Dr. Richards is an Associate Professor, William Dawson Scholar and FRQS Chercheur Boursier Clinician Scientist, at the Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, at McGill University and a Senior Lecturer at King’s College London, UK. Trained in genetics, clinical medicine, endocrinology, epidemiology and biostatistics, Dr. Richards focuses on understanding the genetic determinants of common aging-related endocrine diseases, such as osteoporosis and vitamin D insufficiency. He and his colleagues have made important advances by identifying some of the genes that may cause these diseases. He co-chaired what was world’s largest whole-genome sequencing program for common disease and identified a novel and central protein critical to fracture risk through the study over half a million research subjects around the world.

Dr. Richards has also used Mendelian randomization to better understand the role of vitamin D in risk of multiple sclerosis and other diseases.

His work has been recognized through election as a Member of the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Foundation Grant.