Tsui, Lap-Chee

ENCAENIA, MAY, 1991
LAP-CHEE TSUI
to be Doctor of Science

How fitting it is that at today's graduation ceremonies, we bring together Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui, Canada's leading researcher into the causes of Cystic Fibrosis, and UNB's graduating class of 1991 who, along with their fellow students over the years, have raised thousands of dollars in support of Cystic Fibrosis research. Perhaps without knowing it, they have been partners in an effort to get to the bottom of this genetic disease which afflicts one in every 2000 Canadian children, usually causing death by the age of 30.

Lap-Chee Tsui was born in China, began his study of biology in Hong Kong, and completed his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh. When he became staff geneticist at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, in 1983, he had already established his credentials in cell and molecular biology. He soon became the senior research scientist at the hospital's research institute, serving at the same time as a professor in the department of medical genetics at the University of Toronto. After an incredibly short span of seven years in Toronto, he and his research team became the discoverers of the gene carrying the defect which causes cystic fibrosis.

Dr. Tsui's break-through must be attributed to those special qualities which suit him so admirably for research: the first is diligence, the willingness to persevere in sometimes tedious repetitions of test procedures, and the willingness to accept failure and to try again; the second is insight and creativity which sometimes amounts to the courage to leave established approaches and try something new. In this case, researchers had been preoccupied with the symptoms of the disease; Dr. Tsui was determined to try the genetic approach even though it meant striking out into the vast and so-far barely understood mysteries of the human cell. This is how he discovered the crucial gene; having done so, he and his partners attempted to clone it, as well as to learn what causes the defect which leads unfailingly to cystic fibrosis. As he comes ever nearer to a solution, he gives hope that thousands of children yet unborn will be spared the tragedy of incurable illness.

Dr. Tsui's work has drawn international praise and financial support. He has been honored by the American Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Royal Society of Canada, and the Genetic Society of Canada, among others. But crucial to his success have been regular grants from the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; This is the agency which annually receives funds raised by students across Canada, and it is with considerable pride that we point out that through its annual Shinerama and other related fund raisers. UNB students have regularly been national leaders on a per capita basis in the amounts raised. As a result, in the past five years UNB students have raised well in excess of $100,000 to support the work of Dr. Tsui and other medical researchers in this important field.

How fitting then that we have the honour of including Lap-Chee Tsui among the 1991 graduates of the University of New Brunswick, partners all in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3