Celebrating the Career of Dr. Richard Hawkes

The Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) and the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) proudly celebrate the remarkable career of Dr. Richard Hawkes, PhD, who has officially retired following decades of pioneering research, impactful leadership, and tireless dedication to advancing neuroscience and graduate education.

Hawkes began his academic journey at University College London and earned his PhD at the University of Hull in 1974. He went on to pursue postdoctoral fellowships at some of the world’s most respected research institutions, including the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon, and the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Switzerland. These formative years laid the groundwork for what would become a transformative career in developmental neurobiology.

He was first recruited in Canada to Université Laval in 1983, supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada (known today as Canadian Institutes of Health Research), where he established a lab focused on applying emerging molecular biology techniques to study the development of the cerebellum, a part of the brain responsible for coordinating movement and balance as well as some mental processes such as memory. Six years later, the University of Calgary welcomed him as head of the Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy. Over his 10 years as department head, he helped shape the department into a hub of interdisciplinary research excellence, as well as leading the Neuroscience Research Group, the precursor to the HBI. His leadership trajectory continued with roles as associate dean Graduate Studies in both the CSM and the Faculty of Graduate Studies — which led to the creation of the Leaders in Medicine (LiM) joint degree program, and ultimately, a decade-long term as senior associate dean, Research, in the CSM from 2003-2012. For four of those years, he also served as associate vice-president (Research) for the University. These were pivotal times at the CSM, with the creation of two new research buildings: The Health Research and Innovation Centre and the Cal Wenzel Precision Health Building (formerly known as the Teaching, Research and Wellness Building), as well as the transformation of current research groups into full-fledged Institutes, including the HBI which formed in 2004.

Hawkes’s research has had a profound impact on the field of neuroscience. His discovery of "zebrins" in 1997 — molecular markers that reveal the organization of the cerebellum into distinct zones and stripes — fundamentally reshaped our understanding of cerebellar structure and function. This breakthrough had significant implications for both basic research and clinical neuroscience. His work also included the first identification of the canonical Reelin-Disabled signalling pathway during cerebellar development, opening new avenues in the study of brain patterning and neurodevelopmental disorders. These discoveries and papers resulted in Hawkes ranking #5 worldwide for the topic of “Cerebellum” with Scholar GPS, which is the world’s leading scholarly analytics platform.

Beyond his foundational basic science discoveries, Hawkes contributed to research into several neurological diseases. His collaborative studies explored neuronal degeneration in Niemann-Pick disease, the role of dysbindin-dystrobrevin interactions in muscular dystrophy, and a key mutation in the α1A-voltage-sensitive calcium channel gene — work that expanded our understanding of epilepsy and neuronal survival.

In addition to his academic and scientific contributions, Hawkes also introduced a technological innovation. He invented and patented the dot immunobinding assay, an immunological technique that has become a staple in laboratories around the world and achieved status as a “citation classic” – with over 2500 citations.

Despite his immense workload, Hawkes always found time to be a mentor to junior colleagues, helping guide the next generation of researchers. His legacy endures not only in the discoveries and technologies he pioneered but also in the countless students, faculty, and staff he has inspired.

Our fondest memories are those of Hawkes dropping by the HBI offices early in the mornings and exchanging pleasantries while preparing his usual cup of tea, Orange Pekoe, before heading back to his office to tackle the multitude of tasks he had taken on during his pre-retirement window.

As he steps into retirement, we offer our deepest gratitude for his vision, passion, and service. Dr. Hawkes leaves behind a legacy that will continue to shape the field of neuroscience and the future of academic medicine for generations to come.

Thank you for your 16 years of contributions to the HBI and 36 years to the University of Calgary — and congratulations on a career truly worth celebrating.