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News Release

April 05, 2006

Microbiologist Wins Top Research Award

A University of Guelph molecular and cellular biology professor has been selected as the winner of the 2006 Roche Diagnostics/CSM Award, the most prestigious award given by the Canadian Society of Microbiologists.

Joseph Lam is the fifth U of G microbiologist to receive the honour, considered one of Canada’s premier microbiology science prizes. This is the 43rd anniversary of the award, which is sponsored by Roche Diagnostics and was established to provide national recognition to outstanding Canadian microbiologists. Lam will give a lecture and be presented with the award at the annual CSM meeting in London in June.

One of the world’s leading experts in the molecular biology of P. aeruginosa, he was acknowledged for his achievements in research and his contributions to the Canadian microbiological community. His research focuses on pathogen-host interactions with the aim of developing more effective ways to target and treat deadly chronic pulmonary infections related to cystic fibrosis.

Lam said learning he had won the award “was a very pleasant surprise. I was ecstatic about receiving such recognition from my peers. I think it reflects on the kind of environment I work in. I work with strong researchers and fantastic colleagues, and I guess they’ve been rubbing off on me. It’s a great honour to be among the people I admire a lot.”

The Roche/CSM award is the latest in a long list of honours that Lam has received, including being named a Canada Research Chair in Cystic Fibrosis and Microbial Biology. He is also a patent holder and author of 96 papers and the winner of several top science awards, including a Zellers Senior Scientist Award from the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.