About Us

The Michael Kamin Hart Memorial Scholarship

Michael Kamin Hart was a promising Master’s student at the IIDR, remembered by director Dr. Gerry Wright as “inquisitive and creative; a team player but also highly independent”. He was exceptionally dedicated to his research within Dr. Justin Nodwell’s lab, where he focused on discovering new antibiotics from environmental microbes that have the potential to be used as new drug candidates. In a short period of time, Michael identified, purified, and solved the structure of a potent antimicrobial molecule, 13-deoxytetrodecamycin. His enthusiasm and pursuit for knowledge was highly admirable.

Sadly, while in his second year of his Master’s degree, Michael was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, losing his courageous battle in 2011. Yet, Michael’s science continued to press forward, and in 2015 his research findings were published in The Journal of Antibiotics. Through his research, the molecule that he discovered exhibited potent activity against a strain of Staphylococcus aureus, known for its multi-drug-resistant nature. His discovery suggests a possible use for this molecule in treating infections caused by highly resistant bacteria - insight that is desperately needed given the current global antibiotic resistance crisis.

At the IIDR, Michael’s legacy lives on not only through his publication, but through the Michael Kamin Hart Memorial Scholarships established through his family and friends. Through these scholarships, Michael will forever be remembered as a dedicated young scientist, outstanding student, and loyal friend.

The Michael Kiley Scholarship in Antibiotic Resistance

“A major objective of the IIDR is to transform scientific discoveries into meaningful solutions for drug-resistant infections (DRIs), with the vision of eliminating the threat of DRIs to human health.”

Michael Kiley was a devoted father and sports enthusiast. He had two major passions in life - baseball and his family. Michael was an avid Blue Jays fan, and proudly coached his son and his friends growing up. Being a father figure to many, Michael loved to watch them shine on the field.

Michael was only 54 when he lost his battle to a drug-resistant ‘superbug’. His infection - short-lived and tragic - was caused by a bacteria that contained a dangerous gene called NDM-1. NDM-1 is just one of several genes that make bacteria resistant to even our last-resort antibiotics. Although these infections take nearly 700,000 lives around the world every year, many are unfamiliar with this devastating ailment.

In an effort to support Michael’s memory and raise DRI awareness, Michael’s family runs an annual baseball tournament called the Michael Kiley Classic. As a world-leading center dedicated to combating antimicrobial resistance, the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research (IIDR) is honored to support the Kiley family’s initiative through The Michael Kiley Scholarship in Antibiotic Resistance. Supported by the Michael Kiley Classic, the Kiley family, Stoked Bio, and the IIDR, this prestigious award is presented to an IIDR student pursuing graduate work at McMaster University in the area of drug-resistant infections. Not only does this award support innovative and impactful research initiatives in the field of drug resistance, but allows Michael Kiley’s legacy to continue teaching and inspiring youth.