Lorne A. Babiuk, OC, SOM, Ph.D., D.Sc., FRSC, Vice-President (Research), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Lorne A Babiuk received his B.S.A. (1967) M.Sc. (1969) and D.Sc. (1987) from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. (1972) from the University of British Columbia. He joined the University of Alberta as Vice-President (Research) in 2007, and he begins his second term as Vice-President on July 1, 2012. Prior to moving to the University of Alberta, he spent 34 years as a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan. The majority of his term at the University of Saskatchewan was associated with building a very successful research institution – VIDO (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization). Under Dr. Babiuk’s leadership, VIDO became internationally recognized as a leader in novel vaccine development. In 2005, he completed a $19.4 million expansion of VIDO and just prior to leaving VIDO, he successfully assembled the funding for the construction of a $140 million level three biocontainment facility for work on infectious diseases (InterVac). The facility was officially opened in September 2011. In addition to being the Vice-President (Research) and former Director of VIDO, Dr. Babiuk served as a member on numerous industrial and governmental scientific advisory boards and committees as well as acts as a consultant to numerous companies. He has mentored over 90 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and published over 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 100 book chapters or reviews, primarily in virology and immunology. His most recent area of focus has been in vaccine formulation and delivery. Dr. Babiuk is the holder of 28 issued patents and 18 patents pending. He is a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the European Academy of Sciences as well as an Officer of the Order of Canada. In September 2007, Dr. Babiuk was named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is also the recipient of honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Colorado State University (2007) and University of Guelph (2008).

Dr. Babiuk won the 2012 Canada Gairdner Wightman Award for his extraordinary national and international leadership in vaccine development and research on human and veterinary infectious disease control.

Further information on the Canada Gairdner Awards is available at www.gairdner.org