Dr. James Duncan House sadly passed away at St. Boniface Hospital on September 10, 2024, at the age of 57.
Jim was born in St. Thomas, Ontario and completed his Ph.D in amino acid nutrition and metabolism at the University of Guelph in 1996 under the combined supervision of Drs. Ron Ball and Paul Pencharz . He then worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at Memorial University of St. John's Newfoundland where he was a recipient of a Medical Research Council of Canada Fellowship.
In 1998 he joined the Department of Animal Science at the University of Manitoba with a cross appointment to the Department of Human Nutritional Sciences. He developed a very successful research program and received a Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Nutrition Society. His research was focused on three primary areas, protein quality, nutritional regulation of sulphur amino acid metabolism, and sustainable egg production. Jim trained over 40 graduate students and 16 post-doctoral fellows and research associates as well as over 40 undergraduate research assistants. His research program significantly advanced our understanding of those factors affecting the utilization of plant and animal-based protein sources in the human diet.
Jim was made a fellow of the Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) and was the recipient of many awards from the Canadian Society of Animal Science, CNS, and a merit award for his administrative service from the University of Manitoba. In 2023 he received the Earl Willard McHenry Award, the most prestigious award from CNS at their Annual meeting in Quebec City. He also served as President of CNS.
In 2009 he was appointed Head of the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, a position he held with great distinction for 11 years. Together with the late Dean Gustaaf Sevenhuysen, he played a significant role in ensuring the functioning of the department after the devastating fire in the Duff Roblin Building in 2009. As a result, disruption in research and teaching activities were minimized. He also ensured that the move and merging of the department to the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences in 2014 was smooth and successful as well as the merge with Food Science in 2017.
After completing his term as Head, Jim continued his teaching and research. Jim was appointed the new Manitoba Strategic Chair in Sustainable Protein, a position he was eminently qualified for and dedicated to in the last few months of his life.
Jim was a beloved teacher, administrator, and colleague, who was always ready to give a helping hand. His friendly demeanor was a trademark that defined his personality. Jim was blessed with a beautiful voice and performed as a soloist with the Bison Men's Chorus for several decades. He will not only be remembered as an outstanding academic, but also as a very talented and dear friend.
Jim leaves behind his wife Aileen and his daughter Meara.
