David A. Clayton, Ph.D.

Vice President for Research Operations

David A. Clayton, Ph.D., holds the position of Vice President for Research Operations. He is in charge of the Institute's research activities, including the research facilities and laboratory budgets. In fiscal year 2006, the Institute spent $538 million to support 299 investigators at 64 sites. At the end of 2006, the Institute's investment in laboratory space, equipment, and other property exceeded $1.3 billion.

Clayton joined the Institute as a senior scientific officer in 1996, was appointed vice president for science development in 2000, was appointed vice president and chief scientific officer in 2001, and was appointed to his current post in 2007. He came to the Institute from Stanford University, where he was a professor of both pathology and developmental biology and associate director of the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine. Clayton completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Illinois University, and earned his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology.

After doing postdoctoral work at the City of Hope National Medical Center in California, he joined the Stanford faculty in 1970. He was promoted to professor of pathology in 1982 and was appointed professor of developmental biology in 1989. A geneticist, Clayton has made major contributions to our understanding of the role of mitochondrial genes and of the many human genetic disorders that occur following mutation of these genes. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

Photo: Barbara Ries

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