Today we celebrate and inaugurate three 2025 Fellows. In alphabetical order: Dr. Imogen Coe, Dr. John Orlowski, and Dr. Jan K. Rainey.
I will first say a few words about each fellow and then present the fellow with their award certificate and we can take a picture.
Dr. Imogen Coe
Dr. Imogen R. Coe is a professor of Chemistry and Biology at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and an affiliate scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She is an active researcher in the biomedical sciences focusing on the uptake of anti-cancer drugs into cells via transporter proteins and using innovative novel therapies such as ultrasound plus micro/nano-bubbles.
She is also an academic leader. She was Chair of Biology and Associate Dean, Research and Partnerships at York University. She then served as the founding Dean of the Faculty of Science at TMU. From 2020 to 2022, she was the President of CSMB. Since 2022, she has been the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence at NSERC and has been invited by the federal government to serve on numerous committees to evaluate rigorous inclusive research for NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, CFI, ISED and others.
Dr. Coe has received many awards including, recently, the 2024 King Charles III Coronation medal. She is known as a compelling and accomplished scholar-activist and public intellectual in Canada, especially with respect to the integration of principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion into research cultures.
Dr. John Orlowski
Dr. John Orlowski is a Distinguished James McGill Professor and former Chair (2005-2017) of the Department of Physiology. Currently, he is the co-Director of the Cell Information Systems Group within the School of Biomedical Sciences at McGill University.
Dr. Orlowski’s scientific interests have focused on understanding the complex dynamics of cellular pH homeostasis as it pertains to human health and disease. He has played a leading role in identifying new plasma membrane and organellar isoforms of the mammalian alkali cation/proton exchanger SLC9 gene family, commonly referred to as Na+/H+ exchangers.
Dr. Orlowski has served on the Board of Directors for CSMB from 2002 to 2015, including as President of the Society. He is currently on the Editorial Board of the CSMB society journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology and serves as an Associate Editor of Physiological Reviews.
In other leadership activities within the Faculty of Medicine and Heath Sciences (FMHS) at McGill, Dr. Orlowski has made significant contributions to several mentorship activities, including the development and implementation of the Telemachus Scholar Mentoring Program for faculty members. He is also the current Chair of the Post-Leadership Development Program (LDP) Mentoring Program that offers personalized coaching for emerging leaders within the FMHS.
Dr. Jan Rainey
Dr. Jan Rainey is Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, with cross-appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry. He is also currently the Undergraduate Coordinator for his Department.
Dr. Rainey’s research contributions in the molecular biosciences span structural biology, protein engineering, physical biochemistry, and biomaterials science. His research has two major areas of focuse: (1) recombinant spider silk-based materials and (2) peptide activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). He made significant contributions to both areas. He recently established Dalhousie’s Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy CORE Facility.
Dr. Rainey first became involved with CSMB Board activity as Councilor in 2010. In 2015, he hosted the CSMB Annual Meeting at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Since 2016 until 2024, Dr. Rainey served as Treasurer for CSMB. This was a period of substantial transition for the Society, and Dr. Rainey introduced several measures to ensure the financial success of CSMB. He also served as Associate Editor for Biochemistry and Cell Biology, the Society journal.
The distinction of CSMB Fellow is bestowed on a faculty member
- who must be a current or past member of CSMB,
- who has displayed excellent scientific accomplishments in the general area of molecular biosciences, and
- who has demonstrated exceptional and sustained service to the CSMB Society preferentially and/or to the general molecular biosciences community in Canada.
Fellows will be honored at the CSMB annual meeting and recognized at CSMB-related events. Fellows have the privilege to add “CSMB Fellow” (FCSMB) to their signature.
