| Dr. N. S.
Dhalla
Dr. Dhalla was reluctant to
celebrate his Birthday but we held a momentous tribute to him. Not
only did we have an exceptional scientific program but our unique
"FUTURE of HEART HEALTH SYMPOSIUM " attracted fantastic interest. With
the kind assistance of St. Jude Medical, we have produced a three-disk
DVD.
Do not believe the rumours that Naranjan Dhalla's 70th Birthday is
even a hint that he is ready to retire! He is working as hard as ever
on his own research, writing, editing and traveling which recently
included a unique meeting in Cuba. Dr. Dhalla has made it clear that
he wants and needs no gifts. However, he is most anxious to encourage
the continuity of the international education he has tirelessly
facilitated in 65 countries. He envisions that the vehicle for such
work is the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences.
Buoyed by the excellent on-going response to my suggestion that his
friends honour Dr. Dhalla's Birthday with contributions to the "N. S.
Dhalla Fund", I am delighted to announce that we were able to make the
first contributions from the Fund. We assisted the participation in
the Global Conference on Heart Health and Disease by delegates from
Nigeria, Turkey, Russia, Slovak Republic, Romania, Jordan, India, and
from Cuba, Dr. Delfin Rodriguez Leyva attended his fourth meeting in
Winnipeg. Through the Dhalla Fund, the Academy assisted Dr. Delfin to
organize an outstanding international symposium in Holguin, Cuba,
January 25-27, 2007.
We strongly urge all of his friends and colleagues to honour Dr.
Dhalla on with a donation to the Academy. All funds collecting are Tax
Deductible in the U S A and Canada and will be used to support global
cardiovascular education, particularly of young people.
Please use this form.
Dhalla ending one career but expanding another!
[as printed in CV Network Vol. 5 - No. 1]
EDITOR'S NOTE:
On March 31, 2006, Dr. Naranjan S. Dhalla has stepped down as Director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the St. Boniface General Hospital Research
Centre. We all know that Dr. Dhalla will never "retire" or even take it easy. Indeed, it is his intent now to devote considerable energy to expanding the activities of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences as well as continuing his own research, editing "Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry", participating in the growth of Medicure Inc. and travelling to speak and educate all over the world.
Dr. Dhalla has focused his research work to advance knowledge in the area of cardiovascular pathophysiology and therapy of heart disease and by using innovative approaches, identified that remodeling of subcellular organelles plays a critical role in the development of congestive heart failure due to myocardial infarction. His work has also resulted in a concept that heart dysfunction in diabetes is due to an imbalance between fatty acid and glucose utilization. The work demonstrated that stress-induced heart disease is due to the oxidation of catecholamines (stress hormones) and that the oxidized catecholamines are the most sensitive index of prognosis for heart failure. Research in the area of ischemic heart disease has established the role of oxyradicals and intracellular calcium overload in the genesis of
ischemia-reperfusion injury. He has published 670 full-length research papers during his professional career.
Dr. Dhalla is committed to translating laboratory observations into newer treatments for patient care. On the basis of his research, he has co-founded a private company which has now developed several agents for improving the outcome of ischemic heart disease. The first Centre of Excellence in Heart Research in Canada was set up by the Medical Research Council under his leadership in 1978. These activities flourished into the world-renowned Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences with more than 125 scientists, students and support staff. He has been the prime moving force in attracting first-rate investigators and developing extraordinary research facilities in the Institute.
Dr. Dhalla has trained more than 145 scientists who are actively engaged in pursuing their
research and academic careers all over the world. He has exceptional talents in inspiring young
people to undertake challenges for combating heart disease. He has authored/edited 40 books in
the field of cardiovascular science and thus has helped in the education of numerous students and
specialists around the world. He has lectured at 416 conferences and institutions in the world. The
life-time efforts of Dr. Dhalla in the area of cardiovascular research and education have been
recognized in the form of 107 honours and awards from all over the world.
In his capacity as Secretary General (for 17 years) and President (for 3 years), Dr. Dhalla
promoted the International Society for Heart Research and helped make it a unique forum for the
exchange of scientific information in the world. In his current role as
Executive Director of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences for the past 10 years, he devotes considerable
energies to promote cardiovascular education. He has organized several international
conferences in different parts of the world during the past 30 years. He has willingly given of his
time and boundless energy to share his wisdom in some 65 countries in every corner of the globe.
These activities are a hallmark of his leadership in cardiovascular science, heart health and education throughout the world.
As the prelude to his final ICVS report, Dr. Naranjan Dhalla wrote the following message: |
My 19 Years of Service and Performance
as Director/Head of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences
During 1987 - 2006
It seems like yesterday when I was given the responsibility to develop the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the newly built St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre some 19 years ago. Since I am stepping down as Director of the Institute effective March 31, 2006, I am submitting an account of my performance during the past 19 years (1987-2006) as Director/Head of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences. It has been an honour and pleasure serving as Director; it has been a real challenge and a truly rewarding experience. The following description of my services will hopefully provide a glimpse of my commitment for the pursuit of excellence.
1. The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences maintained 100 to 140 members of the staff including faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, summer students and visiting scientists. Members of the Institute under my directorship received $52,532,894 in operating grants, personnel awards and equipment from extramural agencies, edited 47 books, and published 871 full length papers and 977 abstracts. The Institute trained 45 visiting scientists, 66 postdoctoral fellows, and 298 summer students and graduated 40 BSc Med Students, 59 MSc students and 39 PhD students. In addition, the Institute invited 287 seminar speakers during the past 19 years.
2. Received $14,229,326 in personal operating grants for research and equipment as Professor of Physiology and Distinguished Professor of the University of Manitoba during 1987-2006. Published 369 full length papers (294 in Refereed Journals and 75 in Monographs) and 356 abstracts in the area of pathophysiology and pharmacology of ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure and diabetic cardiomyopathy; this research has been cited 6,528 times during the past 19 years.
3. Supervised the research work of 17 PhD students, 14 MSc students, 11 BSc (Med) students, 93 summer students, 28 postdoctoral fellows, and 23 visiting scientists. Taught two courses (Cardiac Physiology and Molecular & Cellular Organ Physiology) every year, in addition to participating in three other team-taught courses for graduate students.
4. Gave 179 invited talks at various conferences and symposia and 107 invited talks at different academic institutions all over the world. Edited 28 books in the field of cardiovascular physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry and pathophysiology and thus, promoted the profile of the University of Manitoba and St. Boniface Research Centre at both national and international levels.
5. Continued serving as Editor-in-Chief of a major international monthly journal "Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry" which is published by Springer, New York (Formerly by Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston) since 1987. Served on the editorial boards of 17 international journals in the field of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, in addition to serving as Editor of four book series.
6. Elected and served as President of the International Society for Heart Research (ISHR) during 1992-1995 as well as President of the ISHR-American Section during 1988-1991. In addition to chairing the Young Investigator Awards Competition in North America every year and organizing several conferences all over the world to promote the scientific basis of cardiology; started a quarterly news bulletin "Heart News and Views" for promoting exchange of information throughout the world.
7. Founded and developed the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences for promoting the Scientific Basis of Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery, as well as recognizing cardiovascular achievements all over the world. Established 4 International Awards to be given annually. Served as Executive Director of the Academy since its inception in 1996 and linked three journals namely Experimental and Clinical Cardiology, Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Heart Failure Reviews with the Academy, in addition to creating the quarterly news bulletin "CV Network".
8. Developed a new program of the CIHR "National Research Forum for Young Investigator Forum in Circulatory and Respiratory Health" being held annually for building national manpower and talents in the field of heart/lung medicine and surgery. Served as Member of the Board of Directors of the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation and several local committees and thus, promoted the cardiovascular activities in Manitoba.
9. Chaired a highly successful World Congress on Heart Health in Winnipeg in 2001, with about 2,000 participants which included more than 450 speakers. In addition, chaired 6 other conferences in Winnipeg with 200 to 500 participants. These events proved highly valuable in promoting awareness about cardiovascular disease as well as the City of Winnipeg.
10. Served as consultant to different companies engaged in drug development for the treatment of heart disease. Encouraged numerous young cardiovascular scientists around the globe to achieve their full potential in their profession.
11. Served as Chair of the University of Manitoba Cardiovascular Group, Section Head of Cardiovascular Physiology, Member of the Council of Department Heads at the Faculty of Medicine and other local committees. Served as CIHR/Research & Development Chair in Cardiovascular Sciences during 1999 to 2004, as well as Director of CIHR/MRC Group in Experimental Cardiology from 1993 to 2004, in addition to serving on several national and international committees for promoting cardiovascular activities.
12. Obtained two United States Patents and co-founded a drug development company "Medicure Inc." in Winnipeg for both preclinical and clinical research in the areas of ischemic heart disease and hypertension. This publicly traded company has been successful in showing beneficial effects of two novel drugs in Phase 2 clinical trials.
13. Established endowments at the St. Boniface General Hospital Research Foundation in honour of 10 prominent individuals (Named Awards) to recognize achievements of international, national and local investigators. These annual prizes are given at the Awards Day of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences. In addition, endowments at the University of Manitoba in honour of 8 prominent individuals (Named Awards) were established to recognize the young investigators at the Faculty of Medicine every year.
14. Established Panjab Foundation of Manitoba as well as India Canada Culture and Heritage Association in Winnipeg to promote education, human rights, philanthropy, social and cultural activities among the people of Indo-Canadian origin. Participated actively in the development of Destination Winnipeg for improving the profile of this city, in addition to launching a campaign to obtain support of the Asian community for the National Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg.
15. Received 97 honours and awards from all over the world including the Order of Canada, Order of Manitoba, Bust installed in the Winnipeg Citizens Hall of Fame, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Medical Association Medal of Honour, Honorary Degree of Doctorate in Science, University of Manitoba Rh Institute Foundation Medal for Excellence in Research, Order of the Buffalo Hunt by the Province of Manitoba, Research Achievement Award of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Honorary Professorship at 3 Universities and Honorary Degree of Doctorate in Medicine.
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