Charles Lee Honored by The Jackson Laboratory and the Royal Society of Canada
Being elected to the Royal Society of Canada represents one of the highest honors in academia, encompassing fields like arts, social sciences, humanities, and sciences.
Charles Lee, PhD, DSc, FACMG, has received a prestigious honor by being elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) as part of the new class of 2024 Fellows. This significant recognition highlights his outstanding contributions to the field of human genetics. The RSC is a renowned senior national body that represents exceptional scientists and scholars across Canada and is celebrated as the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence in the country.
At The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Dr. Lee serves as a Professor and holds the Robert Alvine Family Endowed Chair. He leads an innovative lab that focuses on structural genomic variation and its effects on human diseases as well as vertebrate genome evolution.
The Royal Society of Canada honors scholars from a wide range of disciplines, which makes this election particularly meaningful. This year alone, 104 new Fellows were selected, each of whom has made remarkable contributions to their fields. Dr. Lee stands out as one of the 51 new Fellows recognized within the Academy of Sciences.
In a heartfelt expression of gratitude for this recognition, Dr. Lee stated, "I am thrilled to be chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. The scientific successes achieved in my lab were only possible thanks to the collaborative efforts and support from numerous institutions, including the University of Alberta and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. I draw inspiration from this year's class of Fellows and am honored to join their ranks."
Dr. Lee is well-known for his groundbreaking research in human genetics, especially for a pivotal publication in 2004 that revealed extensive structural changes in the genome, transforming our understanding of disease mechanisms and human evolution. More recently, his lab marked a significant milestone by completing the first comprehensive genetic sequencing of human Y chromosomes. To date, Dr. Lee has published over 190 articles that collectively have fetched more than 100,000 citations.
Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada acts as an independent scientific institution. Its members have included numerous esteemed scientists, such as Sir Sandford Fleming, who created the worldwide standard time zones, and Joseph Burr Tyrrell, who famously discovered a new dinosaur species in Alberta's Badlands.
The formal induction ceremony for the newly elected Fellows of the Royal Society will occur in the coming months.
About The Jackson Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory is a nonprofit biomedical research organization with a National Cancer Institute designated Cancer Center, and it employs over 3,000 staff across several locations worldwide, including the United States, Japan, and China. Its mission focuses on discovering precise genomic solutions for various diseases while empowering the global biomedical community towards improved human health.
About the Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) fosters a culture of knowledge and innovation while recognizing excellence across multiple fields. The Society includes The Academy of Arts and Humanities, The Academy of Social Sciences, The Academy of Science, and The RSC College. It also provides advice to the government and promotes academic advancement in Canada and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Royal Society of Canada?
The Royal Society of Canada is a distinguished national organization that honors excellence in scholarship across various disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
What has Charles Lee contributed to genetics?
Charles Lee has made significant advancements in human genetics, particularly by identifying structural changes in the genome, greatly enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms.
When will the new Fellows be inducted into the Royal Society?
The new Fellows are set to be formally inducted during a ceremony in Vancouver later this year.
Where can I find The Jackson Laboratory?
The Jackson Laboratory is an independent organization, primarily located in the United States, with additional facilities in Japan and China.
What awards has Charles Lee received?
Charles Lee has earned several significant awards, including the Ho-Am Prize in Medicine and recognition as a Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate.
