U of T Professor Tom Chau named Officer of the Order of Canada

Tom Chau, professor at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering and senior scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. The appointment recognizes his leadership in pediatric rehabilitation engineering and his work developing technologies that support communication for children with severe disabilities.

Chau is known for creating "access innovations"—tools that help children who are non-verbal or have limited motor control interact with their environment. His work includes systems that detect brain signals, facial gestures, muscle movements or vocal cord vibrations to operate communication devices.

He is the founder of the PRISM Lab (Paediatric Rehabilitation Intelligent Systems Multidisciplinary) at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Since its creation in 2004, the lab has developed technologies such as the Hummingbird, a wearable device that converts vocal cord vibrations into signals for computers and speech tools.

In addition to his research, Chau served as Vice President of Research and Director of the Bloorview Research Institute from 2012 to 2022. He also holds the Raymond Chang Foundation Chair in Access Innovations and supervises graduate students from multiple disciplines.

The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. It is awarded by the Governor General to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation. Chau’s past honours include the Order of Ontario, the Governor General’s Innovation Award, and the Meritorious Service Cross.