The Canadian Lung Association salutes Dr. Arthur S. Slutsky, whose pioneering research in pulmonary medicine has earned him the prestigious 2014 Researcher of the Year award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Dr. Slutsky, who is vice-president of research at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, was honoured for his outstanding efforts to advance pulmonary medicine and improve critical care practices.
He coined the term “biotrauma” to describe lung damage caused by life-saving mechanical ventilators. In the process, he helped to create a new field of medical research, conducting studies on ventilator-induced injury that ranged from basic research to clinical trials. His research continues to develop better ways of caring for patients with severe lung injury and is now helping to increase the number of eligible donor lungs available for transplantation.
“Dr. Arthur Slutsky’s research has had an outstanding impact on respiratory patient care in Canada and around the world,” says Neil Johnston, chair of the Canadian Lung Association’s National Research Steering Committee. “We congratulate Dr. Slutsky for this wonderful achievement, which honours excellence of research in Canada.”
Dr. Slutsky is a past recipient of the Ontario Thoracic Society Grant in Aid research award in 2000-2001 and served with distinction as a member of its research advisory committee for 14 years. The Ontario Thoracic Society is the medical society of the Ontario Lung Association.
“Dr. Slutsky’s outstanding career embodies the fine work being done every single day by members of Canada’s respiratory research community as they seek out new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat lung disease,” said Dr. Granton, chair of the Ontario Lung Association. “Like him, we are all passionate believers in the potential for well-funded research to help millions of Canadians breathe more easily.
“Respiratory research is at the core of finding better treatments and cures for lung disease. That’s why we have launched a national fundraising campaign, known as Breathing As One, that will support our new, innovative research strategy, “ says Dr. Granton, who is also the campaign chair.
“On behalf of the Canadian Lung Association and the broader respiratory research community, I extend sincere congratulations to Dr. Slutsky on being named CIHR Researcher of the Year,” said Debra Lynkowski, president and CEO of the Canadian Lung Association.
For more information about the Breathing as One campaign or to get involved and donate, visit Breathingasone.ca or email info@breathingasone.ca.
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Media Contact:
Janis Hass
Director of Marketing and Communications
Canadian Lung Association
613-569-6411 ext 252
jhass@lung.ca
About The Lung Association
Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.
