Dr. Robert Sladek
Dr. Robert Sladek was an exceptional scientist, mentor, colleague, and friend whose passing leaves a profound void in our community. He was one of those rare individuals whose intellectual gifts were matched by deep humanity: a scholar of uncommon brilliance, a generous guide to students and colleagues, and a person whose curiosity, kindness, and integrity touched the lives of many around him. He died in the early hours of March 3, 2026.
Originally trained as an endocrinologist at University of Toronto, Rob became one of the leading figures in human genetics and genomics at McGill. This trajectory gave his work a distinctive breadth and depth. He brought to science the insight of a physician, the rigor of a quantitative thinker, and the vision of someone able to move fluidly across disciplines. As a member of the Departments of Human Genetics and Medicine, and of McGill’s broader genomics community, he helped shape and elevate both through his scientific accomplishments, his mentorship, and his collegial presence.
Rob will be remembered as one of the early leaders in the application of genome-wide approaches to complex disease. His landmark work on the genetics of type 2 diabetes helped establish genome-wide association studies as a transformative approach for identifying the genetic architecture of common disease. In doing so, he contributed to a major shift in the field and helped bring international visibility to McGill’s genomics ecosystem. He was a pillar in the inception of the McGill Genome Centre when it was a small lab in the Montreal General Hospital and instrumental in recruiting the scientific team as it grew. He was a leader of the Centre during the transition phase between Tom Hudson and Mark Lathrop and guided the transformation of the Centre into a world-class high-throughput DNA sequencing centre.
But Rob’s legacy was never limited to discovery alone. His work consistently sought to understand how genetic variation is translated into biological function. His research extended from disease-associated loci to gene regulation, RNA biology, transcriptional networks, chromatin mechanisms, and development of new methods for single cell and single molecule analyses. He belonged to the generation of scientists who helped carry human genetics into the era of functional genomics, always with a sharp instinct for mechanism and for the promise of new technologies.
To speak only of Rob’s science, however, would be to leave out what made him so deeply admired and loved. He was an extraordinary mentor and an exceptionally generous colleague. He gave his time freely, especially to students, trainees, and junior colleagues, often in ways that were quietly transformative. He challenged ideas rigorously, asked insightful questions, and elevated scientific discussions, but always in the service of helping others think more clearly and aim more boldly.
Rob embodied the spirit of a true Renaissance man. His knowledge was vast, but his curiosity appeared to be limitless. Even in his own research, he drew on perspectives and collaborations spanning fields as diverse as physics and ethics. He possessed a remarkable intellectual range, and conversations with him could move effortlessly from genomics and technology to history, finance, politics, art, and many other subjects far beyond science. To each, he brought the same acuity, curiosity, and delight in learning. To know Rob was to encounter not only a brilliant geneticist, but a truly exceptional mind.
Above all, Rob personified a rare union of scientific excellence and humanism. He cared deeply about science, but equally about the people who do it. He strengthened our department not only through his scholarship, but through his wisdom, generosity, and humanity. His service to McGill’s academic community was equally remarkable. Whether through his contributions on Senate, his regular service as pro-dean, his leadership as Associate Director of the Quantitative Life Sciences Program, or his steady advocacy for students, trainees, and colleagues, he brought thoughtfulness, fairness, and deep care to the life of the University. He did not simply serve the institution; he helped sustain its intellectual and human fabric.
Dr. Sladek’s passing is a tremendous loss to the Department of Human Genetics, to McGill, and to the broader scientific community. His contributions to science will endure, but so too will the memory of his warmth, his generosity, and his remarkable intellect. He will be deeply missed and long remembered.
David Langlais, Ken Dewar, Alexander DeGuise and William Foulkes
We thank the Sladek family for the graduation photograph