Remembering Yoshio Masui, renowned cell biologist and longtime 鶹Ƶ professor
Professor Emeritus Yoshio Masui is credited with helping make developmental biology an essential discipline (supplied image)
Published: April 26, 2024
The University of Toronto is , a professor emeritus in the departments of zoology (1968 to 2006) and cell and systems biology (2006 to 2024) in the Faculty of Arts & Science and a celebrated cell biologist who spent more than half a century at the university.
Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1931, Masui earned undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in Kyoto University before coming to 鶹Ƶ in 1968, driven by a desire for “freedom for research – neither interference with nor solicitation for choices of research projects”.
Masui made several important discoveries, including revealing details on how eggs mature and uncovering clues as to how cancer can arise from uncontrolled cell growth. He played a key role in making developmental biology an essential discipline, and earned numerous honours including the , and .
Described as “one of Canada’s finest scientists” by the Order of Canada, Masui was revered by colleagues and students for his wisdom, curiosity and generosity. He died on April 18 at the age of 93.
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