BHF Professor Rhian Touyz to take up leadership of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

We’ve today paid tribute to the “outstanding contribution” that BHF Professor Rhian Touyz has made to our research, following her decision to move to McGill University in Quebec.

Professor Touyz will become Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre after almost nine years as BHF Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Glasgow.

Professor Touyz was recruited to the University of Glasgow from Canada 10 years ago to take on a leadership role at the BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre. She is Director of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (ICAMS), British Heart Foundation (BHF) Chair and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Director of the BHF Centre of Research Excellence in Vascular Science and Medicine. She also has an active role in patient care, and is a consultant at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

From 30^th August this year Professor Touyz will take up her new position in Quebec. She will also become a member of the MUHC Executive Team, a Full Professor with tenure in the departments of Medicine and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Dr. Phil Gold Chair in Medicine at McGill University.

Professor Touyz said: "It has been a great privilege and honour to work with the BHF these past 10 years and to hold the prestigious title of BHF Chair. I am extremely grateful and appreciative to the BHF for providing the support, infrastructure and resources that facilitated my research successes in the UK. I have enormous admiration for the BHF and its absolute commitment to fighting heart and circulatory disease through research, education and advocacy. The BHF will always be close to my heart and I look forward to continued interactions as I move to Canada."

Internationally recognised research

As an internationally recognised specialist in hypertension and vascular biology, Professor Touyz has made important research contributions to the field, which could ultimately lead to new treatments and improved methods of diagnosis for people with high blood pressure.

During her 10 years in Glasgow, Professor Touyz has also been an inspiring leader to many at the BHF Centre of Research Excellence. She has trained over 70 PhD students and fellows, many of whom have gone on to successful independent careers. She is also actively involved in mentoring programmes nationally and internationally through the Academy of Medical Sciences UK, American Heart Association and the International Society of Hypertension.

Outstanding contribution and leadership 

Our Medical Director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, said: “Professor Touyz has made an outstanding contribution to the University of Glasgow and the BHF through her research programme and leadership of the broader cardiovascular research agenda locally, nationally and internationally. This has included her exemplary management of the BHF Centre of Research Excellence and 4-year PhD programme at Glasgow.

 “We wish Professor Touyz the very best as she moves back to her native Canada and builds new bridges to advance research for better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart and circulatory diseases.”

Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “Professor Rhian Touyz has been one of our key senior academic leaders in cardiovascular sciences at the University of Glasgow. As a long-standing Director of one of our Research Institutes I have greatly valued her advice and leadership during the last 10 years, and I am extremely grateful to Rhian for her dedication and contribution to the University of Glasgow. I would like to wish her well in her move to lead the McGill University Health Centre.”