1995 INDUCTEE Michael Smith, PhD Cells, Genetics & Genomics, Leadership in Organizational Development

Following his death, the BC government created the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

The Foundation honours Smith’s legacy as a leading molecular biologist and supports innovative research in science.

Michael Smith inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

London, Ontario

For his fundamental contributions to developing site-directed mutagenesis and its substantial impact on science, Smith was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

He accepted this award jointly with Dr. Kary B. Mullis.

Appointed by the newly founded National Network of Centres of Excellence in Protein Engineering as their Scientific Leader

Smith brought together scientists from across Canada to work on solving important questions in protein structure-function analysis.

Invited by the Dean of Science at UBC to establish an interdisciplinary institute

Smith became director of UBC’s new Biotechnology Laboratory.

Dr. Michael Smith focused his research on the human genome and on developing methods to sequence DNA molecules called oligonucleotides

He pioneered a critical technique known as site-directed mutagenesis, which involved the deliberate and predictable altering of the coding sequence of genes.

Accepted a position at the University of British Columbia

He became a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and held an honorary professorship in the Department of Zoology.

Following his education, Smith managed the Chemistry Division of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada’s laboratory in Vancouver

In this unique role, he conducted studies on the behavioural habits of salmon. Remaining grounded in his interest in biochemistry, Smith also conducted studies involving the synthesis and sequencing of nucleic acid.

Came to Canada to pursue further research

During his postdoctoral work, he came under the influence of future Nobel laureate Dr. Har Gobind Khorana and developed an early passion for molecular biology and genetics.

Began his doctoral research at the University of Manchester under the supervision of H.B. Henbest

The focus of his study was cyclohexane diols.