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Marc Tessier-LavigneOC FRS FRSC FMedSci
Tessier-Lavigne in 2013
11th President of Stanford University
In office September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2023
Preceded by	John L. Hennessy
Succeeded by	Richard Saller
10th President of Rockefeller University
In office 2011–2016
Preceded by	Paul Nurse
Succeeded by	Richard P. Lifton
Personal details
Born	Marc Trevor Tessier-Lavigne (1959-12-18) December 18, 1959 (age 65) Trenton, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Canada United States
Children	3
Education	McGill University (BS) New College, Oxford (BA) University College London (PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Neuroscience
Institutions	University of California, San Francisco Genentech Rockefeller University Stanford University
Thesis	Processing of Signals and Noise in the Outer Retina of the Salamander  (1987)
Doctoral advisor	David Attwell
Other academic advisors	Thomas Jessell

Marc Trevor Tessier-Lavigne OC FRS FRSC FMedSci (born December 18, 1959) is a Canadian-American neuroscientist who was the eleventh president of Stanford University.

Previously, he was a professor at the University of California, San Francisco and then president of Rockefeller University in New York City. He was formerly executive vice president for research and chief scientific officer at Genentech. As of 2021, he is on the boards of directors of Denali Therapeutics and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, as well as the scientific advisory boards of Denali Therapeutics and Agios Pharmaceuticals.

In 2022, the Stanford board of trustees opened an investigation into allegations that Tessier-Lavigne might have been involved in fabricating results in articles published between 2001 and 2008, when he was working at Genentech. In July 2023, the trustees' report was released, finding that in several papers he co-authored "there was apparent manipulation of research data by others." Tessier-Lavigne then announced that he would be stepping down as president of Stanford, effective August 31, 2023. On April 23, 2024, it was announced that Tessier-Lavigne would take the role of CEO of a new AI biotech drug discovery startup, Xaira Therapeutics.

Early life and education

Tessier-Lavigne was born in Trenton, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in Europe from ages 7 to 17, where his father was serving with NATO as part of the Canadian Armed Forces. He was the first in his family to attend university.

Tessier-Lavigne received a Bachelor of Science with a major in physics from McGill University in 1980, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in philosophy and physiology from New College, Oxford, in 1982, and a Doctor of Philosophy in physiology from University College London in 1987.

Tessier-Lavigne attended New College, Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, where he "first encountered the nervous system and fell in love with it," graduating with first-class honors. His doctoral advisor at University College London was David Attwell. He did postdoctoral research at the MRC Developmental Neurobiology Unit at University College London in 1987 and at the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University with Thomas Jessell from 1987 to 1991.

Career

Early career: UCSF, Stanford and Genentech

Tessier-Lavigne started his career at the University of California, San Francisco, from 1991 to 2001. He was a professor of biological sciences at Stanford University from 2001 to 2003. Genentech hired him in 2003 as its senior vice president of Research Drug Discovery. He cited the firm's "potential to create breakthrough therapies for unmet medical needs" as his reason for leaving academia. His research on the development of the brain has uncovered details of how Alzheimer's disease is triggered.

Rockefeller University

In 2011 Tessier-Lavigne joined Rockefeller University as its 10th president, succeeding Paul Nurse, who returned to Britain to take over as president of the Royal Society. Rockefeller University called Tessier-Lavigne, who supervised a team of 1,400 researchers, the "Board's unanimous first choice for the position". He would be the first high-ranking science employee to leave Genentech following its acquisition by Roche in March 2009. The departure of Tessier-Lavigne from Genentech raised concerns that the company — described by The New York Times as being "among the most innovative and successful biotechnology companies in the world" — would see a negative effect on its scientific culture. Tessier-Lavigne stated that his choice to leave Genentech was unrelated to the Roche merger and that "this is probably the only job that could have lured me away from Genentech." Russell L. Carson, chairman of the board of trustees at Rockefeller University, said that he had "literally called him cold" to offer him the position and that Tessier-Lavigne had the strong scientific background needed to oversee the 70 independent laboratories that operate within the university and whose heads report directly to the president. Richard Scheller, Tessier-Lavigne's superior, called the move "part of the tradition of exchange between academia and Genentech." While it was too early to discuss specific goals, Tessier-Lavigne said that he hoped to work on transforming basic science into treatments for disease.

Tessier-Lavigne is also a member of the Xconomists, an ad hoc team of editorial advisors for the tech news and media company, Xconomy.

Stanford University and research controversy

On February 4, 2016, Stanford University announced that Tessier-Lavigne would become Stanford's 11th president, succeeding John L. Hennessy. As president he presided over the opening of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the first new school at Stanford since 1948. In November 2020 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of that nation's highest honors, "for his groundbreaking contributions to developmental neuroscience, and his renowned academic leadership and strong advocacy of science."

In November 2022, Stanford announced that its Board of Trustees would oversee an examination of Tessier-Lavigne's publications, "over allegations that neurobiology papers that he co-authored contain multiple manipulated images". Scientific integrity consultant Elisabeth Bik had raised concerns about four papers (in such journals as Science and Nature) that were co-authored by Tessier-Lavigne, findings which were confirmed by The Stanford Daily. Tessier-Lavigne vehemently denied allegations of any falsification of data, saying "This is a breathtakingly outrageous set of claims that are completely and utterly false." Tessier-Lavigne had notified the journal Science after he was initially informed about the errors in 2015, but the Editor-in-Chief admitted that due to an error they failed to publish the corrections.

On July 19, 2023, after the examination report was released, Tessier-Lavigne announced his resignation as president, effective August 31, and the retraction or correction of five scientific papers. While there was no evidence of data manipulation by Tessier-Lavigne directly, the review committee concluded that "in at least four of the five papers, there was apparent manipulation of research data by others." He stated that he chose to step down "for the good of the University" and that the report refuted allegations of fraud and misconduct against him.

Honours

• Honorary doctorate, University of Pavia, 2006
• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, elected 2013
• Elected to the American Philosophical Society, 2017
• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, 2020
• Member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and its Institute of Medicine
• Member of the Council on Foreign Relations
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
• Fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences in the United Kingdom
• Honorary graduand of University College London
• Honorary fellow of New College, Oxford
• The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored Tessier-Lavigne with 2019 Great Immigrant Award.
• International fellow at the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) in 2020.
• Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2022

Personal life

Tessier-Lavigne met his wife, Mary Hynes, while he was a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. They have three children.

References

1. Lapin, Lisa (February 4, 2016). "Neuroscience pioneer Marc Tessier-Lavigne named Stanford's next president". Stanford University.
2. "Stanford's New President Announced". stanfordmag.org. February 4, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
3. ^ Pollock, Andrew. "Genentech Scientist to Lead Rockefeller University", The New York Times, September 8, 2010. Accessed September 13, 2010.
4. "Leadership". www.denalitherapeutics.com. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
5. "Meet Regeneron's Leadership Team". www.regeneron.com. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
6. "Agios". agios.com. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
7. Joseph, Andrew (November 30, 2022). "Stanford is investigating its president over allegations of research misconduct". STAT. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
8. ^ Lee, Stephanie M. (November 29, 2022). "Stanford Is Investigating Its Own President Over Research-Misconduct Allegations". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
9. ^ Baker, Theo (November 29, 2022). "Stanford president's research under investigation for scientific misconduct, University admits 'mistakes'". The Stanford Daily. Stanford, CA.
10. ^ Baker, Theo (February 17, 2023). "Internal review found 'falsified data' in Stanford President's Alzheimer's research, colleagues allege". The Stanford Daily. Stanford, CA.
11. Baker, Theo (March 6, 2023). "'MTL knew': misconduct allegations independently corroborated in private correspondence to special committee". Stanford Daily. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
12. ^ Saul, Stephanie (July 19, 2023). "Stanford President Will Resign After Report Found Flaws in His Research". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
13. Leuty, Ron (April 23, 2024). "Backed by $1 billion, former Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne heading AI-focused biotech startup". www.bizjournals.com.
14. Buvailo, Andrii. "A New Al Drug Discovery Startup Launched with $1 Billion in Capital". Archived from the original on April 23, 2024.
15. McIlroy, Ann. "Noted Canadian scientist to take helm of Rockefeller University", The Globe and Mail, September 10, 2010. Accessed September 13, 2010.
16. "President Marc Tessier-Lavigne talks to fellow first-gen students". Stanford News. September 18, 2017.
17. ^ "Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Stanford News. February 3, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
18. ^ Staff. "Rockefeller University Elects Marc Tessier-Lavigne 10th President", Rockefeller University press release dated September 9, 2010.
19. Saul, Stephanie (February 5, 2016). "New Stanford President Has Biotech Connection". New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
20. "Marc Tessier-Lavigne, Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Stanford University. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
21. Marc Tessier-Lavigne - Executive Vice President: Research and Chief Scientific Officer Archived September 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Genentech. Accessed September 13, 2010.
22. "About Our Mission, Team, and Editorial Ethics". Xconomy. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
23. "Staff".
24. Gelles, David (May 4, 2022). "John Doerr Gives Stanford $1.1 Billion for Climate School". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
25. ^ Lovell, Donna (November 27, 2020). "Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne named an Officer of the Order of Canada". Stanford University.
26. Selig, Kate (February 17, 2023). "Stanford president criticizes Daily report on alleged research falsification as 'replete with falsehoods'". The Stanford Daily. Stanford, CA.
27. Joseph, Andrew (November 30, 2022). "Stanford is investigating its president over allegations of research misconduct". Stat News.
28. "Stanford president resigns over manipulated research, will retract at least three papers". July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
29. "Special Committee - Board of Trustees". Retrieved July 24, 2023.
30. Stanford freshman's determined reporting leads to investigation, president's resignation, July 19, 2023, retrieved July 24, 2023
31. Baker, Theo (July 19, 2023). "Stanford president resigns over manipulated research, will retract at least three papers". The Stanford Daily.
32. "Marc Tessier-Lavigne named president". News. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
33. "Marc Trevor Tessier-Lavigne". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
34. "American Philosophical Society: Newly Elected - April 2017". Archived from the original on September 15, 2017.
35. "Marc Tessier-Lavigne Rockefeller University Faculty Page".
36. "Membership Roster". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
37. "USU Professor Named Among 2019 Carnegie Corp. "Great Immigrants, Great Americans"". DVIDS. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
38. "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
39. Cool, Kevin (September 2016). "A Leader in Full". alumni.stanford.edu. No. September/October 2016. Stanford Magazine. Retrieved September 4, 2016.

• 1959 births
• Living people
• Alumni of New College, Oxford
• Alumni of University College London
• Canadian expatriate academics in the United States
• Canadian Rhodes Scholars
• Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom)
• Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Canadian fellows of the Royal Society
• Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada
• McGill University Faculty of Science alumni
• Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
• Presidents of Rockefeller University
• University of California, San Francisco faculty
• People from Quinte West
• Canadian neuroscientists
• Stanford University faculty
• Stanford University Department of Biology faculty
• Stanford University School of Medicine faculty
• Genentech people
• Pfizer people
• Presidents of Stanford University
• Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Members of the American Philosophical Society
• Members of the National Academy of Medicine
• Officers of the Order of Canada