Drs. Seán and Margaret Brosnan have been announced as the recipients of the 2012 Danone Institute of Canada Distinguished Nutrition Leadership Award (DNLA) for excellence in nutrition.

This award has been conferred annually since 1998 to members of the nutrition community in Canada who have made outstanding contributions to the discipline. 

Winners of the DNLA receive a legacy series statuette as well as a check for $5,000.

The presentation is normally made at the annual CNS banquet which takes place this year in Quebec City on June 1.

Together Dr. Seán Brosnan, who is University Research Professor, and Dr. Margaret Brosnan have given ~80 years of service to Memorial University and to the Department of Biochemistry. As leaders in the field of biochemical nutrition, they have jointly published 66 papers in the fields of nutrition and metabolism.

Dr. Margaret  Brosnan was president of the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies and has served on 
the Board of the National Institute of Nutrition. She is also the former Chair of CIHR's grants committee for Nutrition and Metabolism.

Dr. Seán Brosnan has been Chair of Advisory Board for CIHR's Institute for Research in Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes; President of the
 Canadian Diabetes Association's Research Council; and President of the Canadian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The Brosnans have provided research training to more than one
hundred students, undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows throughout their careers.

These students have gone on to successful careers in academe, government and the professions. Two of their students won Rhodes Scholarships, two hold Canada Research Chairs, and two are heads of nutrition departments at other universities.

(Adapted from an original article by Kelly Foss published on the Faculty of Science website on March 10, 2013)