Lewis Kay elected member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences
Published: May 14, 2020
Lewis Kay has been elected an international member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences – one of the highest honours awarded to a scientist worldwide.
A University Professor in the departments of molecular genetics and biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine, and in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Kay is also a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children. He is renowned for his research in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), a technology that enables scientists to capture images of proteins at work inside cells.
Kay and his lab have made key contributions to the development of NMR, helping scientists around the world gain insights into the structure and function of protein molecules in diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other conditions. Kay and his colleagues have applied the technology to better understand neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Kay's many awards include the Khorana Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Gairdner Foundation International Award, and the Herzberg Medal from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. He is an officer of the Order of Canada.
