Amy Sahai, Vandana Sahai and Dr. Lloyd Axworthy
The late Dr. Beni Sahai was passionate about examining how the immune system works at the molecular level, isolating and studying mechanisms such as the role of the protein Lck in HIV infection. His research then expanded to encompass Influenza virus A, SARS, and H1N1. He was also ahead of his time in promoting cross-fertilization of minds and ideas, convinced that a biologist teaming up with a physicist, computer scientist or mathematician can create new possibilities for knowledge and research. Dr. Sahai was an Adjunct Professor of Biology at UWinnipeg from 2009 to 2012.
On Wednesday, March 27, The University of Winnipeg unveiled a plaque honouring the vision of Dr. Sahai and his family in establishing The Dr. Beni M. Sahai Fund for Cellular & Molecular Biology for Advancement in Medical Research with a generous $100,000 endowment to foster academic collaboration and interdisciplinary health research at UWinnipeg.
“Beni Sahai was a brilliant scholar, an outstanding scientist, and an invaluable mentor to countless students over the course of his professional life,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor. “His dedication to collaborative scientific scholarship is particularly nurtured within our Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex, and so it is especially fitting that his legacy will be honoured here.”
The unveiling took place during Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colours, a time when many friends and family gather to celebrate.
“Beni was, and continues to be, a wonderful role model. Our family is honoured to help carry on his dream and legacy,” said his wife, Vandana and daughter, Amy Sahai. “This would have been a proud day for Beni”.
The Sahai plaque will be installed at a later date on the second floor of the science complex, visible from the atrium and adjacent to an interdisciplinary laboratory space.
“Dr. Sahai was very forward-thinking, and enjoyed collaborating with biologists, physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists,” said Dr. James Currie, Dean of Science. “It was natural for him to feel at home here, where inter-disciplinary walls are low, and where researchers work easily across departments. He was very insistent that his donation facilitate interdisciplinary work.”
York University is devoting the entire Fall 2013 issue of Canadian Applied Mathematics Quarterly to honouring Dr. Sahai and his research. Included in this journal will be an article written by Beni and Vandana Sahai’s daughter, Amy Sahai. A first year Biochemistry student at UWinnipeg and a promising young scientist, 18 year-old Amy has contributed to the science research that her father began.
The late Dr. Beni Sahai
BACKGROUND – BIOGRAPHY
Born in India, Dr. Beni M. Sahai (1949 – 2012) earned his PhD from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).He completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Sahai was a Senior Scientist (Virology) at Cadham Provincial Laboratory in Winnipeg, and was an Adjunct Professor of Biology at The University of Winnipeg. Prior to this, he was an Adjunct Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba. To gain in depth understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms related to immune response and human diseases, Dr. Sahai employed interdisciplinary techniques from physics, mathematics, computer science and other allied sciences.
Dr. Sahai was chosen as the Leader of the Immune Modeling Group of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBI). He then acted as a core investigator of the MITACS (Mathematics of Information Technologies and Complex Systems) national research team on “Transmission Dynamics and Spatial Spread of Infectious Diseases: Modeling, Prediction and Control”.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
