The highest honor given by the Society for In Vitro Biology is the Lifetime Achievement Award. It is presented to scientists who are considered pioneers or highly influential researchers to the science and art of cell culture. They are men and women who have devoted their careers to exemplary research and/or teaching. The recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award are selected by vote of the Board of Directors from a list of nominations recommended by the Awards Committee. The Society for In Vitro Biology honored Dr. Lucy Lee and Dr. Todd Jones with the SIVB Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 World Congress on In Vitro Biology. Dr. Lucy Lee’s Lifetime Achievement award is highlighted in this issue of the In Vitro Report. Dr. Todd Jones’ Lifetime Achievement Awards will be highlighted in a future issue of the In Vitro Report.

2024 SIVB LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – DR. Lucila (Lucy) E.J. Lee

Dr. Lucila (Lucy) Lee’s career spans 35 years of teaching and research. She has recently retired as Dean and Full Professor in the Faculty of Science at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Lee has received worldwide recognition for her research accomplishments involving the establishment of novel fish cell lines as well as her expertise in fish biology.

Dr. Lee started her academic career in 1988 as an Assistant Professor at Acadia University in Wollfville, Nova Scotia, while completing her PhD. She then obtained a tenure-track position moving to Saskatchewan and taught at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine from 1989 to 1996 and went up the ranks from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor in 1989 to 1998. After a sabbatical leave at Ontario Veterinary College, Lucy moved to Wilfrid Laurier University and became a tenured Full Professor, with a stint as Department Chair of Biology from 2009 to 2012. After this she was drawn away to University of Fraser Valley (UFV) to serve as the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Full Professor until her retirement in 2023.

Lucy’s main research thrust has been in the development of model systems for the evaluation/monitoring of health status in aquatic organisms with minimal vertebrate animal usage, and minimal organismal harm. She has presented over 70 invited lectures, received numerous research-specific awards, has maintained a strong publication record (100 articles, 9 book chapters, 268 meeting abstracts), and received over $3 million in research grants.

Dr. Maria M. Jenderek

Lucy is most well known for her ability to establish fish cell lines and to date has established ~50 fish cell lines from both freshwater and marine environments, as well as numerous cell lines from agriculturally important vertebrates. Her fish cell lines serve as important tools in numerous fields, including toxicology/ecotoxicology, pathology/virology, immunology, endocrinology and nutrition. More recently, Lucy has been heavily involved in the in-vitro meat industry, where she has assisted in the development and growth of new fish muscle cell lines for several biotech companies. Her influence has spread over the globe, and she has visited many fish cell culturists all over the world who have benefitted from her expertise. As one support letter writes Lucy “embodies the essence of a true trailblazer, combining scholarly eminence, mentorship prowess, and visionary leadership, making an indelible mark in fish in vitro biology.”

Not only is Dr. Lee a highly successful in vitro biologist, but she has also been recognized as an outstanding teacher and administrator (Department Chair, then Dean). In these roles, she served as a mentor to numerous scientists, ranging from high school students (25+) to undergraduate students (242+), to graduate students (46), and to faculty members. Support letters for this Lifetime Achievement Award were united, everyone supported Lucy’s nomination while reflecting on the impact that Lucy has had not only in her scientific merits, but also Lucy’s impact on their own professional development. To quote a past student “I was one of the many that benefited from being at the intersection of Dr. Lee’s research, mentorship, inclusivity, and advocacy”. Another states Lucy “selflessly goes above and beyond to help her students: from making transformative discoveries to finding opportunities to expand their skill sets and career choices”.

We leave you with a quote from another support letter “I do not think Lucy thinks of her work as work, but rather as a very fun hobby, which she also gets paid to do”.

Cheers, Lucy, to a well-deserved recognition! 

Submitted by
Vivian Dayeh, PhD
Cynthia Goodman, PhD