Michel Chrétien is currently Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and Program Director, Diseases of Aging, Ottawa Health Research Institute. Previously, he was scientific director of the IRCM and the Loeb Institute. Dr. Chrétien has made major contributions including the prohormone theory, subsequently applied to neuropeptides, growth factors, receptors, enzymes, adhesion molecules, viral glycoproteins, bacterial toxins and transcription factors. He also discovered the important proprotein convertases. It is estimated that 10-15% of the genome codes for convertase substrates, some of which will be implicated in hypercholesterolemia, arteriosclerosis, cancer, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer and viral disorders (SARS, Flu and HIV/AIDS). Holder of 5 DSc. Honoris Causa (France, Belgium & Canada), he received the Killam and McLaughlin Prizes, the R&D Medal, the Friesen, Boehringer- Mannheim and Manning awards. He is also Fellow of AAAS and received the Fuller Albright and the Metzger awards. He is a member of the Order of Canada and I’ Ordre national du Québec. In 2004, he became Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur de France.