Imogen Coe, Founding Dean of the Faculty of Science at Ryerson University, is internationally recognized for her research in the cell biology and biochemistry of membrane transport proteins.
Dr Coe received a Banting Research Foundation grant in 1998, while at York University, to study the influence of steroid hormones on the uptake of a class of chemotherapy agents in human cells. She says that, at the time, the BRF grant was “small scale, but high impact.” It provided some operating funds and a stipend to support a graduate student. “This is huge for someone just starting out,” she said. The funds enabled the early development of her research program, and allowed her to get larger grants by providing her with data to back up grant applications to NSERC and CIHR. She noted that a successful grant application also provides positive reinforcement and confidence to early-career researchers. Her BRF application became the foundation for other successful applications.
Dr Coe relentlessly promotes diversity and gender equity in science, and is a champion for women and girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
In 2016 she was named one of WXN Women’s Executive Network Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
