Front Page
News
In Brief
Research
Out and About
Papers and Presentations
News and Notes
Obituary
Classified
Search this issue
The Gazette Homepage
Division of University Relations Homepage
E-Mail Us
(January 11, 2001, Gazette)
Keough
named chief scientist
Dr.
Kevin Keough, Memorial’s vice-president (research and international
relations), has been named as Health Canada’s first chief
scientist. The appointment was announced in Ottawa Jan. 4 by
federal health minister Alan Rock.
As Health Canada’s inaugural chief scientist, Dr. Keough
has a mandate to bring leadership, coherence and expertise to
the overall strategic direction of Health Canada’s scientific
responsibilities, activities and needs. He will be responsible
for promoting a high quality of health research by fostering
links among scientists within the federal department, across
the country and around the world.
“Research can and must play and important role in improving
the health of Canadians,” said Dr. Keough. “The challenges
facing the chief scientist are significant, but we have the resources
and the talent to enable Health Canada and Canada to be a world
leader in health research and development.”
Dr. Keough will be seconded from his position at Memorial and
is expected to take up his new role as chief scientist of Health
Canada in April 2001. He will be headquartered in Ottawa but
will continue to lead his research group at Memorial University.
Dr. Axel Meisen, Memorial’s president, congratulated Dr.
Keough on his appointment.
“The appointment of a chief scientist with Health Canada
is a major national initiative in research and is a great honour
for Dr. Keough and Memorial University of Newfoundland,”
said Dr. Meisen. “He brings a distinguished career in research
and administration to this new position. I am particularly pleased
that he will maintain his connections with and will continue
his research at Memorial University.”
Dr. Keough received his doctoral degree from the University of
Toronto in 1971. His current research interests include the molecular
organization and function in lung surfactant and membrane, and
liposomes as carriers for vaccines and drugs.
Dr. Keough is deputy chair of an expert advisory panel which
provides guidance on federal science and technology issues to
the federal cabinet. As a former executive member of the Medical
Research Council, he played a lead role in the creation of the
Canadian Institutes for Health Research and is now a member of
its governing council. He is a founding member of the board of
directors of Genome Canada. He is also a member of the boards
of directors of the Genesis Group Inc., the Canadian Centre for
Fisheries Innovation, the Canadian Centre for Marine Communications,
C-CORE, Operation ONLINE Inc. and the Newfoundland and Labrador
Science Centre. Dr. Keough is a past-president of the Canadian
Federation of Biological Societies, the Canadian Society of Biochemistry
and Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Canadian Association
of University Research Administrators. He is also a founder of
Nova Lipids Inc.