Allen Eaves, founder and CEO of one of Vancouver's most successful life sciences company, has been appointed to the Order of Canada.
Eaves was also the recpient of the Order of BC in 2016, and BIV's CEO of the Year award in 2017.
Eaves' appointment to the Order of Canada is in recognition of his contributions to medical science and business.
Eaves spent more than three decades as a cancer researcher, specializing in leukemia, before launching his own company, Stellcell Technologies, which makes the media and processes for growing stem cells for research and regenerative medicine.
Prior to going into business, Eaves served as head of Clinical Hematology at the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver General Hospital, and the BC Cancer Agency and is credited for developing Canada’s first and largest bone marrow transplant programs.
In 1993, he went into business, founding Stemcell Technologies. Eaves also founded the Terry Fox Laboratory for cancer research. Stemcell Technologies is one of B.C.'s biggest life sciences companies, employing more than 1,000 people.
“Being appointed to the Order of Canada is an honour of a lifetime, and I am grateful for the countless colleagues, mentors, friends, and family members who supported me throughout my career,” the 81-year-old scientist said.
“While I consider myself a physician-scientist and entrepreneur, I am also a proud Canadian at heart and feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in this country doing what I love: advancing science with the hope of creating a better world.”
Other B.C. appointees to the Order of Canada include:
- Paula Beth Gordon, a UBC radiologist and researcher, in recognition of her contributions to advancing the use of ultrasound technology for the early detection of breast cancer;
- Budd Hall, University of Victoria, in recognition of his contributions to community-based research; and
- David Ley, UBC, for his contributions to the field of to the field of human geography.
