An internationally respected biophysicist, Ian Smith has contributed to Canada's reputation as a leader in state-of-the-art medical diagnostic devices. Under his leadership, the National Research Council's Institute for Biodiagnostics has garnered a reputation for world-class research. It has generated and commercialized new non-invasive diagnostic tools used in human and veterinary medicine. Moreover, he continues his cutting-edge research on the early diagnosis of cancer, using magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Over the years, he has given his support and counsel to a myriad of organizations in Canada and abroad, and served as president of the International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics.