Jeffery A. Schloss: The 'Unsung Hero' of the Human Genome Project

Few scientific endeavors have broken more ground and have the potential to solve the great challenges of modern medicine than the Human Genome Project. Project scientists attrubute much of the project's sweeping success to the work of an "unsung hero," Jeffery A. Schloss.

As a scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Schloss pressed researchers to think boldly and develop innovative ways to identify and sequence the genes in DNA.

"I like stepping into unknown territory," Schloss said. "In the end, you hope you can solve problems that are important to society and expand the boundaries of human knowledge."

Spearheaded by the NIH and the Energy department, the project was a 13-year effort to identify and map the roughly 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA.

Understanding DNA and its variations could lead to new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent different types of diseases and disorders.

As the project's program director for technology development coordination, Schloss played a pivotal role in encouraging scientists in academia and the private sector to develop new methods of sequencing DNA accurately, quickly and at a lower cost.

"He was instrumental in setting the vision for the development of these technologies and inspired a lot of people to think boldly and to focus on novel approaches to solve problems and technology issues that are 10 years down the road," Human Genome Project Director Frances Collins said. "He is the unsung hero."

Throughout the project, Schloss and researchers reduced the cost of DNA sequencing from $300 million in the first year to $10 million in 2003, and then to its current cost of $100,000. Schloss's leadership not only made mapping the Human Genome Project possible by 2003, but it helped to complete the project two years early and under budget.

Schloss aims to reduce the cost of DNA sequencing to $1,000 by 2013, which would make it about as expensive as a high-end imaging scan.

Alan Guttmacher, acting director of National Human Genome Research Institute, said driving down the costs of DNA sequencing will allow mapping of the human genome on a personal level. He said it will make it possible for information to be used as an important part of a patient's routine medical care.

Schloss said that individuals often go to a doctor with symptoms, but it is hard to figure out what's wrong. The genome sequence can help a doctor determine the conditions for which an individual is at higher risk, which may result in a faster diagnosis.

"Knowing that a particular genetic mark increased the risk of a certain disease often gives scientists a key insight in developing a strategy for treating or even preventing the disease," Schloss said. "Doctors will know what drugs won't work for you and will also be able to tell how you will metabolize a certain drug, enabling him to set the dosage for your individual needs."

In 1988, the National Academy of Sciences recommended achieving a five to 10-fold incremental improvement in the scale and speed of DNA sequencing. Not only did Schloss help scientists meet this challenge, he helped deliver a 1,000-fold improvement. As a result, the door to personalized medicine will become increasingly accessible to greater numbers of Americans.

This article was jointly prepared by the Partnership for Public Service, a group seeking to enhance the performance of the federal government, and washingtonpost.com. Visit www.ourpublicservice.org for more about the organization's work.