Dr. Aly Karsan has been elected as one of the 59 new 2026 Fellows for The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS). The Fellows were announced by CAHS to recognize a distinguished group of leaders whose collective expertise spans the full spectrum of health sciences in Canada.
Dr. Karsan is a hematopathologist and was founding medical director of the Centre for Clinical Genomics at BC Cancer, a professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia, distinguished scientist at the Department of Basic and Translational Research, and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Myeloid Cancers. As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Karsan’s research has focused on developing genomic technologies for clinical diagnostics and understanding how patients become resistant to therapy for leukemia and other blood cancers. His discoveries about the inflammatory and genetic mechanisms that drive leukemia and therapy resistance have transformed approaches to diagnosis and treatment around the world. Having established Canada’s first clinically accredited next-generation sequencing laboratory, Dr. Karsan is recognized as an international leader in precision oncology as well as a dedicated mentor having trained generations of scientists and clinicians.
“Election to CAHS is both a recognition of exceptional achievement and a call to service,” said Dr. Jan Sargeant, President of CAHS. “Our Fellows contribute not only through their individual leadership and scholarship, but also through the collective work of the Academy. By bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives, they help generate the evidence, insight, and guidance needed to strengthen health and health systems in Canada.”
Election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences is among the highest honours in Canada’s health sciences community. Fellows are nominated and elected by their peers in recognition of distinguished achievements and sustained contributions to advancing knowledge, improving health, and shaping healthier societies.
Credit: CAHS News