Dr. Leonard Foster is a Canada Research Chair in Quantitative Proteomics, and recipient of the 2017 Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence. His research identifies disease resistance genes in bees and covers such topics as pathogen invasion, infection and the mapping of protein interactions.

His objective is to reverse the decline of honeybee numbers and build genetic traits that make them more resistant to disease. Dr. Foster works with beekeepers, economists and biologists across North America and Europe to eradicate the diseases plaguing honeybees. Dr. Foster also studies the interactions between pathogens and our immune systems that cause serious diseases like typhoid fever, malaria and tuberculosis.

Understanding how these pathogens break down our defences will lead to the development of better ways to fight them in the future.

The talk will be followed by a moderated question and answer period open to everyone in attendance.