Director, Genomics Programs
Dr. Étienne Richer has a postdoctoral background in the genetics of infectious diseases, complemented by consultancy experience across various healthcare domains, including regulatory approval of drugs and devices and pharmacoeconomics. His commitment to advancing the genomics community began in 2011 when he joined the CIHR Institute of Genetics (IG) as Assistant Director, later becoming Associate Scientific Director.
Over 14 years, Dr. Richer played a key role in shaping and implementing the institute’s strategic vision, while fostering the growth of its team and initiatives. He also strengthened ties with the national research community and forged numerous international partnerships, expanding opportunities for the Canadian genomics sector—particularly in personalized medicine, rare diseases, and health data sharing.
His expertise and collaborative leadership have been widely recognized, notably through his election as Chair of the Health Economics Working Group of ICPerMed, followed by his appointment as Chair of ICPerMed.
Building on this experience, Dr. Richer is now embarking on an exciting new chapter as Director of Genomic Programs at Genome Canada, bringing his passion and vision to further drive innovation in genomics.