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Dr. Michael Hayden is a world-renowned researcher in the field of neurodegenerative disorders and Killam Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the highest honour UBC can confer on any faculty member. Only 4 such awards have ever been conferred in the Faculty of Medicine. He is the Founding Director Emeritus & Senior Scientist at the Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics (CMMT) in Vancouver, Canada; a genetic research center within UBC. He was the Canada Research Chair in Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine (2000-2021), Program Director of the Translational Laboratory in Genetic Medicine in Singapore (2011-2020), President of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (2012-2017).
Dr. Hayden was named one of the 50 Canadians born in the 20th century who have changed the world. He is the co-founder of five biotechnology companies: Prilenia, NeuroVir Therapeutics Inc., Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp, and 89bio. Dr. Hayden currently sits on different public and private boards of biotechnologies companies. He is Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Camp4 Therapeutics.
Author of approximately 950 peer-reviewed publications and invited submissions (h-index 170 Google Scholar; 129 Web of Science), Dr. Hayden has focused his research primarily on translational medicine, including Huntington Disease, predictive, personalized medicine, drug development, and gene therapy. His research group have have identified 10 disease-causing genes which includes the identification of the major gene underlying high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in humans. Dr. Hayden also identified the first mutations underlying Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) Deficiency and developed gene therapy approaches to treat this condition resulting in the first approved gene therapy product (Glybera) in a major market. He is the most cited author in the world for ABCA1 and Huntington Disease.
Dr. Hayden is the recipient of numerous prestigious honours and awards. He has been recently awarded the degree of Doctor of Science in Medicine (DSc(Med)) (honoris causa) by the University of Cape Town (2024) and the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Huntington Study Group, USA. This award is in recognition of his contribution to biomedical research and inspirational leadership as a clinician-scientist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. He has also been ranked in (2023) as #860 Best Scientist in the World, #19 Best Scientist in Canada, #12 Leader in Medicine Nationally, and #3 Best Biology and Biochemistry Leader by Research.com. Dr. Hayden was named one of PharmaVoice's "100 of the Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences" in 2015 and for the second time in 2022.
He is the recipient of the (2020) Humanitarian Award by the American Friends of Soroka Medical Center; inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (2017); awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Gottingen (2014); awarded the Luminary award by the Personalized Medicine World Conference (2014); awarded the Diamond Jubilee Medal, on behalf of HRH Queen Elisabeth II (2012), in recognition of his significant contributions and achievements; received the Margolese National Brain Disorder Prize (2011), awarded to Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to the treatment, amelioration, or cure of brain diseases; awarded the Killam Prize by the Canada Council of the Arts (2011), in recognition of his outstanding career achievements; and the Canada Gairdner Wightman award (2011), recognizing him as a physician-scientist who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science. Dr. Hayden has also been awarded the Order of Canada (2011), and the Order of British Columbia (2010).
Dr. Hayden is committed to empowering others. In addition to mentoring over 100 graduate students and postdocs, he is also a TED mentor. Dr. Hayden has initiated and leads an international effort to bring benefit to a community living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. In collaboration with colleagues around the world, he spearheaded and built a youth-friendly recreation, counseling, and Learning Centre in direct partnership with the township of Masiphumelele in Cape Town.
