James J. Collins

Biography

James J. Collins is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. He is one of the founders of the emerging field of synthetic biology, and a pioneering researcher in systems biology, stochastic resonance, biological dynamics and neurostimulation. Collins has invented a number of novel devices and techniques, including vibrating insoles for enhancing balance, bistable genetic toggle switches for biotechnology and bioenergy applications, and systems biology techniques for identifying drug targets and disease mediators. Dr. Collins has co-founded two companies based on his technologies: Afferent Corporation, a medical device company, and Cellicon Biotechnologies, a drug discovery company. Dr. Collins is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of Codon Devices, Inc., and has served on the SAB of Mannkind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) and Bios Group Inc. Collins’ has received numerous awards including the 2007 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award and the Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award in Aging. From 1987 to 1990, he was a Rhodes Scholar, since which he has been a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University and currently serves as Co-Director of the Center for BioDynamics at Boston University, in addition to performing his duties as a professor. 

Research Interest

 Biomedical Engineering, systems biology, stochastic resonance, biological dynamics and neurostimulation