Skip to content
CIFAR header logo
fr
menu_mobile_logo_alt
  • About
    • Our Story
    • CIFAR 40
    • Awards
    • Partnerships
    • President’s Message
    • Publications & Reports
    • Careers
    • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
  • News
  • People
    • Fellows & Advisors
    • CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars
    • Canada CIFAR AI Chairs
    • AI Strategy Leadership
    • Solution Network Members
    • Staff Directory
    • Leadership
  • Programs
    • Research Programs
    • Knowledge Mobilization
    • Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
    • Next Generation Initiatives
    • Global Call for Ideas
    • Action on Covid-19
  • Events
    • Public Events
    • Invitation-only Meetings
  • Support Us
  • fr
  • Home
  • Bio

Follow Us

alanbernstein-bw-copy

Dr. Alan Bernstein

  • President & CEO

About

Alan has been President & CEO of CIFAR since 2012, responsible for developing and leading the institute’s overall strategic direction. He is one of Canada’s leading scientists and was an early champion of women in science and young scientists.

After receiving his PhD from the University of Toronto and following postdoctoral work at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London, Dr. Bernstein joined the Ontario Cancer Institute. In 1985, he joined the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, was named its Associate Director in 1988 and served as Director of Research from 1994 to 2000. In 2000, he was asked to become the founding President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canada’s federal agency for the support of health research. In that capacity, he led the transformation of health research in Canada. In 2010, Bernstein became Executive Director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise in New York, an international alliance of researchers and funders charged with accelerating the search for an HIV vaccine.

Author of over 225 scientific publications, Alan made landmark contributions to the study of stem cells, blood cell formation (hematopoiesis), and cancer. He chairs or is a member of advisory and review boards in Canada, the U.S., U.K., Italy, and Australia. He serves as co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Stand Up 2 Cancer Canada, is a member of the Sabin-Aspen Vaccine Science and Policy Group, and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In May 2020 he was appointed to Canada’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force and in February 2021, he was appointed Chair of the Variants of Concern, Scientific Advisory Council.

Alan’s contributions to science and science policy have been recognized with numerous awards and honorary degrees, including Officer of the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the McLaughlin Medal from the Royal Society of Canada, the Award of Excellence from the Genetics Society of Canada, the Gairdner Foundation Wightman Award, induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and the 2017 Henry Friesen International Prize in Health Research.

Contact: 

alan.bernstein@cifar.ca

President’s message

Relevant Publications

  • 2021

  • Science gave us excellent vaccines. Why bend the rules?, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • We need a homegrown solution for making enough vaccines for every Canadian, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • Canada needs domestic vaccine production capacity: task force doctor, Canadian Press (interview)

  • 2020

  • Canada is trying to secure millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses. It should share., Washington Post (interview)

  • I’m Optimistic That We Will Have a COVID-19 Vaccine Soon, The Atlantic (opinion)

  • The true vaccine race isn’t between nations or companies, but between humanity and the virus, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • How artificial intelligence can accelerate our response to global pandemics, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • 2019

  • Science is transforming our world, and that makes it a fundamental election issue, Hill Times (opinion)

  • 2018

  • Fighting the flu: We need a new kind of intelligence, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • To increase Canadian innovation, take a lesson from our AI successes, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • 2017

  • It’s time for Canada to invest in developing artificial intelligence, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • A clear call to move Canadian research forward, Globe & Mail (opinion)

  • It’s time for a bold new vision for Canadian fundamental science, Maclean’s (opinion)

  • 2012

  • Alan Bernstein maps an ambitious route for cutting-edge research, Globe & Mail (interview)

Support Us

CIFAR is a registered charitable organization supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations and Canadian and international partner organizations.

Donate Now
CIFAR header logo

Subscribe

Stay up to date on news & ideas from CIFAR.

MaRS Centre, West Tower
661 University Ave., Suite 505
Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada

Contact Us
Media
Careers
Accessibility Policies
Supporters
Financial Reports
Subscribe

  • © Copyright 2022 CIFAR. All Rights Reserved.
  • Charitable Registration Number: 11921 9251 RR0001
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy.
Accept Learn more