Internationally renowned drug discovery leader is stepping down after 16 years with OICR.

The founder and head of OICR’s Drug Discovery Program, Dr. Rima Al-awar, has announced she is stepping down from her role to relocate to Muscat, Oman with her family.

Al-awar is an internationally renowned drug discovery leader with extensive experience in the public and private sector. At OICR, she built and led a thriving drug discovery program celebrated for its unique ability to partner with academia and industry to translate Ontario innovations into success stories for patients.

“As I look back on my 16 years at OICR, I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support and trust extended to me by the OICR leadership, our partners, and collaborators in the Ontario life sciences community,” Al-awar says. “Your support has been crucial to my journey, and I am genuinely thankful for it.”

After joining OICR in 2008, Al-awar served as Drug Discovery Director and Principal Investigator for 11 years. Then in 2019, she took on an expanded role on OICR’s Executive as Head of Therapeutic Innovation and Drug Discovery.

Under Al-awar’s leadership, OICR Drug Discovery achieved some of the Institute’s greatest successes. This includes pioneering research into the WDR5 protein that garnered one of the largest ever Canadian institutional licensing deals for a preclinical drug discovery asset. 

“Rima’s strong leadership, empathetic nature, deep knowledge of drug discovery and keen eye for talent and partnerships have helped OICR achieve truly special things here in Ontario,” says OICR President and Scientific Director Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi. “On behalf of everyone at OICR, I thank Rima for her immense contributions and dedication to the Institute and wish her the best of luck in this next chapter in her life.”

Dr. David Uehling, who is another pioneering member of OICR Drug Discovery, will take over as interim Scientific Lead, Therapeutic Innovation and Drug Discovery. Al-awar will also continue to collaborate with OICR as a Senior Advisor.

With a talented team and a rich portfolio of assets, Al-awar is leaving OICR Drug Discovery in a tremendous position for continued success and growth.

“The life sciences community in Ontario has grown significantly since I arrived in Toronto, and I am optimistic about its future,” Al-awar says. “I am very enthusiastic about the outstanding science at OICR and our numerous collaborators, and I am confident that Ontario is well-positioned as a major North American hub for investors and pharmaceutical companies, and that patients in Ontario and around the world will continue to benefit from these efforts.”