April 23, 1996
Manuel Buchwald, O.C., PhD, named Director of The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute
TORONTO - Manuel Buchwald, O.C., PhD, has been appointed Director of The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, effective immediately. Since last July he has served as Acting Director of the Institute, a position he also held for 15 months in 1986-87.
"Dr. Buchwald's international stature as a scientist, his knowledge of the hospital and Institute, and his vision and passion for research are huge assets to SickKids," says President Mike Strofolino. "The combination of scientific achievement and administrative expertise which Dr. Buchwald brings to his new role will lead research at SickKids into the next century. Dr. Buchwald will play a major role in managing The Hospital for Sick Children."
After completing an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, and a PhD in biochemistry from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, Dr. Buchwald came to Toronto to take up a postdoctoral fellowship in the University of Toronto departments of Medical Biophysics and Medical Cell Biology. He joined The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute's department of Genetics in 1970. During his time at SickKids he has served on many hospital and Research Institute committees. As well, he held the position of Associate Director of the Institute from 1982 to 1992 and directed cystic fibrosis research from 1993 to 1995. He is now a professor of Molecular and Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Buchwald's research interests focus on the identification of the underlying causes in two genetic disorders: cystic fibrosis and Fanconi anemia. He was a member of the research team that identified the cystic fibrosis gene in 1989 and in 1992, his research team demonstrated that there are at least four different genes which cause Fanconi anemia and cloned one of those genes.
His interests expand beyond the scientific and academic communities. He chaired the subcommittee on the Spadina Road Rapid Transit Line from 1973 to 1975. From 1976 to 1978 he was Secretary of the Board of the Centre for Spanish Speaking People and also served as a volunteer interpreter for the Centre's Legal Aid Clinic. From 1980 to 1991 he was a Board member of the Toronto East End Literacy Project. From 1983 to 1985 he was a member of the review panel on Awards to Foreign Nationals of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from 1991 to 1995 was a member of the Ontario Premier's Council on Health, Well-being and Social Justice.
In 1991 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, in recognition of outstanding achievement and service. In 1994 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, an honor given to researchers, professors and scientists who are acknowledged by their peers as having reached the top of their fields.
For more information, please contact:
Public Affairs
The Hospital for Sick Children
555 University Avenue
Suite 1742, Public Affairs, First floor Atrium
Toronto,
ON
M5G 1X8
Canada
Phone: 416-813-5058
Fax: 416-813-5328