2021 Medal Winners | francais

PRESS RELEASE / FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 2021 CAP Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Industrial and Applied Physics

is awarded to

Vincent Tabard-Cossa

"I am honoured and humbled to receive the 2021 CAP Industrial and Applied Physics Medal. I thank the community for this recognition of my work and its impact in nanopore science and single-molecule biophysics, which was made possible through the achievements of my current and former group members and collaborators." winner citation

The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) is pleased to announce that the 2021 CAP Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Industrial and Applied Physics is awarded to Vincent Tabard-Cossa, University of Ottawa, in recognition of to recognize his innovative contribution to Physics by developing a new nanopore fabrication technique. Nanopores can electrically detect individual molecules like DNA and proteins and are finding applications in next generation diagnostics, sequencing, and data storage devices. Dr. Tabard-Cossa's ground-breaking controlled breakdown method of nanopore fabrication simplifies and replaces a previously cumbersome and expensive process, enabling scalable, low-cost fabrication of solid-state nanopores at sub-nanometer scale. announcement

Through his research program in the Department of Physics at the University of Ottawa, Prof. Tabard-Cossa is developing novel techniques and advanced nanofluidic devices to characterize single-molecules. This allows him to unravel the physics governing the behaviour of biological molecules, and ultimately to translate discoveries into new technologies for the life and health sciences. He has made remarkable breakthroughs in the field of nanopore-based single-molecule sensing. His cutting-edge research has garnered >5,000 citations. Prof. Tabard-Cossa revolutionized the fabrication of these nanosensors in solid-state materials by pioneering a low-cost, yet remarkably precise nanofabrication strategy. His trailblazing technique has been recognized by researchers in academia and industry as the method of choice for making nanopores, providing solutions to the most critical control points in order to enable the nanomanufacturing and commercialization of solid-state nanopore technologies.

Prof. Tabard-Cossa is the inventor of 7 patents on the fabrication and use of nanopores, which have been filed in 17 countries, and are all licensed. In the last 5 years, he raised significant funding in partnership with industry to productize his nanopore technology and develop digital diagnostic applications. He co-founded Northern Nanopore Instruments, a start-up aimed at accelerating nanopore research. In recognition of his entrepreneurial leadership and transformative innovations, Prof. Tabard-Cossa was awarded an Ontario Early Researcher Award (2016), was named the University of Ottawa Early Career Researcher of the Year (2018) and was inducted to the College of the Royal Society of Canada (2019). nominator citation

ABOUT the Medal

The CAP Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Industrial and Applied Physics (formerly the Prize for Innovative Applied Physics of the CAP's Division of Industrial and Applied Physics) is intended to recognize and promote the creativity of scientists working in Canada in the area of industrial and applied physics, and to particularly recognize the successful application of physical principles to the creation of practical innovations, as demonstrated (for example) by novel/commercializable products or processes, and/or patents. This medal was established in 1991 and has been awarded biennially since.

A series of virtual plenary medal talks will be organized to honour the 2021 medal recipients. The talk schedule will be posted on the CAP's website and notification of each talk will be issued once arranged. The medal will be forwarded to Vincent Tabard-Cossa with the congratulations of the community. medal description

ABOUT the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP)

The Canadian Association of Physicists, founded in 1945, is a professional association representing over 1600 individual physicists and physics students in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, as well as a number of Corporate, Institutional, and Departmental Members. In addition to its learned activities, the CAP, through its charitable arm - the CAP Foundation, also undertakes a number of activities intended to encourage students to pursue a career in physics. cap description

joint description

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For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Francine Ford, Executive Director
Canadian Association of Physicists
Tel: 613-562-5614
E-mail: execdir@cap.ca
www.cap.cacap contact and joint contact