Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa – HC2020
Executive Director, CanCOGeN
With more than 20 years of international experience in both the academic and private sectors, Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa’s deep understanding of genomics and innovation has inspired leaders in science and industry to collaborate toward solving some of the world’s greatest challenges.
Dr. Lopez-Correa is the Executive Director of the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) at Genome Canada, where she is leading a pan Canadian collaborative effort to sequence viral and human genomes to help inform public health and policy decision. Before joining Genome Canada, Dr. Lopez Correa was Chief Operating Officer at Ruta N Medellin. In this capacity, she led the operations of a world class innovation hub that uses cutting edge technologies to solve the city’s most pressing social and economic challenges. Prior to Ruta N, Dr. Lopez-Correa was the CSO and Vice-President Sectors at Genome British Columbia (2016-2019) and CSO and Vice-president Scientific Affairs at Genome Quebec (2008-2015), where she was instrumental in developing competitive teams for national and provincial research and innovation initiatives raising the profile of Canadian genomics on the global stage.
Before becoming one of Canada’s leading advocates for genomics research and translation, and an international leader in using innovation to solve world challenges, Dr. Lopez-Correa held senior research positions with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and the renowned deCODE genetics lab in Iceland. As part of her commitment to international development, Dr. Lopez-Correa has championed several initiatives aimed at demonstrating the impact of genomics and innovation in developing countries, including a book on Genomics in Emerging Economies, white paper with the World Economic Forum and several articles. Since 2002 she has served as evaluator for large multinational projects funded by the European Commission and has been recognized with several awards nationally and internationally.
Dr. Lopez-Correa holds a Medical degree from the UPB in Colombia, a Master’s degree in Human Genetics from Paris V University in France, a PhD in Medical Sciences from the KULeuven in Belgium, and a mini MBA from McGill University in Canada.
Awards:
In 2017 she received the Canadian Senate 150th Anniversary Medal. In 2013 she was recognized by National Order of Merit Award in the Rank of Officer, appointed by the Honorable President of the Republic of Colombia. This honorable distinction is conferred to Dr. Lopez-Correa for her outstanding professional and academic career and the scientific contributions in the field of Genomics in Canada. In 2012 she was recognized as one of the 100 Colombians living abroad that have been highly successful on their professional career.
With more than 20 years of international experience in both the academic and private sectors, Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa’s deep understanding of genomics and innovation has inspired leaders in science and industry to collaborate toward solving some of the world’s greatest challenges.
Dr. Lopez-Correa is the Executive Director of the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) at Genome Canada, where she is leading a pan Canadian collaborative effort to sequence viral and human genomes to help inform public health and policy decision. Before joining Genome Canada, Dr. Lopez Correa was Chief Operating Officer at Ruta N Medellin. In this capacity, she led the operations of a world class innovation hub that uses cutting edge technologies to solve the city’s most pressing social and economic challenges. Prior to Ruta N, Dr. Lopez-Correa was the CSO and Vice-President Sectors at Genome British Columbia (2016-2019) and CSO and Vice-president Scientific Affairs at Genome Quebec (2008-2015), where she was instrumental in developing competitive teams for national and provincial research and innovation initiatives raising the profile of Canadian genomics on the global stage.
Before becoming one of Canada’s leading advocates for genomics research and translation, and an international leader in using innovation to solve world challenges, Dr. Lopez-Correa held senior research positions with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and the renowned deCODE genetics lab in Iceland. As part of her commitment to international development, Dr. Lopez-Correa has championed several initiatives aimed at demonstrating the impact of genomics and innovation in developing countries, including a book on Genomics in Emerging Economies, white paper with the World Economic Forum and several articles. Since 2002 she has served as evaluator for large multinational projects funded by the European Commission and has been recognized with several awards nationally and internationally.
Dr. Lopez-Correa holds a Medical degree from the UPB in Colombia, a Master’s degree in Human Genetics from Paris V University in France, a PhD in Medical Sciences from the KULeuven in Belgium, and a mini MBA from McGill University in Canada.
Awards:
In 2017 she received the Canadian Senate 150th Anniversary Medal. In 2013 she was recognized by National Order of Merit Award in the Rank of Officer, appointed by the Honorable President of the Republic of Colombia. This honorable distinction is conferred to Dr. Lopez-Correa for her outstanding professional and academic career and the scientific contributions in the field of Genomics in Canada. In 2012 she was recognized as one of the 100 Colombians living abroad that have been highly successful on their professional career.
