Announcement: Dr. Dale W. Laird appointed Acting Chair, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
Dr. Dale W. Laird
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Dale W. Laird has been appointed as Acting Chair, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, effective October 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, or until a permanent Chair is appointed, whichever occurs first.
Dr. Laird also serves as Assistant Dean, Research Chairs & Awards at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. He provides strategic leadership and oversight for the portfolio of Research Chairs held within Schulich and for Research Awards, both within and external to the School.
Dr. Laird received his PhD from the University of British Columbia in Biochemistry in 1988. He completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 1992 at the California Institute of Technology prior to becoming an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill University, where he proceeded to become an Associate Professor with tenure.
In 1997, Dr. Laird joined the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry as an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, where he was promoted to Full Professor in 2002. Currently, he also holds a cross-appointment in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.
Dr. Laird has continuously held Tri-Council funding throughout his entire career and has amassed an h index of 75 which includes his work being cited over 20,000 times. Dr. Laird has received many awards, including the Premier's Research Excellence Award, the Medical Research Council Scientist Award, a Faculty Scholar Award, Postdoctoral Supervisor of the Year Award, the Dean’s Award of Excellence - Research, and the Distinguished University Professor Award. He held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair from 2004 to 2018. In 2016, he had the honour of being inducted as a Fellow into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He has served as a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) panel Chair/Scientific Officer for nearly 15 years and, also served for six years on the Gairdner Foundation Medical Review Panel.
During his period of acting leadership, Dr. Laird looks forward to working to best support the departmental operations and to ensure optimal functioning of the Department.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Dale Laird on his appointment as Acting Chair, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.
John Yoo, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
