In June 1953 at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), James D. Watson first announced the discovery of the structure of DNA he had made with Francis Crick three months prior. Since then the double helical molecule that carries all of life’s information has been central to biological research and at the heart of the Laboratory’s work. Today CSHL is a world-class nonprofit research institute with a strong educational mission. Through more than a century of research, it's scientists have been responsible for a great many significant discoveries, in cancer, genetic disease and understanding the brain. CSHL scientists collaborate with the top clinicians from around the world to bring discoveries into hospitals to directly affect patient care.