1997 INDUCTEE Louis Siminovitch, PhD Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Global Health, Leadership in Organizational Development, The Early Days - Health Care Pioneers

Born:

May 1, 1920

(Montréal, Québec)

Died:

April 6, 2021

Education:

PhD, McGill University (1944)

Awards & Honours:

2012: Order of Ontario

1989: Companion of the Order of Canada

See All Awards

Became the architect and father of the application of genetics and microbiology in Canada

A molecular biologist, scientific leader and genetics pioneer

It would be hard to overestimate the profound influence Dr. Lou Siminovitch had on the scientific enterprise in Canada and beyond. From his early days in Paris studying how bacterial viruses (phage) infected and controlled bacterial cells, to his Toronto-based pioneering studies of induced mutations in mammalian cells, Lou constantly went where no-one had gone before to unearth new insights into the molecular basis of cell growth and its dysregulation in cancer cells. His insight extended not only to his own work, but also to the many young scientists he hired, mentored, and supported, first at the Ontario Cancer Institute, then at a new Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto, then at the Hospital for Sick Children Genetics Department and finally at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital. For more than 60 years Lou was relentless in his pursuit of excellence in science, and at the age of 100 was still writing letters to key political figures agitating for more research funding and for higher standards of excellence.

Key Facts

Made important contributions to bacterial and animal virus genetics, somatic cell and human genetics and cancer research

Published more than 200 scientific papers and journal articles

Was a key leader in the establishment of five international medical journals

One of few Canadians elected to both the Royal Society of London and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Served on a number of boards in both the private and public sectors

Relentlessly advocated for science excellence at all levels of government and with all national research organizations, and never compromised on his stringent definition of excellence

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

Louis Siminovitch was Canada’s pre-eminent leader in biological science from the moment he returned to Canada from Paris when he took up a position in the Connaught Medical Research Laboratories and then moved to the new Ontario Cancer Institute as head of Biological Research. He then developed entirely new genetics research departments at the University and at the Hospital for Sick Children before creating a new research institute at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Along the way he had profound influence on the development of funding for basic science, and the peer review process, at both the Medical Research Council of Canada, and the National Cancer Institute. In Ontario he worked with the Ministry of Health to create provincial funding mechanisms, and later, with Dr. Cal Stiller, he guided the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund to support commercialization of scientific discovery. On his death at 101, hundreds of his colleagues, students and research fellows paid tribute to his extraordinary impact on their lives.

1997

May 29, 1997
Lou Siminovitch inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

London, Ontario
1994
Siminovitch is a dedicated family man, a strong supporter of culture and an arts enthusiast along with his late wife Elinore

The Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre was established in 2000 (now the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre), and is granted annually to an individual in recognition of their excellence and innovation in Canadian theatre.
1994
Siminovitch retired as research director of the LTRI

He remained connected to medical research as an advisor to the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and the Loeb Research Institute in Ottawa.
1985
As an innovative builder again, Siminovitch developed a research institute at Mount Sinai Hospital
Leadership in Organizational Development
Within a decade, the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute was one of Canada’s preeminent medical research institutions.
1976
Siminovitch was honoured with the title of University Professor
Health and Medical Education & Training
In his various capacities, his passion for medical education instilled the pursuit of excellence in at least two generations of active biomedical scientists.
1970
Throughout his career, many leaders and organizations sought out Siminovitch’s advice
Leadership in Organizational Development
In 1970, he served as the first head of the National Cancer Institute of Canada’s Research Advisory Group. Later, in 1982, he became its President.
1970
Dr. Lou Siminovitch appointed Geneticist-in-Chief at The Hospital for Sick Children
Leadership in Organizational Development, Cells, Genetics & Genomics
Lou moved quickly to develop a new cytogenetics laboratory to detect chromosome abnormalities in newborns and in the unborn through prenatal diagnosis. The young scientists he recruited and mentored went on to discover disease genes responsible for Muscular Dystrophy (Worton and Ray), Cystic Fibrosis (Tsui and Buchwald), Tay-Sachs disease (Gravel) and Fanconi Anemia (Buchwald).
1963
Lou Siminovitch provides input to the fledgling stem cell research group with Drs. Till and McCulloch
Understanding the body and disease process, Cells, Genetics & Genomics
Lou was welcomed into the group where his insight led to the publication of elegant sequential transplant experiments to demonstrate that stem cells are capable of self-renewal, a key feature in the definition of a stem cell.
1960
Lou Siminovitch joined the faculty at the University of Toronto
Health and Medical Education & Training
As a professor, he worked with department chair Dr. Harold Johns to shape the new Department of Medical Biophysics within the Ontario Cancer Institute and created the Division of Biological Research.
1956
Louis Siminovitch joins the Ontario Cancer Institute
Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Leadership in Organizational Development, Cancer
Appointed head of biological research in 1963, he contributed critical knowledge to the field of stem cell and cancer research. Under his leadership, the Institute became a leader in North American cancer research.
1953
Siminovitch returned to Canada as a fellow of the National Cancer Institute of Canada

He completed his fellowship at the Connaught Medical Research Laboratories in the University of Toronto.
1944
Upon completion of his PhD in Chemistry from McGill University, Siminovitch shifted his focus to the life sciences

After three years with the National Research Council in Ottawa, Siminovitch received a Royal Society fellowship to train alongside André Lwoff, Jacques Monod and Franҫois Jacob at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.