Bartha Knoppers
Bartha Maria Knoppers, is a Canadian lawyer and an expert on the ethical aspects of genetics, genomics and biotechnology.
Born in Hilversum, Netherlands, she received a Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University, a Diploma of Legal Studies from University of Cambridge, a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature from the University of Alberta in 1972, a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from McGill University in 1981, a Doctorate of Laws from the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne in 1985.
She has held the Canada Research Chair in Law and Medicine since 2001, and, since 1985, has been Professor of Law at the Université de Montréal and is a counsel at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. In 2009, she became Full Professor in McGill University's Department of Human Genetics. She was the Chair of the International Ethics Committee of the Human Genome Project.
Knoppers is the lead author of the Stem Cell Charter. She is the chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency's ethics expert groupHonours
In 2002, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition for being "a world authority on the ethical aspects of genetics, genomics and biotechnology". In 2012, she was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec. She received a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from the University of Waterloo, a Doctor of Medicine Honoris Causa from Université de Paris V , a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from McMaster University, Ontario and a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from the University of Alberta in 2008. In 2002, she was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is a fellow of the Hastings Center, an independent bioethics research institution.
