Leah Cowen elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Leah Cowen, a professor in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

In a statement, the AAAS praised Cowen’s “distinguished contributions in the field of microbial genomics, particularly for using functional and chemical genomic analyses to identify vulnerabilities in fungal pathogens.”

Cowen, who was recently named the University of Toronto's first associate vice-president, research,  is also a Canada Research Chair in Microbial Genomics and Infectious Disease. She has developed an innovative research program that uses genome-scale analyses to identify and explore the genes responsible for fungal infections and drug resistance by defining its underlying functional relationships. By mapping out a genetic network, this information holds the potential to discover and design new medicines for infectious diseases.

“The University of Toronto is proud of Leah Cowen and her exceptional leadership in the biomedical field,” said University Professor Ted Sargent, vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “Her work on the biology of fungal pathogens, the mechanisms through which microbes cause disease and ways to counter microbes’ drug resistance, will lead to the development of safe and effective treatments for infectious diseases.”