OICR will welcome the internationally recognized clinician-scientist and research leader in August 2026.

We are very excited to announce that Dr. Aaron Schimmer has been appointed OICR’s new President and Scientific Director beginning August 4, 2026.

Aaron is an internationally recognized hematologist, clinician-scientist and research leader who brings a wealth of scientific, clinical, strategic and operational expertise to lead OICR.

Aaron has served as Director of Research at University Health Network’s (UHN) Princess Margaret Cancer Centre since 2019 and has been a leading clinician and scientist at UHN since 2003. He is one of Canada’s preeminent blood cancer researchers, with more than 320 peer‑reviewed publications, 27,000 citations and 20 patents. He is also a Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Medical Biophysics, and Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto, Past President of the Canadian Hematology Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. 

Aaron has a long history of collaboration with OICR through the many close partnerships between OICR and UHN. With in-depth knowledge of Ontario’s life sciences ecosystem and deep connections across the province, he is perfectly positioned to deliver on OICR’s provincial mandate to advance research for better health and a stronger economy in Ontario. 

“I am honoured and humbled to join OICR and help lead such an incredible organization,” Aaron said. “We are at an inflection point in cancer research with unprecedented opportunities for new cancer therapies and diagnostics. OICR has the unique ability to accelerate cancer research across the province and thereby create and protect highly skilled STEM jobs, produce economic benefit for the province of Ontario, and improve the health of Ontarians and people around the world. I look forward to working with everyone in OICR and across the province to write the next chapter in OICR’s history.”

As we welcome Aaron to OICR, we also want to thank Dr. Christine Williams and Dr. Lincoln Stein for their skilled and thoughtful leadership as Acting President and Acting Scientific Director through this transition.

We look forward to sharing more about Aaron and this exciting new chapter for OICR once he begins his role in August. For now, please join us in congratulating Dr. Aaron Schimmer.