September 17, 2012

Dr. Steven Narod, Canada Research Chair in Breast Cancer (Tier 1) and senior scientist at Women’s College Research Institute, has been elected as a fellow of the prestigious Royal Society of Canada (RSC). He is one of 17 University of Toronto faculty members elected, the largest number of new fellows of any institution in Canada.

“Steven Narod is enormously influential in Canada and around the world, and he is deeply respected by the academic community, so it’s a pleasure to see the RSC acknowledging his impact and achievements,” says Dr. Paula Rochon, vice president, research, Women’s College Hospital. “We’re thrilled to congratulate Dr. Narod and we’re very proud of this honour on his behalf.”

Dr. Steven Narod has proven that hereditary breast/ovarian cancers are preventable, and he has also found that many Ontario women with BRCA1/2 mutations are ineligible for provincially funded genetic testing. For women unwilling to undergo radical surgeries, he and his team are pinpointing dietary options that reduce risk. His database of 12,000+ women from 30 countries supports numerous international collaborations. He is the author of over 550 peer-reviewed publications, and is known to be among the most-cited breast cancer researchers in the world.

“It’s truly an honour to be elected to this prestigious academic society,” says Dr. Narod.

Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada comprises the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada. Its mission is to recognize scholarly, research and artistic excellence, to advise governments and organizations, and to promote a culture of knowledge and innovation in Canada and with other national academies around the world.

“This year, in the year of its 130th anniversary, the RSC is pleased to congratulate the new cohort of fellows and welcome them among its ranks. These fellows were recently elected by their peers in a highly competitive environment of numerous, first-rate candidates. Through their exceptional work, these new fellows pursue the distinguished work of a long line of researchers and creators who have contributed to expand Canada’s intellectual, artistic and scientific resources to support Canada’s population and its international scope,” said Professor Yolande Grisé, president of the RSC.