Awards, honours and happenings
Honouring legendary biomedical researchers, the
Giants of Biomedical Science Hall was opened
June 27 in the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and
Biomolecular Research (DCCBR), featuring a bronze
sculpture depicting 10 leading biomedical researchers
or builders who got their start or made their mark at
U of T. Ten floors of the DCCBR will be named for the
honourees: Sir Frederick Banting, winner of the 1923
Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine; Dr. Charles
Best, collaborator with Dr. Banting on the Nobel Prizewinning
insulin discovery; Dr. Wilfred Bigelow,
developer of the first artificial cardiac pacemaker;
Dr. George Connell, biochemical research advocate
and leader; Dr. Maud Menten, founder of modern
enzymology; Dr. James Mustard, advocate for early
childhood development; Dr. Vera Peters, developer of
lumpectomy as an alternative to radical mastectomy;
Dr. Robert Salter, innovator in orthopedic surgery;
Dr. Louis Siminovitch, founder of the Department of
Medical Genetics; and Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui, discoverer of
the gene for cystic fibrosis. The sculpture was created
by Veronica de Nogales Leprevost and Edwin Timothy
Dam of Dam de Nogales Sculptors.
University Professor Anthony Pawson of the
Department of Medical Genetics and
Microbiology has been honoured with membership
in Britain’s Order of the Companions of Honour.
Queen Elizabeth II is sovereign of the Order, which is
conferred upon those who render conspicuous
national service. Living membership is limited to 65
people and those admitted are
members for life. Only a handful
of Canadians have been
members, including former
prime ministers Lester Pearson
and Pierre Trudeau and retired
General John de Chastelain.
Pawson was recognized for
his services to genetic sciences
and cancer research. As a principal investigator with
Mount Sinai Hospital’s Samuel Lunenfeld Research
Institute, his research has led to new approaches to the
treatment of cancer and his work in cell communication
and the creation of protein complexes has resulted in
greater knowledge of the human body.
Robert Orr of the Department of Physics is the
winner of a 2006 ORION (Ontario Research and
Innovation Optical Network) Discovery Award of Merit for
his work with ATLAS Canada
group, part of an international
project to search for the origin
of mass in the universe. ORION
recognizes individuals and
groups within Ontario’s
research and education community
that have successfully
championed and demonstrated
the use of advanced networks and collaborative
technologies in scientific research, teaching and learning.
Orr is the NSERC Principal Investigator for ATLAS Canada.
The Faculty of Forestry's Sandy Smith and her team,
the Collaborative Science Group for Insect Eradication,
won the Ontario Federal Council's 2006 Leadership
in Science and Sustainable
Development Award. The team,
made up of intergovernmental
and international representatives,
developed an emergency
eradication plan to control and
eliminate the spread of the
highly destructive Asian Longhorned
Beetle. The award was
created in 2004 to recognize individuals and teams who
have made an exemplary contribution in the areas of
science and/or sustainable development.
Colleen Flood, the Canada
Research Chair in Comparative
Health Law and Policy
at the Faculty of Law, was
appointed the Scientific
Director of the Canadian Institutes
of Health Research’s
Institute of Health Services
and Policy Research.
Eight prominent faculty members — including
U of T's president — were appointed to the Order
of Canada, this country's highest honour for lifetime
achievement. Named Officer of the Order of Canada,
the second highest designation after Companion, were
President David Naylor, Professor Emeritus Bernard
Dickens of the Faculty of Law, Professor Emeritus
Mary Seeman of Psychiatry and University Professor
Emeritus Endel Tulving of Psychology. Professor Emeritus
John Dirks of Medicine, Professor Emeritus Donald
Meeks of the Faculty of Social Work, University Professor
Janice Gross Stein of Political Science and Professor
Stanley Zlotkin of Pediatrics and Nutritional Studies
were named Members of the order.
Seven of U of T's top faculty won Royal Society of
Canada awards and medals this year for extraordinary
achievement in the social sciences, humanities and
sciences. University Professor Stephen Cook of
Computer Science won the John L. Synge Award for
outstanding research in any of the branches of mathematical
sciences. Professor David Dunlop of Physics at
U of T at Mississauga is the winner of the Bancroft Award,
for publication, instruction and research in the earth
sciences. Professor Alberto Leon-Garcia of Electrical and
Computer Engineering is the recipient of the Thomas W.
Eadie Medal, in recognition of major contributions to
engineering or applied science, with preference given to
those having an impact on communications. University
Professor Richard Peltierwon the Miroslaw Romanowski
Medal for significant contributions to the resolution of
scientific aspects of environmental problems or for
important improvements to the quality of an ecosystem
in all aspects. Professor Molly Shoichet of Chemical
Engineering and Applied Chemistry is the recipient of the
Rutherford Memorial Medal for chemistry for outstanding
research in any branch of chemistry, and Professor
Aephraim Steinberg of Physics received the Rutherford
Memorial Medal in physics for outstanding research in
any branch of physics. Finally, Professor Michael Tyers of
Medical Genetics and Microbiology is this year’s winner
of the McLaughlin Medal, given for important research of
sustained excellence in any branch of medical sciences.
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- Canada Foundation for
Innovation
- Canadian Institutes of Health
Research
- Connaught Fund
- Heart and Stroke Foundation
of Canada
- U.S. National Institutes of Health
|
- Petro Canada
- Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council of Canada
- The Canadian Stroke Network
- The Competitive Earmarked
Research Grant of Hong Kong
|
- The National Institute of
Occupational Safety and
Health at the Centers for
Disease Control (U.S.)
- Natural Science and Engineering
Research Council of Canada
|
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