Joseph A. Walder, MD, PhD and Baxter Healthcare Corporation founded Integrated DNA Technologies in 1987. A holder of numerous patents and formerly a professor of biochemistry at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, Dr. Walder established the University’s
first facility for nucleic acid synthesis, and pioneered breakthrough technologies.
Early in his research career, Dr. Walder made contributions to the field of antisense technology. This technology became a critical tool for discovering the functions of many of the genes identified through the Human Genome Project—the world’s
largest collaborative biological project that determined the sequence of the more than three billion base pairs that make up human DNA.
In 1992, IDT began offering high quality custom oligonucleotide probes and primers as commercial products. Staff at IDT developed an economically efficient method of production. Proprietary re-engineering of synthesis equipment and specially formulated
synthesis reagents, coupled with other advances in quality control, have helped IDT earn a reputation for superior product quality and value-added customer and technical service.
Today IDT remains a privately-held company and a world leader in manufacturing and delivering custom nucleic acid products, as well as a recognized innovator of a broad array of genomics-based solutions.