W. Mark Erwin

Dr. William Mark Erwin is cross-appointed as an assistant professor and staff scientist for the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Division of Neurosurgery Spine Programme at the University of Toronto. He also has been appointed an associate professor at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, a Scientist at the Toronto Western Research Institute and an Affiliate Scientist for the Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto. Dr. Erwin’s laboratory is within the JLabs facility (a hybrid space in downtown Toronto associated with the University of Toronto, Johnson and Johnson, Jenssen laboratories and the MaRS complex; an incubator for the commercialization of novel therapeutics.

Dr. Erwin’s research takes a cellular/molecular approach in order to both understand and treat degenerative disc disease and associated disorders of connective tissue. His study has benefited from both his knowledge of the subject matter and peer-reviewed financing from organizations like the AO-Spine, the North American Spine Society, and charitable foundations. Dr. Erwin was given the CIHR/CCA Senior Research Award between 2003 and 2007 and was awarded the University of Toronto's Chiropractic Research Chair. Dr. Erwin holds positions at the University of Toronto and Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in addition to being a member of more than ten scientific associations, such as the North American Spine Society, Canadian Chiropractic Association, and AO Spine International and serving on the editorial board for nine academic journals.

Dr. Erwin completed a double major honours degree in physical education and science at York University in 1980 and then graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1984. He entered clinical practice in the late summer of 1984 and developed a busy practice until enrolling in graduate studies at the University of Toronto. He graduated with a PhD in medical science from the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto (2004) where the focus of his studies concerned the cellular/molecular mechanisms governing DDD with an emphasis on the influence of notochordal cell-secreted factors upon intervertebral disc biology.

Media availability: TV, Radio, Print/Online