Backgrounder – 2011 CIHR-CMAJ Top Achievements in Health Research Awards

[ Press Release 2012-05 ]

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) host an annual competition to celebrate top achievements in health research in Canada. Launched in 2008, the awards highlight achievements that have "improved our understanding of health and human diseases; significantly improved the health of Canadians (and others) and/or provided more effective products and health services; and had significant impact within the field (e.g. important advancement in knowledge or a major improvement in health benefit, diagnosis or improved function that enhances healthcare delivery)." Four categories of achievement are eligible for the award: biomedical, clinical, health services, and social, cultural, environmental and population health.

Among the 2011 competition applicants, six winners were selected by an international review committee. Two winners with the highest rankings received a special mention. Essays of the two highest-ranking achievements are available at www.cmaj.ca under "Special Reports".

  • Dr. Daniel Drucker for his innovative work in improving the lives of patients with type 2 diabetes (Toronto, Ontario)
    Dr. Daniel Drucker's significant basic science discoveries now mean improved health for millions of patients with type 2 diabetes worldwide. His key findings at the University of Toronto and Mount Sinai Hospital led to the development of several new classes of therapies for these patients. The new therapies reduced the need for self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and lowered the risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain. – Special mention
  • Dr. Gideon Koren, Dr. Katarina Aleksa, Ms. Adrienne Einarson, Mr. Joey Gareri, Dr. Shinya Ito, and Dr. Irena Nulman for revolutionizing the area of medication safety in pregnancy (Toronto, Ontario)
    Founded in 1985, the Motherisk program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto has helped fill a serious knowledge gap concerning safe medication use during pregnancy. Dr. Koren and colleagues are behind the success of the Motherisk program which has revolutionized the area of medication safety in pregnancy and affected the way women are cared for during pregnancy in Canada and around the world. – Special mention
  • Dr. Marvin Fritzler for identifying novel autoantigens that resulted in new diagnostic testing and biomarkers for autoimmune diseases (Calgary, Alberta)
    Virtually all of Dr. Fritzler's discoveries of novel autoantigens have been translated into new diagnostic assays or biomarkers that are in wide use in clinical diagnostic and research laboratories around the world. Dr. Marvin Fritzler's work out of Calgary is particularly important for patients with autoimmune disorders.
  • Dr. Terry Klassen, Dr. Lisa Hartling, Dr. David Johnson, Dr. Martin Osmond, and Dr. Amy Plint for improving health outcomes of acutely ill and injured children visiting pediatric emergency departments (across Canada)
    Through a nation-wide research network, Pediatric Emergency Research Canada, investigators have generated important new knowledge that has substantially improved the health outcomes for acutely ill and injured children presenting to the emergency room. Thanks to the researchers, the following three common childhood problems are now better cared for: croup, bronchiolitis and mild head injuries.
  • Drs. Anthony Tang and George Wells for helping reduce cardiac mortality rates with resynchronization therapy and implantable defibrillators in heart failure (Ottawa, Ontario)
    The results of a project by the researchers in Ottawa led to changes in clinical care for patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Their study showed that combining two therapies could significantly reduce mortality and rates of admission to hospital among patients with mild to moderate heart failure.
  • Dr. Michael Hill, Dr. Shelagh Coutts, Dr. Andrew Demchuk, and Dr. Eric Smith for the Calgary Stroke Program (Calgary, Alberta) that has changed the face of stroke care by thoroughly integrating research and clinical care
    Dr. Hill's team has changed the face of stroke care. The Calgary Stroke Program, through its multidisciplinary clinical research group, has guided practice changes in Canada and beyond. A defining feature of the program is that research and clinical care are thoroughly integrated.