Unlike most typical ninth graders, Huntington Willard knew at the young age of 13 what he wanted to do with his future. After being introduced to genetics in his freshman biology class, Willard remembered telling his parents, "This is want I want to do the rest of my life."
He wasn't kidding.
As one of the most prominent genomic scientists in the nation, Willard currently serves as director of the Research Institute of the University Hospitals of Cleveland. Early next year, however, Willard will become one of Duke's most important academic officers as the first director of the University's Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy.
Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance, James B. Duke professor of medicine and director of the Center for Human Genetics, has known Willard for nearly 15 years and was part of the selection committee that chose Willard. "[Willard] is just an outstanding candidate and researcher," she said. "He has the experience to head such a multi-disciplined program as the IGSP."
If his experience is substantial, his preliminary vision for his latest project may be even more so.
Willard hopes to make Duke known as "the genome university," and with his track record, which includes being named a Franklin Delano Roosevelt Professor for the March of Dimes Foundation and serving on several academic boards as well as that of the National Institute of Health, his goal is certainly possible.
From writing a textbook--Genetics in Medicine, now in its sixth edition--to serving as president of the American Society of Human Genetics, Willard has been involved in many aspects of genetic medicine. In 1990, he also co-founded the scientific journal Human Molecular Genetics with a colleague from Oxford University.
Dr. John Nilson, professor and chair of the pharmacology department at Case Western Reserve University in the Cleveland area, has known Willard for 10 years. "He's always forward thinking. He's visionary, he has integrity and he's plain-speaking. He demands excellence and he works hard," Nilson said, adding that Willard built a very strong genetics department at the Research Institute and will be hard to replace.
Willard's departure has not gone unnoticed by the greater Cleveland community. In an Oct. 28 editorial, The Plain Dealer of Cleveland noted that by taking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at Duke, Willard would invariably halt some of his Cleveland institute's momentum.
Willard said he enjoyed his tenure in Cleveland but is looking forward to his move to Duke, where he will be recruiting and hiring faculty, working with other leaders to develop new technology and unifying the IGSP's five research centers and other related departments within the University.
"[I will be] helping to build and guide what I expect to be the leading genomics program in the country," said Willard. He said one of Duke's attractive features was the high academic level of its undergraduates, and hoped to have some connection with both students and faculty from all disciplines.
One of his major projects in Cleveland was reconstructing his department's graduate program, a model he hopes to bring to Duke. Willard spent much time working with the 60 graduate students in his department. "Training students is a favorite thing of mine," he said.
At Duke, Willard--and ten of his fifteen current lab researchers--will also continue pursuing his research interests, which include chromosome inactivation and the development of artificial human chromosomes. His lab in Cleveland was the first to make artificial human chromosomes, something that Willard said could have a great impact in the future with more development.
Willard studied biology as an undergraduate at Harvard University and graduated from Yale University with a doctorate in human genetics. He was a faculty member at Stanford University as well as the University of Toronto. In 1992, he moved to Cleveland to assume the chair of the genetics department at the Research Institute, where he became director in 2001.
Willard's family will remain in Shaker Heights, Ohio, until next summer. His wife is currently the managing editor of Human Molecular Genetics and will maintain the position after the move to Durham. They have two children--one is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis, and the other is currently a senior in high school.
In his free time, Willard enjoys relaxing with family and playing golf. "It is one of my passions--or addictions--whatever you choose to call it," he said, laughing.
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