Who is Thomas J. Hudson?

Biographical notes on the Director the Montreal Genome Centre

Internationally renowned for his pioneering work in Genomics, Dr. Thomas J. Hudson is director of the Montreal Genome Centre.

As past assistant director of the Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research, Dr. Hudson led efforts to generate dense human and mouse genome maps. He is a leader in the development and applications of robotic systems and DNA-chip based methodologies for genome research.

In June 1996, he founded the Montreal Genome Centre, currently based at the McGill University Health Centre. The Montreal Genome Centre, which moves to the main McGill University campus in 2003, doubles as Expertise Centre for Genome Quebec.

Dr. Hudson has focused the bulk of his investigations on the dissection of complex genetic diseases. Ongoing research projects include: the search for genes predisposing to lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, coronary artery disease, asthma and diabetes. The laboratory is also using the DNA-chip technology to characterize breast and ovarian cancer.

Dr. Hudson teaches in the departments of Human Genetics and Medicine at McGill University and practices medicine at the Montreal General Hospital site of the McGill University Health Centre (Immunology and Allergy division). He has received numerous awards, including the Clinician-Scientist Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the 2001 Young Investigator Award from the Genetics Society of Canada and the 2000 Scientist of the Year Award from Radio-Canada. He was ranked among La Presse and The Gazette's "Top 40 under 40" in 1999.

Essential facts:

• Tom James Hudson, an N.D.G. resident, was born and raised in Jonquière, Quebec.
• Date of birth: June 12, 1961
• Dr. Hudson studied medicine at the Université de Montréal and completed his post-doctorate studies at Boston's MIT and Whitehead Institute.
• He was assistant director of the Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research from 1995 to 2001.
• He founded the Montreal General Hospital Genome Lab in 1996, which was renamed the Montreal Genome Centre in 1999.