By: Alison Rutka
31 May, 2024
The CIFAR community is mourning the loss of Wei Zhang, a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar (2019-2021 cohort) in the Humans & the Microbiome program. He was just 42 years old.
Wei was appointed to the prestigious CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar program in 2019. The program recognizes exceptional early-career researchers who show promise to be the research leaders of tomorrow. In his capacity as a Global Scholar, Wei’s work in molecular and cellular biology included a specific focus on protein-protein interactions (PPIs), probing new biological functions to better understand the proper function of cells. Through his dedicated research, Wei went on to devise innovative therapeutic strategies to improve human health, rising through the ranks to become a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Guelph.
“On behalf of CIFAR, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Wei’s family, friends and colleagues on his untimely passing,” said Franca Gucciardi, Acting Chief Operating Officer of CIFAR. “Wei came to CIFAR as a bright early-career academic who demonstrated brilliance in his work and the promise to advance his field of research. He did just that throughout his esteemed career, and his contributions will have a lasting legacy on the research community.”