Emil Skamene, M.D., Ph.D.

 

Emil Skamene, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P. (C), M.A.C.P., F.R.S.C., O.Q.

F.R.S.C., O.Q.

Professor of Medicine and Director, Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, McGill University

1650 Cedar Ave., 

Rm. A6.149 Montreal (Quebec) H3G 1A4 Canada

Tel:  (514) 934 1934 loc. 42529

Fax: (514) 933 7146

Email:  emil.skamene@muhc.mcgill.ca

 

Dr. Skamene earned his M.D. in 1964 from Charles University in Prague and completed a Ph.D. program in Experimental Biology and Genetics at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in 1968, then pursued a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Immunogenetics at the Harvard Medical School.  In 1970, he was recruited to McGill University, where he completed his clinical training in Medicine and Clinical Immunology and Allergy and where he now holds the position of Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Human Genetics. 

 

Dr. Skamene’s major contribution to the field of infection and immunity has been the identification of genes controlling susceptibility to infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria.  Dr. Skamene’s research models have been applied the world over to the study of many infections, as well as to other major diseases with a genetic component. 

 

Dr. Skamene’s many scientific awards include the Bourse de mérite exceptionnel from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (1986), the Alexandre-Besredka Prize from the French-German Society for Immunology (1990), and the Distinguished Scientist (Cinader) Award (1991) from the Canadian Society for Immunology.  In 1992, he was awarded the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Prize by the Canada Council and in 1994, received the Léo-Pariseau Prize from the Association canadienne-française pour l’avancement des sciences (Acfas).  In 1997, Dr. Skamene became an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.  In 2000, he received the G. Mendel Award of the Czech Academy of Sciences.  In 2001 he was awarded the Prix du Québec for his research discoveries in immunogenetics and for his significant contribution to the development of medical research institutions in Québec. In 2005, he was inducted to the “Order National du Québec”.  He was also inducted to the Czech Learned Society of the Academy of Sciences, the highest honor awarded to a Czech scientist in the Czech Republic.  In 2006, he received the highest American recognition for a physician, the title of the Master of American College of Physicians.

 

Dr. Skamene is also the Founder (1988) of The McGill Centre for the Study of Host Resistance and a Founder (1997) of Emerillon Therapeutics Inc., a gene-discovery biotechnology spin-off of the Montreal General Hospital Research Institute and McGill University.  The intellectual property portfolio of this company includes genetically-validated drug targets for tuberculosis, asthma, dyslipidemia, pain, epilepsy and anemia of chronic disease. He held the position of Scientific Director of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Research Institute from 1999 until 2006. Dr. Skamene is the Director of the Federation of Clinical Immunological Societies Centre of Excellence at the McGill University Health Centre. In 2004, Dr. Skamene served as the President of the International Congress of Immunology, held in Montreal, and will serve as the President of the International Congress of Human Genetics to be held in 2011.