UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Dr. Joseph Gordon recognized with national Open Science research award

Dr. Joseph Gordon, Biomedical Sciences with AVC and Anatomy Lead for the Memorial Regional Medical Program at UPEI, has received national recognition for his innovative use of Open Science in biomedical research. Dr. Gordon was awarded the 2025 CIHR-IMHA Inclusive Research Excellence Prize for Open Science, valued at $25,000, for his groundbreaking work investigating muscle remodeling in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Dr Joe Goden in his lab at the AVC

Dr. Gordon's award-winning project explored how muscle structure and function become impaired in people living with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and how new weight-loss medications may inadvertently reduce muscle mass. His research identified a protein called Nix in skeletal muscle that interferes with insulin signaling and contributes to muscle dysfunction. The project demonstrated how pharmacological agents that inhibit Nix may help protect muscle health in patients undergoing obesity treatment.

Throughout the project, Dr. Gordon integrated key Open Science principles-from sharing newly developed reagents through Addgene and Jackson Laboratories to posting early results on the BioRxiv preprint server. This collaborative and transparent approach led to increased scientific engagement, early dissemination of findings, and over 200 reagent requests from researchers worldwide. His team's work has already resulted in two publications in Autophagy, a high-impact peer-reviewed journal, and continues to influence global research on metabolic disease.

"This award is a meaningful recognition of how Open Science can accelerate discovery and benefit the broader scientific and medical community," said Dr. Gordon.

Dr. Gordon joined UPEI in September 2024 as a joint hire with Biomedical Sciences. He teaches anatomy in the medical school and is based at the Atlantic Veterinary College. His research program brings approximately $500,000 in active grant funding to UPEI. It is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and Diabetes Canada. He has published extensively in the fields of cell signaling, metabolism, and mitochondrial biology.

This fall, Dr. Gordon celebrates 25 years of teaching anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. He is committed to the success of UPEI's new medical school and fostering a collaborative, research-rich environment for future medical learners.

A dedicated educator, scientist, and outdoor enthusiast, Dr. Gordon lives in Cornwall with his wife, Stephanie, and their two beagles.