New scientific director for CHUS research centre

Sherbrooke, QC – Dr. William D. Fraser has been appointed scientific director of the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS)’s research centre for a five-year term. Recipient of the 2012 of the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation’s Distinguished Scientist Award, Dr. Fraser says he plans to promote research excellence, support and contribute to the development of the next generation of researchers, and emphasize interdisciplinarity in health research.

In addition to his role as scientific director, Dr. Fraser will practice as a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine at the CHUS and teach as a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMSS) at the Université de Sherbrooke. His research aims at reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity. He is the principal investigator for a study involving 2,000 women in 10 Canadian cities aimed at understanding the impacts of environmental chemicals on child health and development.

He received a $2.2 million research grant over three years from Public Works and Government Services Canada to conduct a mother-child study on chemicals in the environment. In addition, he holds the Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Epidemiology, which is funded by CIHR.

From 2002 to 2013, Dr. Fraser served as the assistant director of clinical research for the CHUM’s research centre and Sainte-Justine Hospital’s research centre. He has also been the head of the Department of Obstetrics at the University of Montréal and full professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montréal.