Dr. Hans S. Keirstead

Dr. Hans S. Keirstead will receive an honorary doctorate of science at The University of New Brunswick Fredericton campus’s 195th Encaenia Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15.

Dr. Keirstead is an internationally known neuroscientist and entrepreneur who, through his research and innovations, has made remarkable contributions to the field of regenerative medicine. He has strong ties to the province of New Brunswick; his father, the late scientist and entrepreneur Kenneth Keirstead, lived in Fredericton and attended UNB.

Dr. Keirstead attended the University of British Columbia where he obtained a bachelor of science in cell biology followed by a doctorate in neurobiology. From 1995 to 1999, he was a post-doctoral fellow in neurobiology at the University of Cambridge.

From 2000 to 2015, Dr. Keirstead was a professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). At UCI, he founded and directed the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center; was awarded over $16 million in research grants; and was founding advisor of the California Stem Cell Agency, where he helped create the $8.5 billion stem cell fund.

Dr. Keirstead’s research led to major biomedical breakthroughs and innovations, including the development of a treatment that can restore movement and function to people with quadriplegic spinal cord injuries. His work in spinal cord injury earned him the distinction of being one of the 100 top scientists of the year in Discover Magazine. Also, he was featured on 60 Minutes in a full segment covering his treatment for spinal cord injury. Dr. Keirstead has successfully developed treatments for people suffering from melanoma, brain and ovarian cancers. He has also led therapy development for immune disorders, motor neuron diseases, retinal diseases and a multi-pathogen vaccine.

As an entrepreneur, he is the founder of four successful biotech companies, and is a longtime biomedical policy advisor for several governments.

In addition to these many achievements, Dr. Keirstead has received a number of major awards throughout his career, including the Distinguished Award for Research, the UCI Academic Senate’s highest honour; the UCI Innovation Award for innovative research leading to corporate and clinical development; the National Institutes of Health’s Solowey Award for the most promising scientist of the year; and Singularity University’s Touching One Billion People Award.