Who Is Francis Collins? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on April 14, 1950, Francis Collins is a distinguished American physician-geneticist who played a pivotal role in the Human Genome Project. As of 2025, he is 75 years old. Collins’ contributions to genetics and medicine have earned him numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He served as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2009 until 2021 and continues to be a prominent figure in the field of science.
| Occupation | Geneticist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 14, 1950 |
| Age | 75 Years |
| Birth Place | Staunton, Virginia, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Francis Collins's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Francis Collins stands approximately 6 feet tall (183 cm), and while specific details on his weight are less documented, he is known for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. As a public figure, his commitment to health reflects his professional background in medicine.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Regarding his personal life, Francis Collins is known to be a family man. He is married to his wife, Diane Baker Collins, who has supported him throughout his illustrious career. Together, they have three daughters. His family values are evident as Collins prioritizes spending family time, and his supportive marriage has played a significant role in his success.
Collins has written books on science, medicine, and religion, including the New York Times bestseller The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
After leaving the directorship of NHGRI and before becoming director of the NIH, he founded and served as president of The BioLogos Foundation, which promotes discourse on the relationship between science and religion and advocates the perspective that belief in Christianity can be reconciled with acceptance of evolution and science, especially thr
ough the theistic evolution idea that the Creator brought about his plan through the processes of evolution.
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Collins to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Francis Collins' estimated net worth is around $10 million. His wealth primarily stems from his long career in medicine, government positions, including his tenure at the NIH, and various speaking engagements and consultations in the medical community. While precise figures regarding his salary are not publicly available, it is known that NIH directors earn substantial salaries reflective of their expertise and experience.
Career, Business and Investments
Throughout his career, Collins has made groundbreaking contributions to genetic research and public health. After earning his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, Collins established himself as a leading research scientist. His pivotal leadership in the Human Genome Project significantly advanced the understanding of human genetics and opened up new avenues for medical research.
Following his tenure at the NIH, he remains actively engaged in various research initiatives and often consults with biotechnology companies. Collins has also authored books aimed at bridging the gap between science and faith, which have resonated with the general public.
While leading the National Human Genome Research Institute, Collins was elected to the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences. He was awarded the Canada Gairdner International Award in 1990. He was a Kilby International Awards recipient in 1993.
Collins received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1994. He received the Association for Molecular Pathology Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics in 1998. He received the Biotechnology Heritage Award with J.
Craig Venter in 2001, from the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Collins and Venter shared the "Biography of the Year" title from A&E Network in 2000. In 2005, Collins and Venter were honored as two of "America's Best Leaders" by U.S.
News & World Report and the Harvard University Center for Public Leadership.
Social Network
Francis Collins maintains a relatively low profile on social media compared to many celebrities. However, he is known for his professional presence on platforms like Twitter, where he shares updates about scientific advancements, public health issues, and personal insights into the importance of science in society. Followers appreciate his balanced approach to addressing scientific concerns while remaining accessible to the public.
Several scientific teams worked in the 1970s and 1980s to identify genes and their loci as a cause of cystic fibrosis. Progress was modest until 1985, when Lap-Chee Tsui and colleagues at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children identified the locus for the gene.
It was then determined that a shortcut was needed to speed the process of identification, so Tsui contacted Collins, who agreed to collaborate with the Toronto team and share his chromosome-jumping technique. The gene was identified in June 1989, and the results were published in the journal Science on September 8, 1989.
This identification was followed by other genetic discoveries made by Collins and a variety of collaborators. They included isolation of the genes for Huntington's disease, neurofibromatosis, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, inv(16) AML and Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome.
Education
Francis Collins’ academic journey laid the foundation for his successful career in science and medicine. He earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Virginia, followed by a Ph.D. in genetics and an M.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His educational background has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of both the scientific and clinical aspects of medicine, making him a highly respected figure in the scientific community.
Before being appointed director of the NIH, Collins led the Human Genome Project and other genomics research initiatives as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the 27 institutes and centers at NIH. Before joining NHGRI, he earned a reputation as a gene hunter at the University of Michigan.
He has been elected to the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science.
