Alison M. Duncan, PhD, RD, FDC
University of Guelph

Dr. Alison M. Duncan has been a leader for CNS since before its inception. She is known as one of CNS "Builders" serving on the CNS Board in every capacity from director, treasurer, VP-Research, President and Past-President. Dr. Duncan has chaired/co-chaired or participated in the planning of numerous CNS Annual Conferences, CNS Thematic Conferences, as well as its Food for Health Workshop, various other workshops and mini-conferences, webinars, and chaired several CNS responses to Health Canada consultations. She has also supported CNS strategic planning and fundraising efforts.

In her research, Dr. Duncan has examined the role of agri-foods in human health using clinical trials.  She has held competitive grants from many sources including OMAFRA, AAFC, Pulse Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation, CIHR and many others, demonstrating the relevance of her research to a diversity of funders. She has over 100 peer-reviewed publications in leading nutrition journals and has delivered over 100 invited presentations within North America and beyond. Alison’s teaching focuses on nutrition and human health in the areas of micronutrients, functional foods and scientific critical thinking.  She has been recognized for teaching excellence with the Excellence in Teaching Recognition by the Student Senate Caucus and Undergraduate Academic Information Centre in 2011. Dr. Duncan is highly committed to students and has trained 110 graduate students and 80 BSc research students to date. Many of these trainees have become very successful and productive working in industry, government and research.

In addition to her service to CNS, Dr. Duncan has provided volunteer service to Dietitians of Canada and OMAFRA and has served on the Editorial Board for Journal of Nutrition for many years.  As a leader in nutrition, researcher and educator she has received numerous distinctions, including the CNS Volunteer leadership award in 2018 and Dietitians of Canada’s Fellowship Award in 2019. Early in her career, the Federal and Ontario Provincial governments awarded Alison the ‘Young Canadian Innovator Award’ for Agriculture, Food and Human Health as a result of her leadership in the research area that links agriculture, food and nutrition. In addition, she achieved the Presidential Distinguished Professor Award from the University of Guelph and the Canadians for Health Research recognized Alison as a Researcher of the Month.