Dr. Michael Rudnicki has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the most prestigious and oldest scientific institution in the world. The Royal Society was founded in 1660 and is composed of about 1,600 fellows, with up to 52 new fellows appointed each year. Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin are among the many famous past Fellows. 

Dr. Rudnicki is an internationally recognized thought leader in molecular genetics and regenerative medicine. One of his key discoveries was the identification and characterization of muscle stem cells, a finding that has fueled the development of possible approaches to the treatment of muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders.  

His team also made the landmark discovery that the inherited muscle disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects muscle stem cells, not just the muscle fibers. They recently discovered a new way to treat the loss of muscle function caused by this disease in mice.  

Dr. Rudnicki is a senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and Director of the hospital’s Regenerative Medicine research program and Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research. Dr. Rudnicki is also a professor at the University of Ottawa, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, an International Research Scholar of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada,  an Officer of the Order of Canada, Scientific Director & CEO of the Stem Cell Network. 

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.  

Media Contact

Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca