John Sulston

Photograph

Sir John Sulston was the pioneer of the Sanger Centre. It was his vision and leadership that shaped the science, ethos and research culture of the site, but he also saw the potential in the Hinxton Hall estate which is why the Wellcome Genome Campus is here today.

He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the cell lineage and genome of the nematode worm. He was a leader in human genome research, Chair of the Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation at the University of Manchester and Director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute from 1992 to 2000.

John Sulston was a passionate advocate of science in the public interest, such as free public access of scientific information, and against the patenting of genes and the privatisation of genetic technologies. He was respected and admired by colleagues, peers and members of the neighbouring communities. 

Find out more about John Sulston here