Leah Edelstein-Keshet completed her PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1982 under the supervision of Lee Segel. After holding visiting professorships at Brown University and Duke University, she joined the UBC faculty in 1989, where she currently is an Emeritus Professor. Dr. Edelstein-Keshet has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Krieger-Nelson Prize of the Canadian Mathematical Society (2002) and the John von Neumann Prize (2022) - the latter regarded as the most prestigious award given by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). She became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2023.

As a pioneer in mathematical biology, Edelstein-Keshet has made contributions to understanding biological phenomena such as cell polarization, cell motility, and collective biological motion. Her highly influential research integrates mathematical modelling, computational analysis, and experimental collaboration. Using this approach, she advanced knowledge of critical medical challenges, including Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. She was the first to develop detailed mathematical models describing the chemical signalling mechanisms governing cell motility, work that spurred experimental research validating her predictions. Her ability to balance mathematical rigour with biological relevance has set a standard in the field, earning her acclaim for defining the “modus operandi” of modern mathematical biology research. Her seminal textbook, Mathematical Models in Biology, is considered a classic in the field and has shaped generations of researchers.

Beyond her research, Edelstein-Keshet has had a profound impact on the mathematical and scientific community, authoring over 100 papers, supervising numerous students, and publishing in mathematical and interdisciplinary journals including Nature and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). In 1995 she became the first female president of the Society for Mathematical Biology, serving as an inspiring role model for future generations.

The CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize recognizes Edelstein-Keshet’s unparalleled contributions to mathematical biology, her influence across disciplines, and her leadership in the mathematical sciences community.

The CRM-Fields-PIMS prize is the premier Canadian award for research achievements in the mathematical sciences. It is awarded jointly by the three largest Canadian mathematics institutes: the Centre de recherches mathématiques (CRM) in Montréal, the Fields Institute in Toronto, and the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) in Vancouver. This annual prize comes with a monetary award.