Eric N. Olson PhD is the founding Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and founding chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
He also directs the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine and the Wellstone Center for Muscular Dystrophy Research. He holds The Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science and the Annie and Willie Nelson Professorship in Stem Cell Research.
Eric Olson and his trainees discovered many of the genes that control heart and muscle development and disease. He has co-founded multiple biotechnology companies to develop therapies for heart and muscle disease, including Myogen, Miragen, Tenaya Therapeutics, and Exonics.
Eric has been a member of REACT's Independent Strategic Advisory Board since 2026.