Philosophy professor Claudia Emerson has been awarded the 2026 Trailblazer Award in the Science for Policy category by the Canadian Science Policy Centre, recognizing her impactful contributions to Canadian science and society.
Emerson’s work focuses on identifying and addressing ethics issues and policy gaps that arise along the discovery-to-delivery pathway for novel health technologies and interventions.
She is the founding director of McMaster’s Institute on Ethics & Policy for Innovation, which conducts applied ethics and policy research to help overcome barriers to innovation and advance life-saving interventions where they are needed most.
She holds appointments in the Department of Medicine, the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine, and NexusHealth – McMaster’s health innovation accelerator – and is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
“I’m honoured to receive this award, most especially because it recognizes that bioethics is science for policy, and not simply a commentary on science,” says Emerson.
“Ethical reflection in science policy is essential for advancing promising innovations for the public good, ensuring they are anchored in societal values and developed inclusively and equitably.”
Through more than 20 years of work with global health stakeholders and partners, Emerson co-developed Ethical, Social and Cultural (ESC) Thinking – an ethics lens for science and innovation policy, informed by social and cultural nuances. The framework has supported more than 200 research programs and strategies, helping translate research into broad-reaching impact.
Emerson has helped shape international policy on data governance, human challenge studies, responsible use of the life sciences, and AI ethics and safety. She is a leading global expert on the ethical considerations of using gene-drive technology to combat malaria.
“Claudia’s expertise and leadership have earned her a place in important international conversations about innovation policy and governance,” says McMaster President Susan Tighe.
“Her work advances Canada’s profile on the global stage and helps ensure innovations have the greatest possible benefit for societal health and well-being.”
Emerson will receive the Trailblazer Award at the 2026 Canadian Science Policy Conference in Ottawa in November.