National Institute of
General Medical Sciences

Note: This is an archived page that is not updated.

Biographical Sketch

High-res image [823KB JPG]
(NIH photo by Ernie Branson)

Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., was the NIGMS director from November 2003 to July 2011. He oversaw a $2 billion budget funding basic research in the areas of cell biology, biophysics, genetics, developmental biology, pharmacology, physiology, biological chemistry, bioinformatics and computational biology. During his tenure, the Institute supported more than 4,500 research grants—about 10 percent of the grants funded by NIH as a whole—as well as a substantial amount of research training and programs designed to increase the diversity of the biomedical and behavioral research workforce.

Prior to his appointment as NIGMS director, Berg directed the Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, where he also served as professor and director of the Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry. In addition, he directed the Markey Center for Macromolecular Structure and Function and co-directed the W.M. Keck Center for the Rational Design of Biologically Active Molecules at the university.
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Curriculum Vitae and Selected Scientific Publications

Messages to the Scientific Community

Archived Messages to the Scientific Community

Congressional Statements

Appropriations Subcommittee Statement on the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget
April 28, 2010

Appropriations Subcommittee Statement on the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget
May 21, 2009

Appropriations Subcommittee Statement on the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget
March 5, 2008

Archived Congressional Statements

News Releases

Jeremy M. Berg Elected President of American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
ASBMB news release (May 26, 2011)

NIGMS Director Berg Receives Chemical Society's Public Service Award
NIGMS news release (April 13, 2011)

Berg to Step Down as National Institute of General Medical Sciences Director
NIGMS news release (December 6, 2010)

Five NIH Leaders Elected to the Institute of Medicine
NIH news release (October 11, 2010)

NIGMS Director Jeremy Berg Receives Award for Public Service
NIGMS news release (September 20, 2010)

Biophysical Society Announces 2009 Distinguished Service Award 
Biophysical Society news release (October 20, 2008)

NIH Nominates Scientific Management Review Board Members
NIH news release (September 9, 2008)

Archived News Releases

Presentations

Investing in Discovery: The National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Videocast of a presentation to the Advisory Committee to the Director, NIH (June 10, 2010)

Investing in Discovery: The Impact of Basic Research and the Role of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences [PDF, 2.09 MB] 
Presentation at an Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research/Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus Congressional Briefing (March 5, 2010)

Archived Presentations

Articles, Interviews, Podcasts and Videocasts

Jeremy Berg: An Independent Scientist Departs NIH's Ranks 
Science magazine "newsmaker interview" with the NIGMS Director (April 29, 2011)

ACS Bestows 2011 Public Service Award 
Chemical & Engineering News (April 18, 2011)

What to Expect From the Pharmacogenomics Research Network 
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics article about the goals, accomplishments and future endeavors of the Pharmacogenomics Research Network (February 17, 2011)

Study Says Middle Sized Labs Do Best 
Nature News article about an analysis of the scientific output and impact of NIGMS grants (November 16, 2010)

Berg: 'Don't Be Shy' About Defending Fundamental Model Organism Research 
GenomeWeb article about a keynote address at the Genetics Society of America meeting (June 16, 2010)

Dr. Jeremy Berg on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry [MOV, 18.3 MB]
Statement from the NIGMS director about the 2009 Nobel Prize in chemistry (October 7, 2009)

Dr. Jeremy Berg on the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine [MOV, 11.0 MB]
Statement from the NIGMS director about the 2009 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine (October 5, 2009)

Stimulating the Economy through Biomedical Research [PDF, 243 KB] 
Guest President's Column in the newsletter of the American Society for Cell Biology (April 2009)

The Path from Jellyfish to Medical Advances
Commentary on Google News (October 9, 2008)

Dr. Jeremy Berg on 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemi​stry
Comments about prize to NIGMS grantees (October 8, 2008)

NIGMS Grantees Recognized with Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Statement from NIGMS (October 8, 2008)

Jeremy Berg on Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study 
Video interview with Voice of America (July 23, 2008)

Archived Articles, Interviews, Podcasts and Videocasts