La Jolla, California—April 29, 2026—J. Craig Venter, the founder of the JCVI and a pioneer of synthetic biology, died at 79 after a brief hospitalization for cancer complications. The institute, which employs around 120 scientists, released the news late Friday, noting Venter’s role as board chair and CEO.

Venter’s career shifted genomics from piecemeal gene discovery to high‑throughput, data‑driven science. At the NIH he helped launch expressed sequence tag projects that accelerated human gene mapping. He then led the team that produced the first draft of the human genome, and later the first high‑quality diploid sequence that captured inherited variation.

In synthetic biology, Venter’s teams built the first self‑replicating bacterial cell powered by a chemically synthesized genome, proving that a digital blueprint could boot a living organism. His global Ocean Sampling Expedition uncovered millions of novel genes, reshaping understanding of the marine microbiome and its planetary role.

JCVI will continue Venter’s mission to translate genomic science into societal impact, emphasizing federal funding and cross‑sector partnerships. The institute urges privacy for his family and will announce memorial details later. Venter’s legacy endures in the tools and frameworks that now underpin modern genomics and synthetic biology.