2018 INDUCTEE B. Brett Finlay, PhD Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity

Born:

April 4, 1959

(Edmonton, Alberta)

Education:

PhD, University of Alberta (1986)

Awards & Honours:

2015: Carnegie Fellowship

2014: Prix Galien

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Advancing our fundamental knowledge of life processes

Moving from microbe hunters to microbe managers

In 1676, the great Dutch naturalist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first observed bacteria in a drop of water. Almost two centuries later Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch recognized bacteria as a cause of disease, leading to development of germ theory, and applied by Joseph Lister in antiseptic surgery. These and other great discoveries establish microbiology as one of the triumphs of human knowledge. Now, Dr. Brett Finlay, Peter Wall Distinguished Professor at the Michael Smith Laboratories at the University of British Columbia, has offered profound research into the mechanisms of microbes at the molecular level, which has revealed their positive contributions to human wellness in addition to their role in infectious disease.

Key Facts

Played a leading role in moving EPEC (E. coli) from a poorly understood pathogen to its current status as a model pathogen for understanding diarrheal diseases

Developed several vaccines including one against enteropathogenic E. coli

Explored new approaches to enhance the innate immune response to treat infections

Addressed contamination issues through the creation of new detection methods for diarrheal pathogens

Cited more than 75,000 times

Professional timeline

Impact on lives today

His research in the field of cellular microbiology has led to human and animal vaccines, treatments for drug-resistant infections, and fundamental changes in our ideas of childhood health. Through his research, scientists now seek to unlock the potential of microbes as instruments of healing.

2025

April 12, 2018
Brett Finlay inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

London, Ontario
2016
Let Them Eat Dirt!

Along with Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, Dr. Finlay published Let Them Eat Dirt a book about the possible dangers of excessive sanitation in childhood environments. It has since become an international bestseller.
2003
Dr. Finlay was appointed as the founding director of the SARS Accelerated Vaccine Initiative (SAVI).
Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity
It has since served as an international model for rapid response research.
2002
Dr. Finlay co-founded Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company to facilitate shifting lab work into accessible products
Cells, Genetics & Genomics
2001
The National Food and Water Safety Coalition was founded
Infectious Disease, Allergy & Immunity
This is a multidisciplinary research program for microbial food safety organization and under Dr. Finlay’s leadership, led to the development of the Canadian Coalition for Safe Food and Water.
1997
Dr. Finlay and his team published a seminal paper that showed Salmonella resides inside host cells during infections
Cells, Genetics & Genomics
1997
The Finlay Group showed how enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) injects its own receptor into host cells
Cells, Genetics & Genomics
Another seminal discovery unprecedented in concept