James J. Collins stands as a preeminent figure in biomedical engineering whose visionary leadership has reshaped the intersection of engineering and biological sciences. He currently serves as the Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering & Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he directs the Antibiotics-AI Project at the MIT Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in Health. As a core founding faculty member of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and an institute member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard he maintains influential cross-institutional roles that facilitate groundbreaking interdisciplinary research. Dr. Collins is widely recognized as one of the founding pioneers of the field of synthetic biology establishing fundamental principles that have guided the discipline's development over the past two decades.
His laboratory's innovative work in developing synthetic gene circuits and programmable cells has yielded transformative approaches to medical diagnostics and therapeutics with applications addressing emerging pathogens including Ebola Zika SARS-CoV-2 and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Most notably Collins pioneered the application of artificial intelligence to antibiotic discovery leading to the identification of novel compounds such as halicin and abaucin that represent entirely new classes of antibiotics with mechanisms distinct from existing treatments. His research on antibiotic action and resistance mechanisms has provided crucial insights that have reshaped understanding of how these vital drugs function at the molecular level. With over 146000 citations according to Google Scholar his highly influential body of work has established foundational frameworks that countless researchers worldwide have built upon.
Dr. Collins has successfully translated his discoveries into practical applications through multiple biotechnology ventures including Synlogic Senti Biosciences Sherlock Biosciences Cellarity and his non-profit Phare Bio demonstrating an exceptional ability to bridge academic research and real-world medical solutions. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors including the MacArthur Fellowship the Dickson Prize in Medicine and the NIH Director's Pioneer Award while his election to all three National Academies underscores his profound impact across scientific disciplines. As director of the Antibiotics-AI Project supported by The Audacious Project he continues to push the boundaries of AI-driven drug discovery to address the growing global crisis of antimicrobial resistance. His ongoing research promises to deliver critical new weapons against drug-resistant infections while advancing the field of synthetic biology into increasingly sophisticated applications for human health.
