U of to Honor Bio Grad for Cystic Fibrosis Breakthrough

A biomedical innovator and University of Alberta graduate whose breakthrough in treating cystic fibrosis has given tens of thousands of patients a new lease on life will receive an honorary degree from the university during fall convocation ceremonies this November.

"Fred Van Goor exemplifies the world-changing impact that can happen when a University of Alberta education meets a purposeful passion," says U of A chancellor Nizar Somji. "The lasting contributions he has made to improving the health of people worldwide living with cystic fibrosis are an inspiration for all of our graduates and a mark of distinction for the U of A. I am proud to recognize his achievements with our university's highest honour."

Van Goor has had a profound impact on the lives of people with cystic fibrosis through his groundbreaking research to develop a new class of treatments that can extend the life expectancy of those with the disease by decades.

Van Goor earned his bachelor of science and PhD in biological sciences from the U of A, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. National Institutes of Health before joining Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2001, where he is now vice-president and head of cystic fibrosis research. At Vertex, he led a team that discovered and developed five licensed medicines for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, including Trikafta, an ingenious combination of three drugs that work in tandem to repair defects in a protein found in people with cystic fibrosis. Trikafta is suitable for about 90 per cent of people living with cystic fibrosis and is accessible in more than 50 countries. Van Goor is now working on a new treatment for those who don't respond to current therapies. 

He has published six book chapters on cystic fibrosis, ion channel drug discovery and endocrinology, and is the author of more than 40 research articles in major peer-reviewed journals. He is also highly regarded as a mentor and advocate who is inspiring the next generation of researchers and forging connections with patients and families. In recognition of his life-transforming work, he received a prestigious Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences in 2023 and was a co-recipient of a 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the world's richest award honouring scientific advances.

Fred Van Goor will receive an honorary doctor of science degree at 3 p.m. Nov. 18, 2025.