An eminent scientist, neurosurgeon, professor and administrator
Dr. Tator’s laboratory was the first in Canada to study acute spinal cord injury from a basic science perspective. His research transformed our world’s understanding of spinal cord injury with the first experimental models of spinal cord injury in small laboratory animals. Dr. Tator was one of the first to recognize the proliferation of endogenous stem cells in the injured adult mammalian spinal cord, and to assess the therapeutic value of transplantation of adult spinal cord derived stem cells after injury. In addition, the breadth of Dr. Tator’s influence is perhaps best manifested by his work in prevention, particularly related to sports and recreation.