Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative

Dr. George Poste

1475 N. Scottsdale Rd
SkySong – Suite 361
Scottsdale, AZ 85287-3538
P 480-727-8662
F 480-965-2765
george.poste@asu.edu

CV (Download PDF)

Bio Link

Dr. George Poste is the Del E. Webb Professor of Health Innovation and Chief Scientist at The Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative (CASI) at Arizona State University (ASU) (http://www.casi.asu.edu). This program integrates research in genomics, synthetic biology and high performance computing to study the altered regulation of molecular networks in human diseases to develop new diagnostic tests for precision medicine and the remote monitoring of health status using miniaturized body sensors and mobile devices. He assumed this post in 2009. From 2003 to 2009 he directed and built The Biodesign Institute at ASU (https://biodesign.asu.edu/).

Effective 1 January 2021 he will assume additional leadership of the new Institute for Future Health (IFH) a joint venture between ASU and the University of Arizona in precision health and digital health. This will focus on remote health monitoring technologies with a focus on the use of digital psychiatry and cognitive computing to address the growing burden of mental illness.

He has published more than 400 research papers and edited 14 books on pharmaceutical technologies, cancer and infectious diseases. He has received honorary degrees in science, law and medicine and was awarded the rank of Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to research and international security.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Exelixis, Caris Life Sciences, MediSix (Singapore) and the Scientific Advisory Boards of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the University of Michigan, Synthetic Genomics, Vir Biotechnology, iNanoBio and Haplogen GmbH (Vienna).

From 1992 to 1999, he was Chief Science and Technology Officer and Preside nt, R&D, of SmithKline Beecham (SB) (now GlaxoSmithKilne). During his tenure at SB, he was associated with the successful registration of multiple drug, vaccine and diagnostic products. He has served on the Board of Directors of Illumina, Structural Genomix (acquired by Lilly), Orchid Biosciences (acquired by LapCorp), diaDexus (acquired by Vaxgen), Monsanto (acquired by Bayer) and Advanced PCS (acquired by CVS-Caremark).

In 2004 he was named “R&D Scientist of the Year” by R&D Magazine, he received the Einstein award from the Global Business Leadership Council (2006), the Scrip Lifetime Achievement award voted by the leadership of the global pharmaceutical industry (2009) and the Arizona Bioindustry Association Pioneer Award (2016).

He is a Fellow of the U.K. Royal Society, the Royal College of Pathologists, the U.K. Academy of Medicine and The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a member of EU Academy of Sciences, the Council for Foreign Relations and the US Academy of Medicine Forum on Global Health. He served as a member of the Defense Science Board of the U.S. Department of Defense and currently serves on advisory committees for several U.S. government agencies in defense, intelligence, national security and healthcare and is an Ex-Officio Member of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense.

Dr. Sander van der Leeuw

800 S Cady Mall
Tempe, AZ 85287
P 480-965-6214
F 480-965-8087
vanderle@asu.edu

Dr. Van der Leeuw’s work focuses on the role of invention and innovation in society. He and his research team investigate how invention occurs, what the preconditions are, how the context influences it, and its role in society. An archaeologist and historian by training, Dr. Van der Leeuw has studied ancient technologies, ancient and modern man-land relationships, and Complex Systems Theory. He has done archaeological fieldwork in Syria, Holland, and France, and conducted ethno-archaeological studies in the Near East, the Philippines and Mexico. Since 1992 he has coordinated a series of interdisciplinary research projects on socio-natural interactions and modern environmental problems. The work spans all the countries along the northern Mediterranean rim. Dr. Van der Leeuw is an External Professor of the Santa Fe Institute and a Corresponding Member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences. He teaches courses on the ethnography of innovation.

Dr. Anna Barker

1475 N. Scottsdale Rd
SkySong – Suite 361D
Scottsdale, AZ 85287-3538
P 480-727-7537
F 480-965-2765
anna.barker@asu.edu

Bio Link

Dr. Barker, along with Co-Directors Dr. Sander van der Leeuw, and Dr. George Poste, will launch new research in CAS-Knowledge Networks and a workshop series on Complex Adaptive Systems. Dr. Barker served as the Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and as the NCI’s Deputy Director for Strategic Scientific Initiatives from 2002 until her retirement in August, 2010. She was a member of the NCI’s Executive Committee and participated in all aspects of strategic planning, decision making and program implementation to achieve the NCI’s mission. Dr. Barker led the planning, development and implementation of a number of strategic scientific and advanced technology initiatives and novel partnerships that emphasize innovation, trans-disciplinary teams and convergence of scientific disciplines to enable progress against cancer. These programs also stress the synergy of large scale and individual initiated research, precompetitive research and public databases and translation of discoveries into new interventions to detect, prevent and treat cancer more effectively.