Appointment of Prof. France Gagnon as Vice-Principal Research and Innovation
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to announce that agenda committee of academic board has approved the appointment of Professor France Gagnon as vice-principal, research and innovation, at U of T Mississauga for a two-year term – from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026 – which is eligible for a three-year extension.
After earning her PhD in cellular and molecular biology at Université de Montréal, and teaching in the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa, Professor Gagnon came to U of T in 2006 as a Canada Research Chair at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH). Her research makes national and international impact: she has published 60+ peer-reviewed articles, including in Nature, Lancet, and Human Genetics; earned $9M+ in research funding, including grants from CIHR and the Heart and Stroke Foundation; and broken ground in her field as one of the first genetic epidemiologists in Canada.
Her research has also strengthened graduate education at U of T and beyond, where she has supervised 35+ MA, PhD, and post-doctoral trainees, many of whom are now field leaders themselves. At U of T, bringing together more than 40 principal investigators, she led the development of the STAGE program, the first of its kind, which trains emerging researchers in two population health fields for which Canada needs highly qualified experts: genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics.
Prof. Gagnon has driven similarly positive change as a research administrator, especially as associate dean, research, at DLSPH for the past seven years. Guided by her leadership, between 2017 and 2022, DLPSH increased grant revenue by 250%, increased average grant size by 70%, and increased tri-council funding by 83%. At the same time, DLSPH advanced a series of ambitious research initiatives, including CASCADES, CanUE, and AI4PH, all of which connect faculty, trainees, and partners across universities, sectors, and disciplines. Prof. Gagnon’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration continues to open new opportunities. Since 2017, DLSPH has grown its SSHRC funding by 755%.
In her research and leadership, Prof. Gagnon champions equity and inclusive excellence, among other strategic framework priorities. She serves as a facilitator in, and session co-lead for, the Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence, which informs her leadership and professional service, including to recruit equity-deserving candidates for Canada Research Chairs and design an equity-centered award process for the American Society of Human Genetics.
Please join me in congratulating Prof. Gagnon on her new position; I look forward to welcoming her to our U of T Mississauga community on 1 January.
Prof. Kent Moore – fresh off his election to the Royal Society of Canada – has generously agreed to extend his term as vice-principal, research and innovation, for the next three more months, as also approved by agenda committee of academic board. Thanks to him for his continued leadership, which has given Prof. Gagnon and our entire research community a brilliant foundation on which to build.
Best,
Alexandra Gillespie
Vice-President and Principal
University of Toronto Mississauga
