Louis Siminovitch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis (Lou) Siminovitch
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| Born | May 1, 1920 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Died | April 6, 2021 (aged 100) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Alma mater | McGill University |
| Awards | Order of Canada Order of Ontario Flavelle Medal (1978) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Molecular biology, genetics |
| Institutions | Ontario Cancer Institute Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute Samuel Lunenfeld Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital University of Toronto |
| Thesis | The Preparation of disulphur decafluoride (1944) |
| Doctoral advisor | R.L. McIntosh |
| Notable students | Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou |
Louis Siminovitch (May 1, 1920 – April 6, 2021) was a famous Canadian molecular biologist. He was a leader in the study of human genetics. He researched the genetic causes of diseases like muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis. He also helped create programs in Ontario to explore the genetic links to cancer.
Life and Career
Louis Siminovitch was born in Montreal, Quebec. His parents were Goldie and Nathan Siminovitch, who came from Eastern Europe. He was very smart and won a scholarship to study chemistry at McGill University. He earned his doctorate degree there in 1944. After that, he continued his studies at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France.
In 1953, he started working at the Connaught Medical Research Laboratories in Toronto. A few years later, in 1956, he joined the University of Toronto. He worked there until 1985. One of his students, Joyce Taylor-Papadimitriou, also became a well-known scientist.
Dr. Siminovitch played a big role in setting up the Department of Genetics at The Hospital for Sick Children. He was the main geneticist there from 1970 to 1985. From 1983 to 1994, he was the first research director at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto). He also founded the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. This department was first called the Department of Medical Cell Biology.
He wrote or co-wrote many scientific papers and articles. He was a very active researcher.
Louis Siminovitch married Elinore, who was a playwright. They had three daughters. Elinore passed away in 1995. There is an annual award called the Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. It is named in honor of him and his wife.
Louis Siminovitch lived to be 100 years old. He passed away in April 2021 in Ontario.
Awards and Honours
Louis Siminovitch received many important awards for his scientific work. Here are some of them:
- In 1965, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. This is a very high honor for Canadian scholars.
- In 1978, he won the Royal Society of Canada Flavelle Medal. This medal is given for outstanding contributions to biological science.
- In 1980, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest civilian honors.
- Also in 1980, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society in London. This is a very old and respected scientific academy.
- In 1981, he received the Gairdner Foundation Wightman Award. This award recognizes Canadian scientists who have made major contributions to medicine.
- In 1981, he also received the Izaac Walton Killam Memorial Prize. This prize is for outstanding Canadian scholars.
- In 1988, he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada, which is the highest level of the Order.
- In 1997, he was added to the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. This means his work had a huge impact on health in Canada.
- In 1999, he was named a foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States. He was the only Canadian to receive this honor at the time.
- In 2012, he became a member of the Order of Ontario. This is the highest honor in the province of Ontario.
- He also received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from several Canadian universities. These included Memorial University, McMaster University, McGill University, and the University of Toronto.
