Board of Directors

Dr. Bernard Jasmin

Dr. Jasmin obtained his Ph.D. in 1988 from the Université de Montréal. Following postdoctoral work in Paris, France, and at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Dr. Jasmin was recruited as an Assistant Professor in 1992 by the Department of Physiology at the University of Ottawa. He quickly moved through the ranks and was promoted to Full Professor in 2000. In 2002, he became Chair of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM).   His vision in this role was to enhance the quality and stability of academic teaching programs, while also increasing the research-intensiveness of the Department.  In the Spring of 2009, he accepted the position of Vice-Dean, Research (interim), in the Faculty of Medicine, and now looks forward to many new challenges that this role offers.  Dr. Jasmin is particularly enthusiastic about exploring the many opportunities that are available to promote the continued development and success of both Basic and Clinical Research within the Faculty of Medicine and interdisciplinary research programs across Faculties within the University.

While assuming varied administrative responsibilities and  being recognized as an excellent teacher, Dr. Jasmin has maintained a vigorous research program that focuses mainly on deciphering the regulatory cascades and signalling pathways involved in controlling expression of synaptic proteins in both neuronal and skeletal muscle cells.  In this work, the emphasis is placed on studying questions that are relevant for our understanding of the physiopathology and eventual treatment of various neuromuscular and neurological diseases and conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, skeletal muscle atrophy and axonal regeneration.

Over the years, the excellence of Dr. Jasmin's research has been recognized by invitations to present at prestigious scientific meetings and institutions, and by several awards including a Scholarship Award from the Medical Research Council of Canada in 1994, a Young Investigator Award from the University of Ottawa in 1997, an Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in 1999 and, more recently, a Scientist of the Year Award from the Ontario Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy Canada and a Quality of Life Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research via its Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis.