William Y. Tsang, PhD

• Director, Cell Division and Centrosome Biology research unit
• Assistant IRCM Research Professor
• Assistant research professor, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Université de Montréal
• Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine (Division of Experimental Medicine), McGill University
• Research Scholar, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé

• New Investigator Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research 

Dr. Tsang seeks to understand the basic molecular mechanisms that control cell division. In particular, his research team is interested in identifying and characterizing novel proteins at the centrosome, a tiny cellular organelle with the capacity to organize microtubules and to modulate the cell division process.

Since centrosome dysfunction has been implicated in a wide variety of human diseases, including cancer, kidney cyst formation, infertility and neurological disorders, Dr. Tsang’s research will uncover valuable mechanistic insights that could lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. He has published several articles in distinguished scientific journals like Cell, Developmental Cell, The Journal of Cell Biology, Human Molecular Genetics, and Molecular Biology of the Cell.

Dr. Tsang holds a junior 1 research scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé, and a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Degrees and relevant experience

• B.Sc. Honours in biochemistry, University of Alberta (1996)
• PhD in biochemistry, University of Alberta (2003)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine and Cancer Institute, New York, USA (2010)

Major Honors and Awards

• Faculty of Science Dean's Honor Roll, University of Alberta (1996)
• Dean's Silver Medal in Science, University of Alberta (1996)
• University of Alberta PhD Scholarship (declined)
• NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship (1997-1999)
• AHFMR Graudate Studentship (1997-2001)
• NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2003-2005)
• AHFMR Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005-2008)