Jim Watson (biologist)

James Douglas Watson (1943 – 13 February 2017) was a New Zealand bio-technologist and entrepreneur.

Jim Watson
Born1943
Te Teko, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Died13 February 2017
Auckland, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
Scientific career
ThesisRibonucleic acids in relation to growth (1967)

After growing up in Te Teko in the Bay of Plenty, Watson did an MSc[1] and then a Phd[2] at the University of Auckland. He then moved to California, working at the Syntex Corporation, Palo Alto and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla and then to Department of Microbiology at the University of California. He returned to Auckland University as Professor of Microbiology.[3]

In 1994 Watson established Genesis Research and Development, an NZX-listed, now defunct, biotechnology company based in Auckland.[4]

After a being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he founded Caldera Health with Richard Forster (who was also diagnosed with the cancer) to specifically focus on the disease.[5][6]

Watson served as President of the Royal Society of New Zealand between 2004 and 2006;[3] he was proceeded by Sir Gil Simpson and followed by Neville Jordan.[7] Watson died on 13 February 2017 from prostate cancer.[8]

References
  1. "Studies on the role of ribonucleic acids in the photoperiodic response – The University of Auckland". Librarysearch.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  2. "Ribonucleic acids in relation to growth – The University of Auckland". Librarysearch.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  3. "Dr James Watson Elected President of the RSNZ | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 14 March 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  4. "Alumni – Genesis Research and Development Corp". Genesis.co.nz. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  5. "About". Caldera Health. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. "Caldera founder Jim Watson dies as investors renew support for gene test | The National Business Review". Nbr.co.nz. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  7. "Royal Society Te Aparangi – Presidents". Royalsociety.org.nz. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  8. "James Douglas (Jim) Watson". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
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