Francis Crick
© Siegel RM, Callaway EM: Francis Crick's Legacy for Neuroscience: Between the α and the Ω. PLoS Biol 2/12/2004: e419.

Francis Crick (1916 – 2004) was one of Britain's great scientists. He is best known for his work with James Watson, Maurice Wilkins and others which led to identifying the structure of DNA in 1953.

This discovery proved to be of enormous importance to biomedical research — and to life and health — and earned the three scientists the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.

Francis Crick was noted for his intelligence, openness to new ideas, and his collaborations with scientists working in different fields of expertise.

The Francis Crick Institute will embrace these qualities as it strives to achieve excellence in biomedical research.