J. Fraser Mustard

Summary

Fraser Mustard, Companion of the Order of Canada, Founding President and Fellow, The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, has had a diverse career in the health sciences, research, creating a national institute for advanced research and the private sector.� After earning his MD from the University of Toronto and PhD. From the University of Cambridge, Dr. Mustard moved from the medical faculty of the University of Toronto to help establish the new School of Medicine and Health Sciences at McMaster University.� In his medical science career he was a major contributor to our understanding of the causes of cardiovascular disease and the beneficial effects of drugs such as aspirin.� In 1982, he took on the task of creating and establishing a unique Canadian institute, The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research [CIAR].� The institute was established as a virtual research network to link different disciplines to better examine and understand the complex social and economic problems in today’s world.� The Institute’s programs have had a major focus on science, technology, innovation and economic growth and the effect of economic change on the social environment and the health and well being of individuals and populations.

Since establishing CIAR, Dr. Mustard has been a leader in Canada about the socioeconomic determinants of human development and health.� A particular emphasis has been on early childhood and the role of communities.� A major theme from this works is how the social environment in which we live and gets under the skin to influence brain development in the early years.� It is clear that experience-based brain development in the early years sets patterns of brain development that affect health, learning and behaviour in later life.� Dr. Mustard co-chaired a report for the Government of Ontario on early learning with specific community recommendations [The Early Years Study].� Recognition of this has led Dr. Mustard and his colleagues to emphasize to all sectors of society the crucial nature of the early years to provide a healthy and competent population.� Dr. Mustard is involved with governments in Canada, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, UNICEF and the Aga Khan University in Pakistan in emphasizing the enormous importance to society of early childhood development.

Dr. Mustard has received numerous awards for his work including the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Prize in Medicine, the Gairdner Foundation International Award for Medical Research, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostatis Robert P. Grant Medal, and honorary degrees from a number of Canadian and international institutions.� Most recently, he received the Starr Award from the Canadian Medical Association and became a member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for all his work.

Dr. Mustard currently leads the Founders’ Network, which links together 1,000 or more individuals in the private and public sector in Canada and other countries who helped him build CIAR.� A number of these individuals are involved with the Founders’ Network in applying the knowledge from the Institute’s programs in health and human development in their communities.�

Dr. Mustard is a member of the board of the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto, Beatrice House [a residential program for homeless mothers with young children], and Past Chairman of Ballard Power Systems.

April 2004