Louis Siminovitch
Encyclopedia
Louis Siminovitch, CC
(born May 15, 1920) is a Canadian
molecular biologist
. He was a pioneer in human genetics
, researcher into the genetic basis of muscular dystrophy
and cystic fibrosis
, and helped establish Ontario programs exploring genetic roots of cancer
.
Born in Montreal, Quebec to parents who had emigrated from Eastern Europe, he won a scholarship in chemistry to McGill University
, earning a doctorate in 1944. He then studied at the Pasteur Institute
in Paris
. In 1953 he joined Toronto
's Connaught Medical Research Laboratories. Later he joined the University of Toronto
and worked there from 1956 to 1985.
He helped establish the Department of Genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children
as geneticist in chief, where he worked from 1970 to 1985. From 1983 to 1994 he was the founding director of research at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
of Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto)
.
He is the author or coauthor, at last count, of over 147 scientific papers, reviews, and articles in journals and books.
He married Elinore, a playwright who died in 1995. They had three daughters. The annual Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre
is named in his and his wife's honour.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born May 15, 1920) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
molecular biologist
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
. He was a pioneer in human genetics
Human genetics
Human genetics describes the study of inheritance as it occurs in human beings. Human genetics encompasses a variety of overlapping fields including: classical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, biochemical genetics, genomics, population genetics, developmental genetics, clinical genetics,...
, researcher into the genetic basis of muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.In the 1860s, descriptions of boys who...
and cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
, and helped establish Ontario programs exploring genetic roots of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Born in Montreal, Quebec to parents who had emigrated from Eastern Europe, he won a scholarship in chemistry to McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, earning a doctorate in 1944. He then studied at the Pasteur Institute
Pasteur Institute
The Pasteur Institute is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, who made some of the greatest breakthroughs in modern medicine at the time, including pasteurization and vaccines for anthrax...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1953 he joined Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's Connaught Medical Research Laboratories. Later he joined the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and worked there from 1956 to 1985.
He helped establish the Department of Genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
as geneticist in chief, where he worked from 1970 to 1985. From 1983 to 1994 he was the founding director of research at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
The Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada was established in 1985 by an endowment from the Lunenfeld and Kunin families. It comprises 36 principal investigators, has a budget of C$90 million , has over 200 trainees and approximately 600 staff...
of Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto)
Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto)
Mount Sinai Hospital is a hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Although it is physically linked by bridges and tunnels to two University Health Network hospitals , Mount Sinai is an independently operated facility...
.
He is the author or coauthor, at last count, of over 147 scientific papers, reviews, and articles in journals and books.
He married Elinore, a playwright who died in 1995. They had three daughters. The annual Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre
Siminovitch Prize in Theatre
The Siminovitch Prize in Theatre is given to recognize achievement in Canadian theatre; specifically, professional directors, playwrights and designers in three-year cycles...
is named in his and his wife's honour.
Degrees
- 1941 B.Sc. McGill University, Montreal, Quebec (Chemistry)
- 1944 Ph.D. McGill University, Montreal, Quebec (Chemistry)
- 1978 D.Sc. Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland
- 1978 D.Sc. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Honours
- In 1941 he won the Anne Molson Prize in Chemistry
- In 1965 - Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (F.R.S.C.)
- In 1967 - Centennial Medal, Canada
- In 1977 - Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Silver Medal
- In 1978 he won the Royal Society of CanadaRoyal Society of CanadaThe Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
Flavelle MedalFlavelle MedalThe Flavelle Medal is an award of the Royal Society of Canada "for an outstanding contribution to biological science during the preceding ten years or for significant additions to a previous outstanding contribution to biological science". It is named in honour of Joseph Wesley Flavelle and is... - In 1980 he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. - In 1980 - Fellow, Royal Society (London) (F.R.S.)
- In 1981 he received the Gairdner Foundation Wightman AwardGairdner Foundation Wightman AwardThe Gairdner Foundation Wightman Award is given from time to time to a Canadian who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science. 2009 it has been renamed to Canada Gairdner Wightman Award. Previous winners are:...
. - In 1981 he received the Izaac Walton Killam Memorial Prize.
- In 1988 he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada.
- In 1997 he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of FameCanadian Medical Hall of FameThe Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a Canadian charitable organization, founded in 1994, that honours Canadians who have contributed to the understanding of disease and improving the health of people. It has a museum in London, Ontario, and has an annual induction ceremony.-2012:*Terry Fox*John...
. - In 1999 he was named a foreign associate, and the only Canadian, to the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. - He was awarded a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa from several Canadian Universities including Memorial University, McMaster UniversityMcMaster UniversityMcMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Université de MontréalUniversité de MontréalThe Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, McGill University, University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, University of Toronto and University of Guelph.
External links
- Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
- Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario
- Prix Siminovitch – Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Theatre Prize Official Website. Accessed January 18, 2008.
Selected publications
- Siminovitch, L., McCulloch, E.A., Till, J.E. (1963) The distribution of colony-forming cells among spleen colonies. Journal of Cellular and Comparative Physiology 62:327-36. [Link to article]
- Till, J.E., McCulloch, E.A., Siminovitch, L. (1964) A stochastic model of stem cell proliferation, based on the growth of spleen colony-forming cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 51(1):29-36. [Link to article]
- McCulloch, E.A., Siminovitch, L., Till, J.E. (1964) Spleen-colony formation in anemic mice of genotype WWv. Science 144(1620):844-846. [Link to article]
- McCulloch, E.A., Siminovitch, L., Till, J.E., Russell, E.S., Bernstein, S.E. (1965) The cellular basis of the genetically determined hemopoietic defect in anemic mice of genotype Sl/Sld. Blood 26(4):399-410. [Link to article]
- Wu, A.M., Till, J.E., Siminovitch, L., McCulloch, E.A. (1968) Cytological evidence for a relationship between normal hematopoietic colony-forming cells and cells of the lymphoid system. J Exp Med 127(3):455-464. [Link to article]