Dr. Brad Ringeisen: The Application of CRISPR, a revolutionary gene editing technology, in Resolving Global Diseases and Ameliorating the Consequences of Climate Change

Abstract

With the highly publicized discovery of CRISPR, the gene editing technology for which Drs. Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the world became aware of the life science revolution within which we find ourselves. The discovery was made 10 years ago, and the evolution of the science of CRISPR in resolution of disease, in improvements in agricultural methods, and in offsetting climate change sequelae has been notable. The consequences of climate change and the burgeoning issue of food insecurity have the potential to cause unrest across the globe in our lifetimes unless novel approaches to minimizing impact are discovered. Applications of CRISPR may provide needed answers.

Biography

Dr. Brad Ringeisen is the Executive Director of the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), founded by Dr. Jennifer Doudna in 2014 on the University of California, Berkeley campus.

The mission of the IGI is to bridge revolutionary gene editing tool development to affordable and accessible solutions in human health and climate. Dr. Ringeisen’s primary role is to guide IGI’s scientific and development strategy, but his duties also include promoting entrepreneurship, working with biotech investors and companies to ensure commercial translation of our technologies, donor outreach and development, scientific project development and team building, communication with campus leadership, personnel management and mentoring, program management, and reporting and engagement with both our Governance and Scientific Advisory Boards.

Dr. Ringeisen is a physical chemist with a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a pioneer in the field of live cell printing, and an experienced administrator of scientific research and product development. Before joining the IGI, Dr. Ringeisen was Director of the Biological Technologies Office at DARPA, where he managed a division working at the cutting edges of biology, physical sciences and engineering. Programs in Dr. Ringeisen’s office included research in genome editing, epigenetics, neurotechnology, food security and biomanufacturing, as well as diagnostics and therapeutics development. Prior to DARPA, Ringeisen ran his own research group at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory as the head of the Bioenergy and Biofabrication Section.

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