Alan Bernstein Explained

Birth Date:25 June 1947[1]
Workplaces:Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise
Imperial Cancer Research Fund
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Ontario Cancer Institute
Alma Mater:University of Toronto
Thesis Title:A Genetic Analysis of the TOL(A,B) Locus of Escherichia Coli K-12
Thesis Url:http://search.proquest.com/docview/302687855/
Thesis Year:1972
Doctoral Advisor:James Till
Known For:Health research
Science policy
Mentorship
Leadership
Awards:FRSC (1991)
Order of Canada (2002)
Gairdner Wightman Award 2008)
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (2015)
Order of Ontario (2017)

Alan Bernstein (born June 25, 1947) is Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto and President Emeritus of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), where he served as President and CEO from 2012 to 2022. A Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, he is also a Fellow and Member of the Standing Committee for Science Planning at the International Science Council (2022-2025). Canadian Bernstein is recognized as a leader in health research, science policy, mentorship and organizational leadership.

Education

Born in Toronto, Bernstein attended Oakwood Collegiate Institute,[2] and then received his BSc. (Honours) and the James Loudon Gold Medal in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Toronto in 1968.[3] He pursued biomedical research and obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 1972 under the supervision of James Till with a thesis focusing on a genetic analysis of membrane mutants Escherichia coli.[4]

Career

Following his PhD, Bernstein undertook postdoctoral research in London at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, where he began working on retroviruses and their oncogenes.[5]

Bernstein returned to Canada in 1974 to join the faculty of the Ontario Cancer Institute. In 1985, he joined the new Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital as Head of the Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, and then served as its director of research from 1994 to 2000.[6]

In 2000, Bernstein became the inaugural president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), where he oversaw the transformation of health research in Canada and championed women, early career scientists, and the importance of interdisciplinary team research.[7]

In 2007, he became the first executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, an alliance of independent organizations around the world dedicated to accelerating the development of a preventive HIV vaccine.[5] As executive director, Bernstein oversaw the enterprise and led the development of the 2010 Scientific Strategic Plan for HIV vaccine development.[8]

In 2012, Bernstein joined CIFAR as president and CEO, where he was responsible for developing and leading the Institute's overall strategic direction. Under his presidency, the organization launched two Global Calls for Ideas[9] and the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program for early career investigators, as well as expanding the delivery of knowledge mobilization and public engagement activities,[10] and moving in to offices in the MaRS Discovery District.[11] It was during his leadership that the Government of Canada asked CIFAR to develop and lead the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy.[12] Upon his departure from CIFAR, a $1 million scholarship fund was created by donors in his name for select CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars who become CIFAR Fellows.[13]

Bernstein continues to be an active member of many advisory and review boards in Canada, the U.S., U.K., Italy, and Australia, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[14] and the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.[15] He also served as co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Stand Up to Cancer Canada with Phillip A. Sharp and chairs the Global Health Award Committee for the Gairdner Foundation.[16]

Bernstein is a vocal advocate for interdisciplinary research, early-career investigators, and intellectual freedom.[17] [18] In his public remarks, he often emphasizes the importance of early-career researchers and diversity in science.[19] [20]

Research

Bernstein's research interests have centered on blood cell formation (hematopoiesis), cancer and embryonic development. He has authored more than 225 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Awards

For his contributions to science in Canada, and internationally, Bernstein has received numerous awards, including:

He is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Dalhousie University (2007),[34] the University of British Columbia (2009),[35] the University of Ottawa (2009),[36] McGill University (2010),[37] Queen's University (2013),[38] the University of Sherbrooke (2014),[39] the University of Toronto (2019),[40] and Western University (2019).[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alan Bernstein . Canadian Who's Who . Grey House Publishing Canada . 7 October 2019.
  2. Web site: Gasner . Cynthia . Oakwood CI marks 100 years . Canadian Jewish News . May 15, 2008 .
  3. News: Kalvapalle . Rahul . Pioneering health researcher Alan Bernstein receives U of T honorary degree . 3 October 2019 . U of T News . University of Toronto . June 10, 2019.
  4. PhD . Alan. Bernstein . A Genetic Analysis of the TOL(A,B) Locus of Escherichia Coli K-12. University of Toronto . 1972 . Alan Bernstein. .
  5. Virginia . Gewin . Physics student turned biomedical scientist becomes executive director of Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise . Nature . November 8, 2007 . 450 . 7167 . 10.1038/nj7167-316a . 316 . free .
  6. Web site: Alan Bernstein, OC, PhD - Canada Gairdner Wightman Award 2008 . Gairdner . 4 October 2019.
  7. News: Bernstein . Alan . It's time for a bold new vision for Canadian fundamental science . 7 October 2019 . Maclean's . Rogers Media . October 12, 2017.
  8. The 2010 scientific strategic plan of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise . Nature Medicine . September 2010 . 16 . 10.1038/nm0910-981 . 981–989 . Berkley . Seth. 9 . 20823883 . free .
  9. Web site: Global Call for Ideas . CIFAR . 4 October 2019.
  10. Web site: Farrow . Jon . CIFAR announces public engagement initiatives . CIFAR . 17 July 2019 . 4 October 2019.
  11. Web site: CIFAR is moving to MaRS! . CIFAR . 4 October 2019.
  12. Web site: Building an AI World: Report on National and Regional AI Strategies . CIFAR . 8 May 2023.
  13. Web site: CIFAR researcher Carolina Tropini is appointed Alan Bernstein Fellow . CIFAR . 8 May 2023.
  14. Web site: Who We Are: Scientific Advisory Committee . Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . 4 October 2019.
  15. Web site: International Scientific Advisory Board . Lady Davis Institute/Jewish General Hospital . 4 October 2019.
  16. Web site: Gairdner Global Health Advisory Committee . Gairdner . 4 October 2019.
  17. News: Bernstein . Alan . Rossant . Janet . A clear call to move Canadian research forward . 4 October 2019 . The Globe and Mail . The Globe and Mail . April 19, 2017.
  18. Web site: Alan Bernstein: Doubt Everything . YouTube.com . 4 October 2019 . Video . November 5, 2015.
  19. Web site: Alan Bernstein, convocation 2019 honorary degree recipient . YouTube.com . 4 October 2019 . Video . June 14, 2019.
  20. Web site: Alan Bernstein - Honouree at Testimonial Dinner & Awards 2019 . YouTube.com . 4 October 2019 . Video . April 12, 2019.
  21. Web site: Fellows . Royal Society of Canada . 4 October 2019.
  22. http://www.rsc.ca/awards_The_McLaughlin_Medal.php McLaughlin Medal
  23. Web site: GSC William F Grant and Peter B Moens Award of Excellence . Genetics Society of Canada . 4 October 2019.
  24. Web site: Australia honours Bernstein for his work in health research . Friends of CIHR . 4 October 2019.
  25. Web site: Officer of the Order of Canada . The Governor General of Canada . 4 October 2019.
  26. Web site: June 30, 2023 . Order of Canada appointees – June 2023 . June 30, 2023 . The Governor General of Canada.
  27. Web site: Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) . The Governor General of Canada . 4 October 2019.
  28. Web site: Médaille du mérite de l'IRCM . l’Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) . 4 October 2019 .
  29. Web site: Alan Bernstein: Canada Gairdner Wightman Award 2008 . Gairdner . 4 October 2019.
  30. Web site: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) . The Governor General of Canada . 4 October 2019.
  31. Web site: Dr. Alan Bernstein, 2017 Friesen Prize . Friends of CIHR . 4 October 2019.
  32. News: The 2017 Appointees to the Order of Ontario . 7 October 2019 . Province of Ontario, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration . January 29, 2018.
  33. Web site: Testimonial Dinner and Awards 2019 . Public Policy Forum . 4 October 2019.
  34. Web site: 2000 - 2009 Honorary Degree Recipients . Dalhousie University . 4 October 2019 . 9 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190409205331/https://www.dal.ca/academics/convocation/history_traditions/honorary_degree_recipients/hon_degree_2000_2009.html . dead .
  35. Web site: 2009 Honorary Degree Recipients . The University of British Columbia . 4 October 2019.
  36. Web site: Alan Bernstein . University of Ottawa . 7 October 2019.
  37. News: McGill to recognize outstanding individuals with honorary degrees . 4 October 2019 . McGill University . May 17, 2010.
  38. News: Honorary degree recipients straddle science, politics . 4 October 2019 . Queen's Gazette . Queen's University . May 21, 2013.
  39. News: Dubois . Caroline . Quatre personnalités reçoivent un doctorat honorifique . 4 October 2019 . L'Université de Sherbrooke . September 18, 2014.
  40. News: Farrow . Jon . CIFAR President and CEO Dr. Alan Bernstein to receive honorary degree from the University of Toronto . 7 October 2019 . CIFAR . February 28, 2019.
  41. News: Western to honour global academic, science and financial leaders at 313th Convocation . 4 October 2019 . Western University . March 26, 2019.

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