvanie Award in Moscow, Russia in 2010. Dr. Watson has served the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in several capacities since 1968 [Director 1968-1994, President 1994-2003, Chancellor 2003-2007] and currently is Chancellor Emeritus.

Picture: Dr James Watson

RMcD

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