UU直播 genetics pioneer honoured
Dr Rima Rozen receives prestigious L茅o-Pariseau award
The cutting-edge genetic research and career of Dr. Rima Rozen will be acknowledged by her peers today, with a prestigious L茅o-Pariseau award from the Association canadienne-fran莽aise pour l聮avancement des sciences (ACFAS).
A UU直播 professor of Genetics, Pediatrics, and Biology, Dr Rozen has made significant contributions to what we now know about genes. Indeed, her research group was the first to isolate and clone an important gene - MTHFR or methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase - which plays a crucial role in the synthesis of the major circulatory form of folic acid.
Dr Rozen聮s team also discovered two potentially dangerous mutations of the MTHFR, which are carried by 10 and 12 percent of North Americans and puts these carriers at a higher risk of developing spina bifida and heart disease than non-carriers. Pinpointing this mutation has been important, since further medical research has demonstrated that consumption of folic acid can help ward off spina bifida and heart disease.
As a geneticist who has seen her research directly affect people聮s health, Rozen hopes the public debate on genetic research will eventually be clarified. "We shouldn聮t be afraid of genetic knowledge," she says. "We can聮t allow fear side-track us from the benefits this type of research can provide to society. My work is one small example of how gene research can identify ways to help people stay healthy."
Dr Rozen received her L茅o-Pariseau award for other achievements on her r茅sum茅, too, including her work as Scientific Director of Pediatric Research for the UU直播 Health Centre (MUHC) and Deputy Director of the MUHC聮s Research Institute. As well, she created and continues to head the Molecular Diagnostics Service at the Montreal Children聮s Hospital; a service that supplies couples whose future offspring might be at risk with genetic disorders with the scientific information they need to properly assess their options when considering parenthood.
Created in 1944, in honour of the first ACFAS President, the L茅o-Pariseau awards are sponsored by Merck-Frosst Inc. and are handed out annually to science, biology or health science researchers who have made outstanding contributions to their fields.
