James Dahlberg Named Governor's New Science Advisor

Governor Jim Doyle recently appointed James Dahlberg, PhD, the Frederick Sanger Professor of Biomolecular Chemistry at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), as his science advisor. The position was created to keep the governor and his administration informed of significant ongoing and developing scientific research and to serve as a liaison to the scientific research community.

"With our world-class university research programs and facilities and globally competitive technology and manufacturing firms, Wisconsin is poised to be a national leader in renewable energy and other scientific innovation," Doyle says. "Dr. Dahlberg is a respected leader in both the private and public sectors who will help Wisconsin continue to foster an environment that encourages scientific inquiry, innovation and commercialization."

Technology-based markets are a major contributor to Wisconsin's economy, accounting for tens of thousands of high-end jobs. To continue to grow Wisconsin's economy and maintain its status as a national leader in scientific research and commercialization, Doyle feels it's important for the state to continue its success in scientific innovation.

A member of the SMPH faculty since 1969, Dahlberg is also the co-founder of Third Wave Technologies, a publicly traded biotechnology company based in Madison that develops and sells tests and reagents for analysis of specific DNA and RNA molecules. In summer 2008, Third Wave was purchased by Hologic, Inc., a company specializing in women's healthcare.

Dahlberg, now an emeritus professor, has published more than 160 research articles on the structure, function and processing of RNAs and is an inventor or co-inventor of 25 U.S. and 12 international patents.

This article appears in the fall 2008 issue of Quarterly.