New executive for Alberta medical research foundation

Edmonton, AB – February 9, 2004 – Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research has appointed Dr Kevin Keough, an internationally renowned scientist and research leader, has been appointed as president and CEO of the organization. He will assume his position in July.

Dr Keough received his doctoral degree from the University of Toronto in 1971. He is currently a professor of biochemistry in the biochemistry and pediatrics departments at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and first chief scientist with Health Canada in Ottawa. He most recently served as Memorial University’s first vice-president of research and international relations.

Dr Keough has maintained a research laboratory for 30 years, with a focus on the structure and function of lipids. In particular, he investigates the chemistry of surfactant in lungs and the biochemistry of liposomes, fatty compounds that can act as carriers for drugs and vaccines. He founded a company, NovaLipids, based on his liposome innovations.

Deputy chair of the Council of Science and Technology Advisors, Dr Keough is an expert external advisory panel that provides guidance on federal science and technology issues to the Cabinet of the Government of Canada. He is also the Canadian co-chair of the Canada-European Union Science and Technology Agreement. As a former executive member of the Medical Research Council, he was instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and is now a member of its Governing Council. A founding member of the Board of Directors of Genome Canada, he was also a member of the boards of directors of the Genesis Group Inc., the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, the Canadian Centre for Marine Communications, the Centre for Cold Ocean Resources Engineering, Operation ONLINE Incorporated and the Newfoundland and Labrador Science Centre.

He is a past-president of the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies, the Canadian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Canadian Association of University Research Administrators.