Professor Dale W Laird serves in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Western University. His research program integrates cell communication, gap junctions, pannexins, and connexins to understand their role in health and human disease. He specifically focuses on how mutations in connexin genes lead to skin diseases, hearing loss, and developmental defects. Holding a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of British Columbia , he is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and a member of the Canadian Academy of Health Science. He recently served as the Interim Chair of Anatomy and Cell Biology and currenly holds a position as Assistant Dean, Research Chairs and Awards, both at Western University.