We are delighted to announce that Dr. Judy Illes, Professor in the Division of Neurology has been awarded the 2020 Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Researcher Awards.
Dr. Judy Illes has been recognized for outstanding applied research to improve health outcomes of populations. She is also the director of Neuroethics Canada and a faculty member at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. She previously held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Neuroethics for 14 years and was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2017.
A pioneer in the field of neuroethics, Dr. Illes leads a broad program of research focusing on the ethical, legal, social, and policy challenges at the intersection of neuroscience and biomedical ethics. She is currently co-lead of the Canadian Brain Research Strategy, one of the member platforms of the International Brain Initiative, and provides leadership on numerous advisory boards, including the Institute for Neuroscience Mental Health and Addiction of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and previously on the Standing Committee of Ethics. She is also a Director-at-Large of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Dr. Illes has a strong focus on justice and diversity in her work through research in Indigenous population health. This follows the successful completion in 2015 of a multidisciplinary initiative in response to the need for bioethics support in a remote First Nations community surrounding a genetic mutation causing Early Onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease. Over the past year, she has further exemplified this commitment through her research pertaining to the brain health outcomes of vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19.
By broadening traditional Western research ethics, grappling with complex considerations such as culture in neuroscience research and dynamically engaging stakeholders, Dr. Illes delivers solutions to today’s challenging health care problems that are ethical, mutually beneficial, meaningful, and supportive.
Dr. Judy Illes will present a lecture on “Where Ethics Meets Biomedicine: The Case for Neuroscience” at the Building the Future: Faculty of Medicine Research Trainee Day & Lecture Series in November 2021.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Illes on this wonderful achievement!
Originally seen on Faculty of Medicine News