Mike Walsh Elected to Royal Society of Canada

The Libin Institute’s Dr. Michael (Mike) Walsh, AHFMR Scientist and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Vascular Smooth Muscle Research, has just been elected to the Royal Society of Canada, the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (RSC).  He, along with five others from the University of Calgary, will join a select 42 colleagues from the university who are already fellows with the RSC.  They will be officially inducted in the nation’s capital at an awards dinner on November 28th 2009.

“I was delighted, and felt privileged and honoured to be invited to join this elite group of Canadians,” says Dr. Michael Walsh of his election to the RSC.

Read what else Dr. Walsh had to say – click here.

The Royal Society of Canada, the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada, having been founded in 1882 by then Governor General the Right Honorable Sir John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, 9th Duke of Argyll.  It is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada and recognized as the most prestigious academic body in the nation.

Congrats Dr. Walsh!

Norm Campbell to Head Hemispheric Expert Group

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has just named the Libin Institute’s Dr. Norm Campbell as Chairperson of the Regional Expert Group on Dietary Salt Reduction as a Population-Based Approach to Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases. This new expert group will be tasked with developing new recommendations for policies and actions to lower salt consumption in the Western Hemisphere, in an effort to prevent deaths and illness from hypertension, heart and kidney failure, and stroke.

Read the Press Release – click here.

The PAHO, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. Headquartered in Washington D.C., it serves as the Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) and enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system.

See related UCalgary Medicine article.

Congrats Dr. Campbell!

Wyse views on Dabigatran (Pradaxa) and Warfarin

The Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta’s Dr. D. George Wyse, Professor Emeritus at UCalgary’s Faculty of Medicine and a Distinguished Scientist of the Heart Rhythm Society, was recently interviewed by David Gray of CBC Radio’s Homestretch program. Dr. Wyse discussed the RE-LY trial and the recent study based on the trial’s data. The study compared the effectiveness of Dabigatran (Pradaxa) and Warfarin on patients with atrial fibrillation. The conclusions of the study have surprised many.

Listen to Dr. Wyse on CBC Radio (8 min):

In addition to being an internationally recognized expert on atrial fibrillation, Dr. Wyse was particularly well suited to comment on the study as he served as Co-Chair of the RE-LY trail Safety and Data Monitoring Board.

To read the study, click here.