Leroy Hood’s research has focused on the study of molecular immunology, biotechnology, and genomics. His professional career began at Caltech where he and his colleagues pioneered four instruments—the DNA gene sequencer and synthesizer, and the protein synthesizer and sequencer—which comprise the technological foundation for contemporary molecular biology.

Michael Phelps, the Norton Simon Professor and Chair of the UCLA Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, has been on the faculty of the University of California since 1976. He is actively engaged in medical research, educational programs and multimedia technologies at UCLA. Dr. Phelps uniquely holds six academic positions at UCLA. In addition to serving as the Departmental Chairman and holding an endowed professorship, he is also the Director of the Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Professor of Biomathematics, the Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine and the Chief of Nuclear Medicine.