Joseph Ecker is a globally recognised pioneer in genomics and epigenomics, acclaimed for his transformative work in plant and animal genetics. He co-directed the initiative that sequenced the first plant genome, Arabidopsis, and later advanced medical science by creating the first genome-wide methylation maps of the human epigenome, a breakthrough acknowledged by Time Magazine as one of 2009’s greatest discoveries. His innovative methods for profiling cytosine methylation and individual neurons have significantly contributed to understanding the brain’s cell types and gene regulatory elements in mice, primates, and humans.

Ecker’s technique was acknowledged as “Method of the Year” by Nature Methods in 2019. He continues to explore DNA methylation’s role in brain function and disease, collaborating with researchers to assess epigenetic marks in stem cells, striving to identify the most effective methods for creating cells akin to embryonic stem cells. His work lays the groundwork for understanding how individual epigenomic differences influence disease risk.

Ecker is a professor and International Council Chair in Genetics at the Salk Institute and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. He has served on numerous advisory boards, including the National Human Genome Research Institute’s Council. A member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he has been named yearly to Thomson Reuters’ “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds” list since 2014. Additionally, Popular Science Magazine recognised his research as one of the Top 10 Health Innovations of 2015.