People

Alan Bernstein, O.C., O.Ont., Ph.D,. FRSC Alan Bernstein is president of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), one of Canada’s major global research assets. From 2008 to 2011, Bernstein was the executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, an international alliance of researchers and funders charged with accelerating the search for an HIV vaccine. Previously, he served as the founding president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2000 to 2007), Canada’s federal agency for the support of health research. In that capacity, he led the transformation of health research in Canada. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, and following postdoctoral work in London, Bernstein joined the Ontario Cancer Institute (1974 to 1985). In 1985, he joined the new Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute in Toronto. He was named associate director in 1988, and he served as director of research from 1994 to 2000. Bernstein has written more than 225 scientific publications and has made extensive contributions to the study of stem cells, hematopoiesis, and cancer. He chairs or is a member of advisory and review boards in Canada, as well as in Italy, the U.K., and the United States. Bernstein has received numerous awards and honorary degrees for his contributions to science, including the 2008 Gairdner Wightman Award, induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and the Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research. He is a senior research fellow of Massey College and in 2002, he was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada.