J Craig Venter Institute

Since it was founded in 1992, The Institute of Genomic Research has been at the forefront of the genomics revolution. As a nonprofit center dedicated to deciphering and analyzing genomes the molecular chains that constitute each organism s unique genetic heritage TIGR helped launch the genome era in 1995 with its landmark publication of the first full DNA sequence of a free-living organism, the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. After garnering international acclaim with this revelation, the company continued on its mission to deepen the understanding of life and produce results with wide-ranging applications in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment and biodefense. TIGR's 17-acre campus is located in the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center in Rockville, Md., near Washington, D.C.