Charles Lee Receives Prestigious Recognition from Royal Society

Charles Lee’s Distinguished Achievement at The Jackson Laboratory

This honor from the Royal Society of Canada reflects the pinnacle of recognition in academia, encompassing arts, social sciences, humanities, and sciences.

Charles Lee, PhD, DSc, FACMG, has been honored by being elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) as part of the incoming class of 2024 Fellows. This prestigious recognition acknowledges his remarkable work in the field of human genetics. The RSC serves as the senior national body representing distinguished scientists and scholars in Canada and is renowned for being the oldest scientific academy in continuous operation within the country.

At The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, where he holds the position of Professor and is the Robert Alvine Family Endowed Chair, Dr. Lee leads a cutting-edge laboratory that explores structural genomic variation and its implications for human diseases and vertebrate genome evolution.

The Royal Society of Canada recognizes scholars from various disciplines, making this election even more significant. This year, 104 new Fellows were elected, representing peers who have made exceptional contributions to their respective fields. Out of this group, Dr. Lee is among the 51 new Fellows distinguished within the Academy of Sciences.

In expressing his gratitude for this recognition, Dr. Lee shared, "I am overjoyed to be chosen as a Royal Society of Canada Fellow. The scientific accomplishments achieved in my lab were only possible through collaborative efforts and support from many institutions, including the University of Alberta and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. I find inspiration in this year's class of Fellows and feel honored to join their ranks."

Known for his groundbreaking work in human genetics, Dr. Lee gained prominence for a landmark publication in 2004 that uncovered widespread structural changes in the genome, significantly impacting our understanding of disease mechanisms and human evolution. Recently, his laboratory achieved a milestone by completing the first complete genetic sequencing of human Y chromosomes. To date, Dr. Lee has authored over 190 publications, which have collectively garnered more than 100,000 citations.

Dr. Lee’s formative years were spent in High Prairie, Alberta, where he took his first steps into the world of science. He later pursued his studies at the University of Alberta and joined The Jackson Laboratory in 2013 after an impressive stint at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of numerous accolades celebrating his research on the human genome, including the Ho-Am Prize in Medicine and being named a Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate. His fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Korean Academy of Science and Technology further reflects his esteemed status in the scientific community. Notably, he served as the president of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) from 2017 to 2023, and earlier this year, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Alberta.

The Royal Society of Canada, established in 1882, stands as an independent scientific institution. Its members have included many distinguished scientists, such as Sir Sandford Fleming, the creator of the worldwide standard time zones, and Joseph Burr Tyrrell, who notably discovered a new dinosaur species in Alberta's Badlands.

The formal induction of the newest Fellows into the Royal Society will take place during a ceremony in the coming months.

About The Jackson Laboratory

The Jackson Laboratory is a nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and employs over 3,000 staff in various locations across the globe including the United States, Japan, and China. Its mission revolves around discovering precise genomic solutions for various diseases and empowering the biomedical community globally in the pursuit of enhanced human health.

About the Royal Society of Canada

The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) promotes a culture of knowledge and innovation and recognizes excellence across various disciplines. The Society comprises The Academy of Arts and Humanities, The Academy of Social Sciences, The Academy of Science, and The RSC College. It serves to offer advice to the government while promoting academic growth within Canada and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Royal Society of Canada?

The Royal Society of Canada is a prestigious national body that recognizes excellence in scholarship across various fields including arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

What is Charles Lee’s contribution to genetics?

Charles Lee has made significant discoveries in human genetics, notably identifying structural changes in the genome, leading to advancements in understanding disease mechanisms.

When will the new Fellows be inducted into the Royal Society?

The new Fellows are scheduled to be formally inducted during a ceremony in Vancouver later this year.

Where is The Jackson Laboratory located?

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent institution with main facilities across the United States, as well as locations in Japan and China.

What notable awards has Charles Lee received?

Charles Lee has received several accolades, including the Ho-Am Prize in Medicine and distinctions as a Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate.

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