Marco Marra

Marco A. Marra is a Canadian scientist who is Director and Distinguished Scientist, Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency; Professor and Head, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, and UBC Canada Research Chair in Genome Science.

Marra is the UBC Canada Research Chair in Genome Science, and a member of the Order of British Columbia. He is a recipient of the 2017 Canadian Cancer Research Alliance’s Outstanding Achievements in Cancer Research Award, the 2015 Dr. Chew Wei Memorial Prize in Cancer Research, a 2013 UBC Killam Research Prize, a 2012 UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award, and the Medal of Merit Award from the International Association of Lions Club. He was elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2009; received the Frontiers in Research Award from the BC Innovation Council in 2008; and was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2007.He was a recipient of a Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence, a MSFHR Career Investigator Senior Scholar Award, and Simon Fraser University President’s 40th Anniversary Award.In 2004, he received a Terry Fox Young Investigator Award and BC Biotech’s Innovation and Achievement Award (together with the entire GSC staff) for sequencing the SARS coronavirus genome.

Marra’s contributions to genome science led to an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University in 2004, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2005.

From 2014 to 2017, Marra was listed in the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds by Thomson Reuters and by Clarivate Analytics. These highly cited researchers (highlycited.com) were determined by analyzing citation data over the last 11 years to identify those who published the highest impact work. Marra ranks among the top 1% of researchers most cited for their subject field and year of publication.

He was featured in the July 4th, 2014 issue of Globe and Mail as the 2nd most highly cited scientist in Canada.