Faculty Member wins Career Achievement Award

Posted June 6, 2011

By Aisling Gamble

The first winner of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists (CSM) Murray Award is Dr. George Chaconas from the Faculty of Medicine, who was chosen by the Awards Committee from a very prestigious slate of candidates.

The CSM Award is the Society's premier award for senior researchers. After several recent name changes, the CSM Executive has decided to permanently name the award in honour of the Murray family. Professor R.G.E. Murray and his father E.G.D Murray had a seminal role in the genesis of the CSM, and both had storied careers in microbiology. 

Chaconas’ reaction was one of surprise. “There are many excellent microbiologists in Canada and I was not expecting to be honored in this way.”  Chaconas feels honoured to be the first to receive the award as professor Murray was a colleague of his for 22 years at the University of Western Ontario.  “It is a fitting tribute to him to have the award bear his name and all the more meaningful for me to receive an award named after him.”

Chaconas will be presented with the award by professor Murray at the CSM Memorial University Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, June 20-23, 2011. Chaconas will also give a lecture during the conference on “Functional studies of the Lyme disease spirochete – from mice to molecules”.