Dr. Mona Nemer was first appointed Canada’s Chief Science Advisor in 2017. She is a leader in the field of molecular cardiology, whose work has been published in prestigious scientific journals and has contributed to the development of diagnostic tests for heart failure and the genetics of cardiac birth defects.
As Canada’s top scientist, Dr. Nemer has helped expand and diversify science advice to the government by establishing a multidisciplinary network of federal science advisors, founding a pan-Canadian youth council to provide diverse youth perspectives on scientific issues, and helping to create the Interdepartmental Indigenous STEM Cluster (I-STEM) to inform and advance Indigenous aspirations and innovation in natural science stewardship. She has also promoted the free, open, and responsible use of science in government through the creation of a model policy on scientific integrity and a roadmap for open science to guide efforts in making federal research available to Canadians.
Dr. Nemer has represented Canada in international science forums and is a globally recognized champion of Canadian science. She has provided advice to the government on issues ranging from research infrastructure, to the COVID-19 pandemic, to the use of science in emergency management. She provides regular science updates to the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers. She has also served on various national and international advisory committees and boards.
Prior to this role, Dr. Nemer directed the Cardiac Genetics Unit at the Montréal Clinical Research Institute, was Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Montréal, and served as Professor and Vice-President of Research at the University of Ottawa as well as Director of its Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory.
Dr. Nemer’s contributions have earned her many national and international honours. She is a Member of the Order of Canada as well as a fellow of several science academies and learned societies, including the Royal Society of Canada and the American Academy of Arts and Science. She is also a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec and a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. She is the recipient of honorary doctorates from universities in Canada, France, Finland, Lebanon, and the United States of America.
Dr. Nemer holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from McGill University and has done postdoctoral training in molecular biology at the Montréal Clinical Research Institute and Columbia University.