Rodney Ouellette

The Honourable
Rodney Ouellette
ONB
The Honourable Rodney Ouellette ONB
Canadian Senator ; from New Brunswick
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; July 9, 2026
Nominated by	Mark Carney
Appointed by	Louise Arbour
Personal details
Born	October 2, 1964 (age 61); Moncton, New Brunswick
Spouse	Martine Tremblay
Children	Maxime (1996), Caleb (1998), Eve (2000)

Rodney Ouellette (born October 2, 1964) is a Canadian physician-scientist and politician who has been a Canadian senator from New Brunswick since 2026.^[1]

Early life

Ouellette was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, and was raised in Cap-Pelé. He attended Polyvalente Louis-J.-Robichaud high school.^[2]

Education

Ouellette completed bachelor's and master's degrees in biochemistry at the Université de Moncton. He subsequently studied medicine and molecular and cellular biology at Université Laval, receiving both an MD and a PhD in 1996.^[3] He completed a residency in family medicine at the Université de Sherbrooke in 1998. ^[4]

Scientific career

After returning to New Brunswick in 1998, Ouellette founded the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton.^[5]^[6] He served as its CEO and scientific director for nearly 25 years before stepping down from that role in 2021 while continuing as scientific director until 2022.

His research has focused on the molecular biology of cancer and translation of genomic and molecular discoveries into precision oncology; more recent work includes liquid biopsy and circulating biomarkers, particularly approaches intended to predict treatment response. His research bridges molecular cancer biology and precision diagnosis and treatment.^[7]

During his tenure as CEO, he co-led the planning and funding application that led to the establishment of the New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine.^[8]^[9] The centre was developed through a partnership involving ACRI and the Université de Moncton to support interdisciplinary research in precision medicine and biomedical innovation. He is currently senior scientist and holds of the R.R. Léger Chair in Precision Cancer Research.^[10] He was a member of Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research^[11] and more recently has work closely with the Terry Fox Research Institute and their Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network.^[12]

Medical career

During his residency, Ouellette also established the Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, the first clinical molecular diagnostics laboratory in New Brunswick, at a time when molecular medicine was emerging as a component of routine clinical care.^[13] His work has included the translation of genomic and molecular technologies into clinical cancer diagnostics. Under his leadership, the laboratory introduced successive generations of molecular diagnostic technologies, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in situ hybridization, next-generation sequencing and, more recently, liquid-biopsy testing for cancer.^[14]

Honours

Ouellette was awared the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 ^[15] and the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.^[16] He was appointed to the Order of New Brunswick in 2025.^[17] In 2006, he was named Alumi of the year by the LJR Foundation.^[18]

Senate of Canada

On July 7, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Ouellette's selection for appointment to the Senate of Canada to represent New Brunswick. He was formally summoned on July 9 by Governor General Louise Arbour, on the advice of the prime minister.^[19]

References

↑ Pearson, Oliver (8 July 2026). "N.B. cancer researcher appointed to Senate by prime minister". CBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2026. Ouellette is a physician and a scientist who worked on advancing cancer research, precision oncology and molecular medicine throughout his career.
↑ "Terry spoke at his high school. The rest is history". terryfox.org.
↑ "Diplomés de l'année". Dprd.ulaval.ca.
↑ "Dr Rodney Ouellette, MD PhD - Atlantic Cancer Research Institute". Canceratlantique.ca.
↑ "N.B. cancer researcher appointed to Senate". www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick.
↑ "Atlantic Cancer Research Institute". Canceratlantique.ca.
↑ "Dr. Rodney Ouellette". Prime Minister of Canada. July 7, 2026.
↑ "Investissements importants pour catalyser les activités au Centre de médecine de précision du Nouveau-Brunswick". Umoncton.ca.
↑ Morse, B.Jack (14 May 2019). "NB's Precision Medicine Centre". Entrevestor.com. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
↑ "Change in scientific leadership – Scientific Director Appointed - Atlantic Cancer Research Institute". Canceratlantique.ca.
↑ "CIHR annual report" (PDF). publications.gc.ca.
↑ "ACRI: Partner in the ACC". Canceratlantique.ca.
↑ "Vitalité Health Network laboratory services certified to the highest international standards". vitalitenb.ca/en.
↑ "New collaboration to introduce liquid biopsy testing for lung cancer". ResearchNB.ca.
↑ "Recipients Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal". www.gg.ca.
↑ "Recipients King Charles III Coronation Medal". www.gg.ca.
↑ "Prime Minister Carney modernises Senate appointment process to respond to Canada's emerging challenges". Prime Minister of Canada. Prime Minister of Canada. 2026-07-07. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
↑ "Fondation Louis-J.-Robichaud". Lafondationljr.com.
↑ "Dr. Rodney Ouellette". Prime Minister of Canada. July 7, 2026.

External links

Rodney Ouellette – Parliament of Canada biography

[1] Pearson, Oliver (8 July 2026). "N.B. cancer researcher appointed to Senate by prime minister". CBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2026. Ouellette is a physician and a scientist who worked on advancing cancer research, precision oncology and molecular medicine throughout his career.

[2] "Terry spoke at his high school. The rest is history". terryfox.org.

[3] "Diplomés de l'année". Dprd.ulaval.ca.

[4] "Dr Rodney Ouellette, MD PhD - Atlantic Cancer Research Institute". Canceratlantique.ca.

[5] "N.B. cancer researcher appointed to Senate". www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick.

[6] "Atlantic Cancer Research Institute". Canceratlantique.ca.

[7] "Dr. Rodney Ouellette". Prime Minister of Canada. July 7, 2026.

[8] "Investissements importants pour catalyser les activités au Centre de médecine de précision du Nouveau-Brunswick". Umoncton.ca.

[9] Morse, B.Jack (14 May 2019). "NB's Precision Medicine Centre". Entrevestor.com. Retrieved 14 May 2019.

[10] "Change in scientific leadership – Scientific Director Appointed - Atlantic Cancer Research Institute". Canceratlantique.ca.

[11] "CIHR annual report" (PDF). publications.gc.ca.

[12] "ACRI: Partner in the ACC". Canceratlantique.ca.

[13] "Vitalité Health Network laboratory services certified to the highest international standards". vitalitenb.ca/en.

[14] "New collaboration to introduce liquid biopsy testing for lung cancer". ResearchNB.ca.

[15] "Recipients Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal". www.gg.ca.

[16] "Recipients King Charles III Coronation Medal". www.gg.ca.

[17] "Prime Minister Carney modernises Senate appointment process to respond to Canada's emerging challenges". Prime Minister of Canada. Prime Minister of Canada. 2026-07-07. Retrieved 2026-07-07.

[18] "Fondation Louis-J.-Robichaud". Lafondationljr.com.

[19] "Dr. Rodney Ouellette". Prime Minister of Canada. July 7, 2026.

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