Dr. Victor Ling (1943- )
- Cancer Researcher • Biochemist • Academic Leader
- Class of 1964 (1962?)
A pre-eminent cancer researcher, Dr. Victor Ling is best known for uncovering key mechanisms behind drug resistance in cancer, including the discovery of P-glycoprotein, one of the proteins responsible for multi-drug resistance in treatment. His work reshaped how scientists understand why some cancers stop responding to chemotherapy and opened new directions for targeted therapies.
Born in Shanghai, Ling moved with his family to Hong Kong as a child before emigrating to Toronto in 1952. After excelling in math and science at North Toronto C.I., he earned his BSc at the University of Toronto and completed his PhD in biochemistry at the University of British Columbia. Postdoctoral work on DNA structure took him to Cambridge, England, where he trained in the lab of Fred Sanger. He then returned to Toronto as a researcher at the Ontario Cancer Institute, building an international reputation in molecular and structural biology.
In 1995, Ling moved to Vancouver to serve as Assistant Dean in UBC’s Faculty of Medicine and remains affiliated with the university. He is also the founding President and Scientific Director of the Terry Fox Research Institute, helping to steer national collaboration in cancer research.
Dr. Ling’s honours include the Gairdner Award (1990) and the Steiner Award (1991). In 2008, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognizing his profound influence on cancer research and international scientific leadership.