The University of British Columbia’s most prestigious academic
honour — last held by the late Michael Smith, Nobel laureate
— will be presented to a bacterial disease researcher whose
work could save the lives of millions and protect Canada’s
food and water supply from contamination.
Prof. B. Brett Finlay will be named the Peter Wall Institute
Distinguished Professor in recognition of his career research
achievements.
An expert in food- and water-borne bacteria, he has developed
a cattle vaccine to prevent growth of E.coli — the bacteria
that entered Walkerton, Ontario’s water system in 2000, killing
seven people and causing hundreds to become ill. A related
strain of E.coli also causes infant diarrhea and kills close
to one million children annually worldwide.
This year Canadian Living magazine named him as one of the
10 Canadian scientists most likely to save your life.
"Brett’s stellar career achievements exemplify research
excellence at this university and indeed in Canada,"
says UBC President Martha Piper. "We are extremely proud
that this eminent researcher was attracted to UBC and remains
here to continue his important work and to mentor students
from a variety of disciplines."
It is especially fitting that the honour was last held by
Dr. Smith — the person who brought Finlay to campus and whose
accomplishments continue to inspire both faculty and students,
adds Piper.
The 43 year-old researcher — who is also a white-water kayaker,
a runner and a musician — will receive the honour on Nov.
21, the same day that an hour-long documentary called Brett
Finlay: Man Against Microbes, will be aired on Discovery Health
TV.
A professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Microbiology
and Immunology, Finlay was recruited by Smith in 1989. His
research in UBC’s Biotechnology Laboratory focuses on the
interactions between disease-causing bacteria and their host
cells, looking at how these pathogens adhere, enter, survive,
replicate and exit the host cells.
Finlay has also established a national initiative called
the Canadian Coalition for Safe Food and Water, which fosters
research to increase food and water safety.
A winner of the E.W.R. Steacie Prize, Canada’s top honour
for young scientists and engineers, he is also a Howard Hughes
Medical Institute International Research Scholar and a Fellow
to the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada,
this country’s senior academic accolade.
The Peter Wall Distinguished Professorship is given by the
Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWIAS), and was
created through a gift from Vancouver businessman Peter Wall.
The position honours research excellence that is fundamental,
interdisciplinary and innovative. It provides salary support
for an initial five-year period and is renewable.
PWIAS is part of UBC’s Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Electronic photos of Prof. Finlay are available. Backgrounder
attached. For screener of the documentary, contact Katherine
Dodds at 604.722.3004.
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