Titles and Education
Titles
Director, Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency
Distinguished Scientist, BC Cancer Research Centre, BC Cancer Agency
Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
Adjunct Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University
Co-Program Director and Faculty Member, Genome Science & Technology Graduate Program, University of British Columbia
Faculty Member, Bioinformatics Graduate Program, University of British Columbia
Associate Member, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia
Education
B.Sc., Molecular & Cell Biology, Simon Fraser University
Ph.D., Genetics, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Marra completed his PhD in Genetics at Simon Fraser University in 1994 and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral fellow and research faculty instructor at Washington University in St. Louis. He has been involved in the development and application of efficient, high-throughput genomics approaches, with special emphasis on large-scale genome mapping and DNA sequencing. Current activities include the development and application of “next generation” sequencing approaches to characterize genomes, with the aim of comprehensive identification of the genetic changes that drive cancer progression.
Dr. Marra is the UBC Canada Research Chair in Genome Science, and a member of the Order of British Columbia. He is a recipient of a 2012 UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award and the Medal of Merit Award from the International Association of Lions Club. He was elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2009; received the Frontiers in Research Award from the BC Innovation Council in 2008; and was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2007. He was a recipient of a Genome BC Award for Scientific Excellence, a Distinguished Achievement Award from UBC, a MSFHR Career Investigator Senior Scholar Award, and Simon Fraser University President’s 40th Anniversary Award. In 2004, he received a Terry Fox Young Investigator Award and BC Biotech’s Innovation and Achievement Award (together with the entire GSC staff) for sequencing the SARS coronavirus genome. Dr. Marra’s contributions to genome science led to an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Simon Fraser University in 2004, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2005.
Dr. Marra has published 15 book chapters and 269 peer-reviewed papers.