Alan Bernstein, Ph.D.
President
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

The science of genomics is very important. It's too important to be left to the scientists. It really needs public understanding and involvement in what's going on in health research in general, and genomics in particular.

Alan Bernstein is the President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Dr. Bernstein is a pioneer and leading researcher in the areas of cancer, hematopoieses, and our understanding of embryonic development. His work has been important in advancing techniques for gene therapy and the genetic analysis of mammalian development. Dr. Bernstein has received numerous awards and honours for his work, including the Genetics Society of Canada Award of Excellence.

Timothy Caulfield, LL.M.
Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy,
Research Director, Health Law Institute,
University of Alberta

I think that the introduction of genetic testing into our health care system is inevitable. There's a technological momentum behind it. There's a desire by the public to find out about their genetic information. So I think the Canadian health care system and the Canadian public has to get prepared for genetic testing.

Timothy Caulfield holds the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy, and he is the Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta. Mr. Caulfield is also a co-director of a Genome Canada/Genome Prairie GE3LS research project and co-editor of the Health Law Journal and the Health Law Review. Mr Caulfield's research has focussed on two general areas: genetics, ethics and the law; and the legal implications of health care reform in Canada.

Abby Lippman, Ph.D.
Full Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics McGill University

Why when we see a health problem do we immediately run for genetics as the way to approach it or deal with it? I think it's important to step back from the level of the individual who has a serious disease for which we all want to provide a treatment and a cure, and ask some of the questions about what the genetic tests that are offered to us are really asking us to do. What are the problems that these tests are set up to solve?

Abby Lippman is a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics of the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. She has studied genetics and women's health policies and reproductive technologies for over 20 years and developed the concept of "geneticization." Dr. Lippman is co-Chair of the Canadian Women's Health Network and an Advisory Committee member of the Council for Responsible Genetics (USA).

Alex MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Professor, Faculty of Medicine
University of Ottawa

Spinal muscular atrophy, my area of research, is a tragic disorder and a leading inherited cause of infant death. If I'm given the option, as I think I will be, of actually identifying the problem at birth, or even in utero, and treating it, I will grab the opportunity.

Alex MacKenzie is Director of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute. Dr. MacKenzie is also a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He was recently featured in Report on Business magazine for his research on spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and his role in the development of a new technology for genetic disease testing. Dr. MacKenzie plays a very active role in the community advocating for the importance of research.

Bob McDonald
Science Journalist
Host of Quirks and Quarks, CBC Radio

Within a few years every baby could come out of the hospital with a DVD of their genome. It would be unique to that baby. What do you do with that information? Who do you want to have that? Who owns it?

Bob McDonald is one of Canada's best-known science journalists and the host of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks - the award winning radio science program on the cutting edge of scientific inquiry. Bob McDonald is also known for hosting and co-producing the award-winning children's science television program Wonderstruck. Bob McDonald is the author of Measuring the Earth with a Stick, and he is the recipient of the Michael Smith Award for his contribution to the promotion of science in Canada.

Pauline Tardif
Executive Director
Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada

I believe that genomics offers hope to a lot of Canadians for treatments and cures. It also offers hope to Canadians living with differing degrees of disability. But it also presents a lot of dilemmas to health organizations. (With genomics research) are we representing the ethical interests of the people we serve?

Pauline Tardif is Executive Director (Ontario & Nunavut region) for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada and National Director of Social Action. She has spent 18 years working in the voluntary sector, representing various interests in the health field. Ms.Tardif advocates for the importance of health research for Canadians with neuromuscular disorders and for policies that support the disability community in Canada.