Dr. Seidah obtained his BSc in 1969 from Cairo University in Egypt, and his PhD in 1973 from Georgetown University,
USA. In 1974, he started studying the processing of precursor proteins at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM),
and in 1976 he co-discovered the β-endorphin and largely contributed to the biochemical characterization of the
proopiomelanocortin (POMC, the β-endorphin precursor) and pro-Atrial Natriuretic factor. Since 1983, Dr Seidah is the
director of Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology.
Dr. Seidah discovered and cloned seven (PC1, PC2, Furin, PC4, PC5, PACE4, PC7, SKI-1 and PCSK9) of the nine
known secretory serine proteases belonging to the proprotein convertases family. During this period, he also greatly
contributed to demonstrating that proteolysis by the proprotein convertases is a widely used mechanism that also affects
“non-neuropeptide” proteins such as growth factors, α-integrins, receptors, enzymes, membrane-bound transcription
factors, and bacterial and viral proteins. In 2003, he identified PCSK9 and showed that point mutations in the PCSK9 gene
cause dominant familial hypercholesterolemia, since PCSK9 gain-of-function mutations were linked to the ability of
PCSK9 to enhance the degradation of cell surface receptors, such as the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Dr
Seidah has since worked on the elucidation of the functions and mechanisms of action of PCSK9 both in cells and in vivo,
and is developing specific PCSK9 inhibitors.
Over the last 50 years, Dr. Seidah has attracted more than 150 graduate students, trainees and post-doctoral fellows. He
is a member of numerous scientific associations including the Cancer Research Society and the American Heart
Association. In 1991, he was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr Seidah is the recipient of several awards,
including the 1995 Medical Research Council Scientist Award, he has been a member of the Order of Quebec since 1997
and of the Order of Canada since 1999. In 2001, he received the McLaughlin Medal of the Royal Society of Canada and
the Parizeau Prize of the Association Canadienne-Française pour l’Avancement des Sciences (ACFAS). Since 2003 Dr
Seidah has been endowed with a Tier-1 Canada chair on “Precursor Proteolysis”. In 2009 he received the Pfizer
Distinguished Cardiovascular-Metabolic Research Jean-Davignon Award. In 2011, he was awarded the Wilder Penfield
prize for the best scientist in Québec working in the biomedical field.
In 2013, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2014, he received in Winnipeg the
“Jacques Genest” Lecturer Award from the Canadian Society of Endocrinolgy and Metabolism. In 2016, he was selected
as the recipient of the annual CIHR-ICRH Distinguished Lecturer Award in Cardiovascular Sciences in Canada. In 2018,
he was selected for the prestigious Akira Endo Award for his seminal contributions to PCSK9 that led to a new powerful
treatment for atherosclerosis, In 2018, he was granted the major Lefoulon Delalande award of the Institut de France for
Research & Innovation in cardiovascular disease, and in 2019 the McGill University Louis & Artur Lucian award for
research in circulatory diseases. In 2021, he was elected Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (FCAHS)
and was selected for the KUWAIT 2021 prize (KFAS) honoring medical research scientists of Arab descent. In 2022 he
gave a keynote lecture on the discovery of PCSK9 at the 15th international PCSK9 Forum. In 2023, he was elected
“lifetime member” of the International Proteolysis Society. Additionally, his research lab received the prestigious “Bravo
Recherche” Distinction from the Dean of the Medical Faculty at the University of Montreal, affirming their outstanding
work supported by a UdeM-backed Canada Chair. The same year, Dr. Seidah’s pioneering efforts in medicine were
acknowledged with the esteemed J. Allyn Taylor International Prize for Medicine, specifically for his groundbreaking
work on biotherapeutics for cardiovascular disease. In 2024, Dr. Seidah received congratulations from the Vice-Dean of
the Medical Faculty at UdeM for achieving the top rank in the CIHR grant, showcasing the excellence of his project titled
“The unique and complementary functions of PCSK7 and PCSK9 in cardiometabolic health and disease.” In 2025 he was
the recipient of the prestigious Quebec Michel Sarrazin prize recognizing his major contribution to cardiovascular diseases.
In 2025 he was also the recipient of the “Great Arab Minds” award in medicine delivered in Dubai UAE in January 2026.
He has been invited as a speaker nationally and internationally to give more than 515 presentations, and 32 plenary
lectures worldwide. In 1995, he organized the first Keystone conference on proprotein convertases. In 2006 he was the
chairman of a prestigious Gordon Research Conference on “Proprotein Processing, Trafficking and Secretion” (Colby
Sawyer College, NH, USA). In 2013 he was invited to present the “Simon Pierre-Noël Memorial Lecture” at the Canadian
Lipoprotein Conference in Mont-Tremblant, Québec, Canada. In 2018 and 2019, he delivered keynote lectures for the
“Akira Endo” and “Louis & Artur Lucian” awards on the discovery and clinical applications of PCSK9. In 2023 he
presenteed a Keynote Lifetime Achievement Lecture titled “The pluripotent proprotein-convertases: from fundamental
biology to disease treatments” at the 12th General Meeting of the International Proteolysis Society in Singapore. He then
discussed “The unexpected twists and turns of the proprotein convertases and their targeting in cardiovascular diseases and
cancer/metastasis” at the CBR seminar series in Canada. He was also invited to give a talks at McGill University and
McGill University Health Centre, addressing the pluripotent nature of proprotein-convertases and their implications in
major pathologies. He presented a plenary lecture for the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine and gave an
insightful presentation on “Roles of the proprotein convertases in health and disease” at the University of Virginia’s UVA
Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2024 and 2025 he gave multiple lectures, including one in Oman on cardiovcacular
diseases in the 20th International Symposium on Atherosclerosis, and in 2025 he was a Keynote lecturer in the 4th
international conference on life sciences at the University of Kuwait. In 2026, he presented a keynote lecture on PCSK9 in
the “Great Arab Minds Symposium: Celebrating Innovation, Knowledge and Impact” at the UAE University, in Dubai.
Dr Seidah is an internationally recognized world leader in convertases and their physiological roles. His numerous
publications, tallying more than 817 peer reviewed manuscripts, are widely recognized, and in fact he is cited as the most
recognized protease expert in Canada and 6th worldwide. Indeed, Pubmed cites N.G. Seidah as the topmost in Canada and
the 1st out of the worldwide 20 top scientists working on “Proprotein Convertases” since 1971. His H index = 119 (Web of
Science; all databases) and 133 (Google Scholar), and his work has been cited more than 72,000 times.
Contributions to Science
H index = 119 (Web of Science); = 133 (Google Scholar); Citations > 72,000
D index = 9th in Canada & 340th Worldwide (World’s Best Biology and
Biochemistry Scientists: H-Index Biology and Biochemistry Science Ranking in
Canada 2023 | Research.com)
Publications 817 ( + Submitted / in revision: 11)
Invited Presentations 514
Abstracts / Posters 657
Patents 28
Supervisory Experience 148
Awards and Distinctions 33
Most Significant Contributions
Identification of PCSK9, its regulation of LDLc & knowledge translation 2003-present.
Initial identification of human PCSK9 (PNAS 2003), genetic evidence for its implication in familial
hypercholesterolemia (Nat Gen 2003), the PCSK9-enhanced degradation of the LDLR in endosomes / lysosomes (JBC
2004 & Traffic 2007) & its inactivation by Furin (JBC 2006) were harbingers of later studies relating the lack of
PCSK9 to lower levels of circulating LDLc & reduced incidence of atherosclerosis. Such human observations were
supported in mouse (Hepatology 2008; Circulation 2012). PCSK9 is a Canadian success story with a major knowledge
translation application, as inhibiting mAbs to PCSK9 are now prescribed since 2015/16 for the greater benefit of
patients worldwide (Nat Rev 2012; Circ Res 2014; Pharmacol Rev 2017) (Biol Chem 2018); We also reported a major
sex-dependent LDLR-regulation (JLR 2015). I wrote this commentary on “The elusive inhibitory function of the acidic
N-terminal segment of the prodomain of PCSK9: The Plot Thickens” (J Mol Biol 2019); We reported that PCSK9 Serphosphorylation greatly enhances its ability to reduce the levels of the LDLR (ATVB 2019). We also showed that
PCSK9 inhibition results in reduced levels of Dengue Virus infectivity (JCI 2020). We published the first deletion of
human PCSK9 by CRISPR-editing in humanized mice (Nature Biomedical Engineering 2022). We reported that
MHC-I receptors act in unison with CAP-1 to enhance the degradation of the PCSK9-LDLR, thereby solving the
mystery of the trafficking of the PCSK9-LDLR complex to endosomes/lysosomes (Mol. Metab. 2024, cells 2024). We
recently discovered that PCSK9 can enhance the degradation of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor (Viruses 2023).
Through its regulation in cholesterol & MHC-I, PCSK9 plays a major role in cancer/metastasis (JITC 2025).
Functional in vivo characterization of PC4, PC5, Furin and PC7 1997-present
Gene KO were instrumental in unraveling the in vivo functions of PCs: PC4 is critical in fertility (PNAS 1997); PC5
has major developmental functions in the activation of GDF11 regulating body axis & other undefined roles in
gut/bone (PNAS & Gen. Dev 2008); PC7 regulates iron homeostasis in human (Hepatology 2013) &
anxiety/depression in mouse implicating its activation of brain BDNF (PNAS 2013); PC7 regulates triglycerides via
enhanced degradation of ApoA-V (FEBS J 2019) and its absence reduces the levels of apoB and of lipid droplets
and enhances recovery from hepatic steatosis, providing a novel preclinical validation for the treatment of NASH
(Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental 2023). Both PC7 and Furin enhance breast cancer tumor metastasis via
shedding of CASC4 (CDD 2020). Furin was shown to regulate Furin activates the SARS-CoV-2 via cleavage of the
Spike glycoprotein at S1/S2 and S2’, and its inhibition significantly reduces viral infection, providing a new
antiviral treatment for present and future pandemics (AVR 2020; JVI 2022). Silencing hepatic PCSK7 reduced diet
induced NAFLD (Metabolism, Clinical and Experimental 2023). PCSK7 plays a role in MASLD, CVD,
dyslipidemia, and cancer/metastasis. (End. Rev. 2024). Through regulation of immune checkpoint proteins, PCSK7
plays a major role in colorectal cancer/metastasis (JITC 2025).
Discovery of proprotein convertases 1990-2003
Identification / cloning of 7/9 members of the PC family. PC1, PC2 (DNA 1990; Mol.Endo 1991); PC4 (Mol.Endo
1992); PC5 (PNAS 1993); PC7 (PNAS 1996); SKI-1 (PNAS 1999) & PCSK9 (PNAS 2003); Furin (1990) & PACE4
(1991) were identified by a Dutch group. These were major contributions in defining the molecular mechanisms
underlying the cellular generation of active peptides / proteins from secretory precursors.
Discovery of ANP & regulation of natriuresis 1984
Isolation & characterization of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (PNAS 1984) from heart atria & its functions as a new
hormone with potent natriuretic activity was a breakthrough that opened new vistas on ANP, BNP & CNP.
Discovery of 7B2, the chaperone of PC2 1982-present
Identification of 7B2 (FEBS Lett & Arch Biochem Biophys 1982/83), a 186 aa protein found in dense core granules of
neural & endocrine cells, was made 13 years before the discovery of its major function, i.e., to chaperone the
functional activity of PC2 (FEBS Lett 1995). Cloning of 7B2 mRNA & the KO of its gene revealed PC2-related
functions (Biochem J 2001) & novel ones regulating aggressivity & behavior (JBC 2013).
Discovery of β-endorphin & characterization of its precursor POMC 1976-1980
Seminal discovery of β-endorphin, its sequence & morphinomimetic activity (Lancet, 1976; Can J Biochem & BBRC
1976) & the processing of the precursors POMC & proInsulin were landmarks in peptide hormones & the generation
of multiple functional peptides (ACTH, α,β,γ-MSHs, β-endorphin; Insulin) via limited proteolysis at specific basic
residues (PNAS 1978,1979; Int J Pept Protein Res 1984) & a harbinger for the future discovery of the cognate
proteinases, the proprotein convertases (PCs)