Dr. Michael Hayden, Professor of medical genetics at the University of British Columbia has been awarded the “Health Researcher of the Year” award instituted by Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The award is given for innovation, creativity and health research. Hayden has discovered gene mutations that can lead to further improvements in the cure of many diseases. He also pin pointed the gene responsible for Type-2 diabetes and eight other disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and pain.

Hayden is also director of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at the Child & Family Research Institute. The award will be given to him at a ceremony at the National Gallery in Ottawa. It includes a research grant of $500,000, paid over five years.

Hayden wants to use the funds, in combination with matching gifts,  awards in global health, mental health, rare diseases and biotechnology and entrepreneurship which would be awarded to trainees.

"I'm moved that my peers have given me this incredible honour," said Hayden, who is also a Canada Research Chair in Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine.

Hayden completed his graduation in medicine from the University of Cape Town. Thereafter he got a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical genetics and was an instructor at Harvard before joining the UBC faculty of medicine.