拉斯奖 winner David Walt discusses his groundbreaking research

大卫·沃尔特博士.D.2023年弗里茨J. 德洛丽丝·H. 拉斯奖, discussed his transformative research work and its impact on human health in a special presentation at newbb电子平台.

Awarded biennially by newbb电子平台 and National Academy of Engineering (NAE), 弗里茨J. 德洛丽丝·H. 拉斯奖 recognizes outstanding bioengineering achievements in widespread use that improve the human condition. 

“Dr. Walt received the 2023 拉斯奖 for the development of microwell arrays that have greatly advanced the fields of genomics and proteomics,” said Russ College of Engineering and Technology Dean Patrick Fox while introducing Walt.

“The 拉斯奖 is the top bioengineering award given worldwide,” Fox said.

沃尔特对学生们说, 教师, staff and area residents in the Baker University Center Theater on March 28, 关于“发现, 规模及影响.” His lecture focused on how ideas happen in the laboratory and then get translated into the commercial sector.

“And then, eventually, we hope, they make an impact on human health,沃尔特说.  

In his presentation, Walt discussed the founding of the companies Illumina公司 and Quanterix.

在20世纪90年代, 沃尔特解释, he was working in the field of optical sensors and imaging optical fibers, when one of the individuals in his laboratory found a way to create microwells.

“This was a mistake, this was the opposite of what he was trying to do,” 沃尔特解释.

“We did not pay attention at first,” he said. A graduate student in his laboratory later found a way to put beads of liquid in the microwells, 但这在当时是没有用的. 

第二年, 虽然, Walt was involved with research involving DNA sequence testing and realized that the microwells could be very beneficial in his research work and the work of others.

“At that instant, I just had an epiphany,沃尔特说. 

That original accidental discovery and the realization of what could be done with the microwell arrays led to the founding of Illumina公司, which then led to new collaborations that changed Walt’s life and transformed the field of genetics. He explained the work that Illumina公司 was able to do with the technology and how it greatly expanded research possibilities.

Walt’s research work included identifying which genes are responsible for different diseases.

An important part of understanding the role of various genes in disease is to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; pronounced “snips”). At the time he was doing this research work with Illumina公司, 为了得到一个SNP, 每个SNP要花2美元, 沃尔特说,. 为了做好研究工作, 虽然, 它需要1,000个基因snp来自1,000例, which made the project far too expensive to be feasible.

Illumina公司, 虽然, 能介绍产品吗, 数组矩阵, which was able to do gene SNPs quickly and at a low price.  That technology revolutionized this research work and drove the evolution of more new products.

That technology also led to the development of the company “23 and Me.”

“It’s also the technology that was used for ancestry.沃尔特说.

These technological advances turned Illumina公司 into a company that today is worth $30 billion. 

“Really, that’s not where the impact starts,沃尔特说. 他为公司在财务上的成功感到自豪, but what’s much more important is how the company has impacted human health.

This can be seen in the clinical applications, he explained. 举个例子, he discussed how scientists were able to help a family with a genetic disease,  以及如何进一步newbb电子.

In another example, he explained how researchers found a new way to identify cancer.

“Now this is not just an economic impact, it’s really a human health impact,沃尔特说. 

Walt also discussed new technologies that led to the founding of the start-up company, Quanterix. This company has great potential to also make a difference in human health as it is doing research work into areas such as prostate cancer, 乳腺癌和COVID-19.

在谈论他的研究工作时, Walt stressed that he is grateful for all of the assistance he has received from everyone who has worked in his laboratories over the years. He said he is also thankful for the support of his funders and benefactors. 

Walt also thanked the Russ Family and said he was honored to receive the 拉斯奖.

“Thank you for the opportunity to present the Russ Lecture here,沃尔特说, adding that he had enjoyed his time at newbb电子平台.

看沃尔特演讲的录音， 请参阅本网页.

To read more about Walt and his research work, 请看俄亥俄州新闻的这篇文章.