Leading the field of epigenetics
Research pioneer inducted into Canadian Academy of Health Sciences
James Davie
University of Manitoba researcher James Davie, a world-renowned investigator in the field of chromatin and epigenetics, has been inducted into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. For decades his studies have have profoundly impacted our understanding of the genetics of human disease, human development, and the emerging field of stem cell biology.
Davie was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) during a ceremony on Sept. 18, 2015. Fellows are elected by their peers based on their demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies and commitment to advancing academic health sciences. Membership is considered one of the highest honours for the Canadian health sciences community. The objective of the CAHS is to provide advice on key issues relevant to the health of Canadians.
Davie is a professor of in the departments of biochemistry and medical genetics, and cell biology, in the Faculty of Health Sciences’ College of Medicine. He is also a scientist at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, and the Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, a joint institute of CancerCare Manitoba and the University of Manitoba.
“Dr. Davie’s research is viewed as unequivocally outstanding by the international scientific community,” says Digvir Jayas, University of Manitoba vice-president (research and international) and Distinguished Professor. “I have no doubt that Dr. Davie will serve the Academy and the future well-being of health sciences with distinctive competency and commitment.”
Davie’s leadership in the field of chromatin and epigenetics spans more than three decades. Over this time, he has made highly significant contributions to characterization of gene regulatory mechanisms. He has published more than 200 original articles in peer reviewed journals including some of the most prestigious, Cell, Nature, Science, and Nucleic Acids Research. His publication citation record for the past twenty years has not only been one of the highest in the chromatin field but also in all of biology and biochemistry (in the top one per cent). His early landmark discoveries have had an impact that still reverberate today in many different fields ranging from human medicine to agriculture.
As a teacher/educator and role model for students, Davie has few peers among his chromatin colleagues. He has supervised 15 PhD students, 14 MSc students, more than 20 postdoctoral fellows and has served on the advisory committees of numerous graduate students. In addition, he is a scientific leader having held positions that include: Provincial Research Director for CancerCare Manitoba, Director of the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, and Scientific Director of the Manitoba Health Research Council.
With the induction of Dr. Davie, the University of Manitoba now has 25 Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Research at the University of Manitoba is partially supported by funding from the Government of Canada Research Support Fund.