Robert Braun, Ph.D., New Jackson Laboratory Associate Director and Research Chair

Date: May 21, 2007

Bar Harbor, Maine – The Jackson Laboratory has selected a distinguished scientist in the field of reproductive genetics, Robert Braun, Ph.D., as the new associate director and chair for research.

Dr. Braun joins the Laboratory from the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he serves as professor of genome sciences. He is also director and co-director, respectively, of two different University programs in reproductive biology research.

The appointment follows an international search for a leader of the Jackson Laboratory research staff and programs. The nonprofit research institution currently has 38 principal investigators studying a wide range of human diseases and disorders, as well as normal development and aging, with external research funding totaling more than $60 million a year.

Jackson Laboratory Director Rick Woychik describes Dr. Braun as “an internationally prominent scientist with the highest research credentials.  He has a genuine interest in the research at the Laboratory and is exceptionally well qualified to provide leadership to the scientific staff and to serve on the senior management team.”

Dr. Woychik added, “He’s also a great communicator and I believe he’s going to fit in very well with our Laboratory community.”

The post of associate director and chair for research was created as part of a major research expansion plan, whereby the Laboratory expects to add another eight research groups over the next 3-5 years. Jackson Laboratory Senior Staff Scientist Thomas Gridley, Ph.D., has held the position on an interim basis during the search.

Dr. Braun earned his undergraduate degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, chemistry and mathematics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his Ph.D. in the Tufts University School of Medicine department of microbiology. He has been with the University of Washington since 1986, when he joined as a postdoctoral fellow. The recipient of many honors and awards, Dr. Braun has also been a visiting scientist at the Medical Research Council in England and, in 2001-2002, at The Jackson Laboratory.

The Jackson Laboratory, founded in 1929, is one of the world’s leading genetics research institutions, with facilities in Bar Harbor, Maine, and West Sacramento, Calif. Its research staff of more than 450 investigates the genetic basis of cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, diabetes and many other human diseases and disorders. The Laboratory is also the world's source for nearly 3,000 strains of genetically defined mice, home of the Mouse Genome Database and many other publicly available information resources, and an international hub for scientific courses, conferences, training and education.

Contact(s): Joyce Peterson, joyce.peterson@jax.org, 207-288-6058

For information on automatic email delivery of news releases (journalists only), please send an email request for details to news@jax.org.

Media Relations, Communications Office
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1500
Phone: 207-288-6051
Fax: 207-288-6076
Email: news@jax.org