Claire M. Fraser
Encyclopedia
Claire M. Fraser-Liggett is an American
microbiologist
and the current head of the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore
From 1998-2007 Fraser served as President and Director of The Institute for Genomic Research
(TIGR) in Rockville, Maryland
. Fraser led the TIGR teams that sequenced the genomes of Mycoplasma genitalium
, the spirochetes Treponema pallidum
and Borrelia burgdorferi
, and two species of Chlamydia
. She is now overseeing several major research projects, including the genomic sequencing of Bacillus anthracis
, and is a member of National Research Council
committees on countering bioterrorism and on domestic animal genomics
. She also has served on review committees of the National Science Foundation
, Department of Energy
, and the National Institutes of Health
.
Fraser has published more than 160 articles in scientific journals and books. She has been a reviewer for nine scientific journals, currently serving a second term on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry
. Before becoming TIGR's president in 1998, Fraser was the Institute's Vice President of Research and Director of its Microbial Genomics Department. She has received numerous academic and professional honors, including professorships in both microbiology and in pharmacology at George Washington University
.
degree in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
in 1977 and her Ph.D.
degree in Pharmacology at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1981.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
microbiologist
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
and the current head of the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
From 1998-2007 Fraser served as President and Director of The Institute for Genomic Research
The Institute for Genomic Research
The Institute for Genomic Research was a non-profit genomics research institute founded in 1992 by Craig Venter in Rockville, Maryland, United States. It is now a part of the J. Craig Venter Institute.-History:...
(TIGR) in Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
. Fraser led the TIGR teams that sequenced the genomes of Mycoplasma genitalium
Mycoplasma genitalium
Mycoplasma genitalium is a small parasitic bacterium that lives on the ciliated epithelial cells of the primate genital and respiratory tracts. M. genitalium is the smallest known genome that can constitute a cell, and the second-smallest bacterium after the recently-discovered endosymbiont...
, the spirochetes Treponema pallidum
Treponema pallidum
Treponema pallidum is a species of spirochaete bacterium with subspecies that cause treponemal diseases such as syphilis, bejel, pinta and yaws. The treponemes have a cytoplasmic and outer membrane...
and Borrelia burgdorferi
Borrelia burgdorferi
Borrelia burgdorferi is a species of Gram negative bacteria of the spirochete class of the genus Borrelia. B. burgdorferi is predominant in North America, but also exists in Europe, and is the agent of Lyme disease....
, and two species of Chlamydia
Chlamydia (bacterium)
Chlamydia is a genus of bacteria that are obligate intracellular parasites. Chlamydia infections are the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections in humans and are the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide....
. She is now overseeing several major research projects, including the genomic sequencing of Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis is the pathogen of the Anthrax acute disease. It is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, with a width of 1-1.2µm and a length of 3-5µm. It can be grown in an ordinary nutrient medium under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.It is one of few bacteria known to...
, and is a member of National Research Council
United States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
committees on countering bioterrorism and on domestic animal genomics
Genomics
Genomics is a discipline in genetics concerning the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis,...
. She also has served on review committees of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, and the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
.
Fraser has published more than 160 articles in scientific journals and books. She has been a reviewer for nine scientific journals, currently serving a second term on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry
Journal of Biological Chemistry
The Journal of Biological Chemistry is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1905. Since 1925 it is published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It covers research in any area of biochemistry or molecular biology. The editor-in-chief is...
. Before becoming TIGR's president in 1998, Fraser was the Institute's Vice President of Research and Director of its Microbial Genomics Department. She has received numerous academic and professional honors, including professorships in both microbiology and in pharmacology at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
.
Education
Fraser received her B.S.Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
in 1977 and her Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in Pharmacology at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1981.
External links
- The Institute for Genome Sciences
- The Institute for Genomic Research
- Biographical Information
- Faculty Profile on the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, BaltimoreUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
website