New Sabour Graduate Awards to support students dedicated to bacteriophage and food safety research
Programs: Graduate, Alumni
A new graduate award has been established in the University of Toronto’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (LMP) to support emerging researchers in key areas of microbiology and food safety.
The Parviz M. Sabour Graduate Awards, created by the Sabour family, will provide annual funding to a graduate student, designated a Sabour Scholar, pursuing research in bacteriophages and food safety. The award fulfils the late Professor Parviz Mohammad Sabour’s vision of supporting the next generation of scientists and advancing research with real-world impact.
Sabour was a distinguished microbiologist and educator whose career spanned Iran, Canada and the United States. As a senior researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for nearly 30 years, his work significantly advanced understanding of bacterial and viral dynamics in food systems, contributing to improvements in public health and food security. He was also a dedicated mentor and educator, known for inspiring students and colleagues through his commitment to applied, impactful science.
The creation of this award reflects both his scientific legacy and his longstanding advocacy for bacteriophage research, particularly as a promising approach to addressing antimicrobial resistance. By supporting graduate trainees in LMP, the Sabour Awards aim to continue his influence by enabling innovative research and helping early-career scientists contribute meaningfully to the field.
