Dr. Subodh Verma
Toronto heart surgeon appointed new Canada Research Chair in heart disease; pioneering work to link breast cancer gene to heart attacks planned
TORONTO, Ont., September 17, 2007 — The Canadian government’s recent investment into research has brought atherosclerosis and a St. Michael’s Hospital heart surgeon into the forefront of the fight against the country’s number one killer: heart disease.
Dr. Subodh Verma, a heart surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital, has been appointed as the first Canada Research Chair in Atherosclerosis. Making vital contributions to the area of inflammation and vascular control, Verma is regarded as an international authority on endothelial dysfunction. His ongoing cutting edge research in the area of breast cancer and heart disease will be a revolutionary step forward.
“Building a larger base of scientific expertise and enhancing Canada’s international reputation for research excellence are key elements of Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage, our government’s new Science and Technology Strategy,” said MP Diane Ablonczy, secretary of state (small business and tourism), on behalf of the Federal Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canada Research Chairs program Jim Prentice. “Our Government recognizes the importance of doing more to help transform and commercialize scientific and technological innovations. This, in turn, will help create better jobs, increase economic growth and improve our quality of life.”
As Canada Research Chair in Atherosclerosis, Verma is poised to make big breakthroughs in our understanding of this often deadly condition. Aside from a career in biology, Verma, an associate professor in the division of cardiac surgery at the University of Toronto, is also a pharmacist and cardiac surgeon, which means he is well-placed to ensure his breakthroughs benefit all Canadians quickly, turning research into surgical procedures and medicines that help unclog arteries in Canada and abroad.
His research focuses on a promising new understanding of this disease. Previously, researchers had thought atherosclerosis was caused solely by plaque build-ups, but today they know that the process of inflammation plays a vital role at every stage of the disease. Normally a helpful response to disease and infection, inflammation can also speed the buildup of blockages and add to the frailty of blood-vessel walls. Verma’s novel work to identify parallels between breast cancer and heart disease will likely revolutionize our understanding of cardiovascular diseases.
Already at the forefront of research into the connection between inflammation and atherosclerosis, Verma will develop new strategies to counter this condition, including working to find ways to mimic and enhance the body’s natural repair and defence structures at the molecular level. Verma will also investigate ethnicity and vascular disease, specifically within the South Asian community, which has higher instances of heart attacks and stroke.
“It is a tremendous honour to have received the Canada Research Chair in Atherosclerosis. We are amidst exciting discoveries in understanding the roots of heart disease, one of Canada’s deadliest killers,” he said. “We hope that our efforts will make for better treatments for the population at large.”
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