OLYMPIA - Gov. Jay Inslee issued the following statement on the awarding to Dr. Leroy Hood of a National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama at the White House:
"Congratulations to Dr. Hood on receiving the National Medal of Science from President Obama today. Dr. Hood's innovative research and work as co-founder and president of the Seattle-based Institute for Systems Biology have helped propel Washington to a leadership role in the biotechnology field. A pioneer in his field, Dr. Hood has received numerous awards. He and his colleagues at Caltech developed the DNA gene sequencer, an instrument that paved the way for the successful mapping of the human genome. Dr. Hood has played a role in founding more than a dozen biotechnology companies and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
"On behalf of all Washingtonians, I congratulate him on receiving this prestigious and well-deserved honor."
The National Medal of Science was created in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. A committee of presidential appointees selects nominees on the basis of their extraordinary knowledge in and contributions to chemistry, engineering, computing, mathematics, or the biological, behavioral/social and physical sciences.