Elaine Mardis

Who is Elaine Mardis?

Elaine R Mardis is an American Professor of Genetics, with an adjunct appointment in the Department of Molecular microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis and Co-Director of The Genome Institute. Dr. Mardis is also the Director of The Genome Institute's Technology Development group, a group that researches, tests and implements new sequencing technologies. Using next-generation sequencing technology, her group is developing applications and processes for use in The Genome Institute’s sequencing projects. Dr. Mardis also helped lead the group that sequenced the first whole cancer genome and has since gone on to sequence many other cancer genomes to determine the genetic changes that may lead to cancer. Other research Dr. Mardis participates in includes human genetic variation and genomics education.

Dr. Mardis serves as chair of the Basic and Translational Sciences Committee for the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group. In 2011, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences. She also received the Scripps Translational Research award for her work on cancer genomics in 2010.