Dr. Michael Rudnicki, O.C., Elected as Fellow of the Royal Society

April 29, 2020 (Ottawa) – The Stem Cell Network congratulates its Scientific Director and CEO, Dr. Michael Rudnicki, on being named a Fellow of the Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences.

Dating back to 1660, the Royal Society is the oldest national scientific organization in the world, whose members are composed of eminent scientists, engineers and technologists from the U.K. and the Commonwealth. Dr. Rudnicki is one of 51 Fellows, 10 Foreign Members and one Honorary Fellow elected this year, selected from approximately 700 candidates. Fellows are chosen for their outstanding contributions to scientific understanding.

“Michael Rudnicki’s work on muscle development and stem cells is of the highest international calibre and his election to the Royal Society is very well deserved,” said Dr. Janet Rossant, FRS, Senior Scientist and Chief of Research Emeritus at The Hospital for Sick Children, and President of the Gairdner Foundation.

“I am extremely humbled to be included in this illustrious list of scientists,” said Dr. Rudnicki, who is noted for his fundamental discovery of muscle stem cells and their function in healthy and diseased states. This work set the stage for novel molecular and stem cell based approaches for the treatment of muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders.

“For a researcher, this is one of the top honours you can receive, because it means you’ve been recognized from among your peers and across the entire scope of global science,” Dr. Rudnicki added.

Since 2005, Dr. Rudnicki has served as Scientific Director and CEO of the Stem Cell Network, a national, not-for-profit organization working to capitalize on Canada’s competitive advantage in stem cell and regenerative medicine research for the benefit of Canadians. In 2013, he was appointed to the Order of Canada.

“Michael Rudnicki has played a crucial role in ensuring the ongoing success of the Stem Cell Network. Through his vision and leadership, the Network’s pivotal role in Canada’s stem cell and regenerative medicine research sector has been greatly strengthened,” said Dr. Jim Till, FRS, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, whose pioneering work with Dr. Ernest McCulloch defined the field of stem cell research.

Dr. Rudnicki joins an eminent list of Fellows including Drs. Till and Rossant, as well as about 70 Nobel laureates. Due to the current situation, the formal ceremony to admit new Fellows will be delayed from summer 2020 to May 2021.

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About the Stem Cell Network
Tomorrow’s health is here. The Stem Cell Network (SCN) is a national non-profit that supports stem cell and regenerative medicine research, training the next generation of highly qualified personnel, and delivering outreach activities across Canada. SCN’s goal is to advance science from the lab to the clinic for the benefit of Canadians. SCN has been supported by the Government of Canada since inception in 2001. This strategic funding, valued at $118M, has benefitted approximately 170 world-class research groups and 3,000 trainees and has catalyzed 24 clinical trials. stemcellnetwork.ca