Professor and Senior Associate Dean (Research), University of Calgary

Gerald Zamponi is one of the world’s leading researchers on the molecular neurophysiology of ion channels. His seminal research has resulted in numerous contributions to both the basic and biomedical fields. He has described the underlying mechanisms of calcium channel inactivation, permeation and modulation by a variety of intracellular signaling molecules and pathways. His work has also defined the physiological consequences of genetic defects associated with calcium channel dysfunction in generalized epilepsies and congenital night blindness. The work has also defined novel molecular ...

Professor of Physiology and Medicine, University of Toronto

Mladen pioneered tracer methods providing a corner stone for quantifying hormonal interactions in glucoregulation and pathogenesis diabetes. His hypothesis about beneficial or deleterious glucoregulatory effects of exercise in diabetes is universally accepted and is the basis of the concept that exercise not only ameliorates, but also prevents diabetes. He was the first to outline molecular mechanisms of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal dysfunction in diabetes, hypoglycemia and stress. He discovered new mechanisms how muscle, liver and pancreatic ?-cells adapt to hyperglycemia; a critical ...

George Steiner, Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Toronto and former Head of Endocrinology at the Toronto General Hospital, has been devoted for over four decades to advancing knowledge about atherosclerosis in those afflicted with the global epidemic of diabetes. His world leadership role in basic and clinical research and his training of others was recognized by the WHO, which made him Head of their Collaborating Centre for the Study of Atherosclerosis in Diabetes. His basic work using sophisticated tracer methods led to an understanding of the way in which blood fat ...

Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto

Dr. Helene Polatajko is a highly regarded occupational therapy researcher who has contributed significantly to the development and evaluation of innovative treatment for children with developmental coordination disorder, the design of outcome measures, and the development of theoretical practice guidelines. She is Professor and former Chair, Occupational Therapy, in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Polatajko led the development and evaluation of an innovative task-based intervention for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Over the past few years, this ...

Dr. Tarik Moroy is the current President and Scientific Director of the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montreal (IRCM), an independent biomedical research institution affiliated with the Université de Montréal and associated with McGill University; a position he holds since March 1st, 2006. He is also The Director of the IRCM "Hematopoiesis and Cancer" research unit. Dr Möröy holds the Canada Research Chair in Hematopoiesis and Immune Cells Differentiation. He is a full professor at the Université de Montréal and holds a nomination as adjunct professor at McGill University. Dr. Moroy ...

Professor, University of Lethbridge

Dr. Gerlinde Metz is a Professor of Neuroscience and the Board of Governors Research Chair in Healthy Futures at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge. Her research investigates how experiences, both positive and negative, affect brain health from early development to old age. Her pioneering work has demonstrated that transgenerational stress affects the wellbeing of future generations, which is now leading to new tools for risk prediction and diagnosis of human disease. Devoted to interdisciplinary and translational research and training around the globe, ...

Stuart MacLeod is Executive Director, Child and Family Research Institute, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UBC and Vice President, Academic Development of the BC Provincial Health Services Authority. From 1987-1992 Dr. MacLeod served as Dean of Canada’s most innovative medical school at McMaster University. Since 1973 he has been an international leader pursuing optimal drug therapy. His contributions span pediatric and adult medicine, but major impact has been on the basic and clinical investigation of therapies for children and youth with a parallel focus on safe medication use, ...

VP Research, Hamilton Health Sciences

Dr. Marc Jeschke has been caring for burn patients for nearly 20 years and is a global leader in burn care, research, and education. Dr. Jeschke has over 350 peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters on burn care. He has a significant track record of successes with federal funding agencies and private foundations resulting in total lifetime funding of over $20,000,000 as principal or co-investigator. His work is translational and his research interests include investigating the profound metabolic alterations post-burn injury and novel techniques for wound coverage and skin ...

Alberta Health Services

A cancer epidemiologist and pioneer in research of the role of physical activity in cancer control.  Her contributions to identifying the role that physical activity plays in reducing cancer risk, improving coping, rehabilitation and survival after cancer diagnosis are internationally recognized.  She is a leader and collaborator who brings commitment, passion and integrity to her endeavours. Her pursuit of excellence and her keen desire to mentor and train the next generation of scientists are particularly recognized.  

Michael Fehlings is recognized as one of the world's leading clinical and translational researchers in the field oftraumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury. His pioneering research has been critical in defining the mechanisms of secondary injury after spinal cord injury and the role of demyelination in post-traumatic neurological deficits. His ground breaking findings regarding cellular and molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury have led to fundamental improvements of clinical practice and developing novel treatments strategies, including stem cell transplantation. In 2017 he led ...