University of Ottawa professor Dr. Michael Rudnicki has been appointed the scientific director of the Stem Cell Network, succeeding founding director Dr. Ron Worton, who is retiring from the post.
Dr. Worton will continue as CEO and scientific director of the Ottawa Health Research Institute.
Dr. Rudnicki, senior scientist and director of molecular medicine at the Ottawa Health Research Institute and Canada Research Chair in Molecular Genetics, assumes the new role immediately. He will be joined by one of Canada’s leading stem cell researchers, Dr. Janet Rossant of the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, who becomes deputy scientific director. Rossant succeeds Dr. Connie Eaves from the B.C. Cancer Agency, who is also retiring after four years of service.
Dr. Rudnicki, whose laboratory identified the Pax7 protein that triggers stem cell specification into muscle cells, takes on the scientific leadership of the cross-Canada network of scientists, researchers, clinicians and ethicists bolstered by the federal government’s renewed commitment of $5.3 million in annual funding.
The Stem Cell Network, one of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence, brings together more than 70 of the country’s leading researchers.
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