Upton D. Allen, CD, O.Ont, MBBS, MSc, FAAP, FRCPC, Hon FRCP (UK), FIDSA, FPIDS is a Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. He is Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). He is interim director of the Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre, Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Allen is a Senior Associate Scientist in the Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children. His primary appointment is with the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children. He is cross appointed as a professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto.
Dr. Allen received his medical degree from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. He received pediatric training at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. He obtained further research training leading to a degree in Clinical Epidemiology (MSc) from McMaster University.
Dr. Allen is a past director of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Fellow of the Society. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). He is a past Chair of the Infectious Diseases Specialty Training Committee, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). Past awards include the Clinical Science Established Investigator Award from the American Society of Transplantation. In 2018, he was awarded the Order of Ontario, which is the highest honor awarded by the province of Ontario, Canada. In 2020, he was recognized by Toronto Life Magazine as one of the top 50 most influential people in Toronto, Ontario. In 2021, he was honored with the appointment as Commander, Order of Distinction, Jamaica. Dr. Allen is a recipient of the African Canadian Achievement Award as well as the Harry Jarome Award. In 2023, Dr. Allen was a recipient of the University of Toronto President’s Impact Award for work done as a member of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table for which he was a Co-Chair. The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table was a vital source of evidence-based analysis informing Ontario’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to being a general infectious diseases specialist, he is actively involved in clinical and research activities relating to immunocompromised patients, notably those who have undergone organ and stem cell transplantation as well as cancer therapies. He has a major research interest in Epstein-Barr virus-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) as well as an interest in respiratory syncytial virus infections. Dr. Allen has had many academic and professional accomplishments. He has had numerous invited lectures internationally, visiting professorships, more than 350 scientific publications, scientific abstracts, several book chapters, and several peer-reviewed research grants.
He had led research studies on different aspects of COVID-19, including genetic susceptibility and immune response profiles. Within the Black Canadian communities in Ontario, he has led studies addressing COVID-19 seroprevalence and associated risk profiles as well as immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, he is working closely with various groups addressing issues relating to COVID-19 among racialized groups, including but not limited to vaccine hesitancy to ensure the members of the Black community has the appropriate information to make informed decisions. He is a Board member and chair of the Health Committee of the Black North Initiative with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion within the health care system. Dr. Allen serves as chair of the Ontario Public Health Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr. Allen is currently leading a large national study funded by Genome Canada to examine genomic factors associated with susceptibility to selected chronic health disorders that are prevalent within the Black Canadian population.