Salim Yusuf
Salim Yusuf, Founder and Emeritus Executive Director and Senior Scientist at PHRI, received the Vice President, Research (VPR) Exemplary Achievement Award on June 12 at the Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) Research Building Bridges Symposium. The award recognizes his lifelong work to improve heart health and reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease.
At the symposium, Yusuf gave a keynote presentation titled “Causes and Cardiovascular Diseases: A 50-Year Journey”, highlighting key discoveries and insights from his five-decade career.
Yusuf’s research has reshaped how the world understands and treats cardiovascular disease. His work has influenced international medical guidelines, brought affordable treatments to millions, and helped narrow gaps in care, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
“This award is truly meaningful to me, not just as a personal honour, but as a recognition of what’s possible when a large group of people from around the world come together to improve lives,” he said. “Science is teamwork. It’s about building bridges between people and ideas to make a real difference.”
Marc Jeschke, Vice President, Research at Hamilton Health Sciences, said, “Dr. Yusuf has contributed immensely to advancing clinical care in areas such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and thrombosis on a global level. This award is well-deserved recognition of a lifetime commitment to health research, which has benefited clinical practice and impacted global health policies.”
From Rhodes Scholar to Global Leader
Yusuf’s journey began in Bangalore, India, where he graduated from St. John’s Medical College in 1976. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University. There, he helped develop a new approach to medical research: large, simple clinical trials that facilitate obtaining definitive answers and are widely applicable.
In 1992, Yusuf founded a research group in cardiology which eventually became the PHRI, and has grown into one of the most influential health research institutions in the world. Today, PHRI conducts research involving more than 1.3 million participants across more than 1,000 research sites in 100 countries.
Innovative Research Transforming Lives
Under Yusuf’s 25 years of leadership, PHRI addressed major questions in cardiovascular health: What causes cardiovascular disease? What treatments work best? How can they be delivered equitably?
Trials led by Yusuf helped establish ACE inhibitors for prevention, dual antiplatelet therapies for acute coronary syndromes, and new antithrombotic agents. One of the most recent innovations is the Polypill, a low-cost combination drug designed to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The World Health Organization has since added it to its Essential Medicines List.
He also leads the PURE study, which looks at how lifestyle, environmental, and societal factors affect heart disease in diverse populations. PURE involves 200,000 participants across 1000 communities in 26 countries.
Building the Next Generation of Scientists
Yusuf has not only conducted large-scale research; he has also helped others do impactful studies through supporting the development of major research programs in Canada, India, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and China.
As past President of the World Heart Federation, he launched the Emerging Leaders program (now named after him) to train early-career researchers in research worldwide. So far, more than 250 researchers from 50 countries have completed the program.
A Lifetime of Recognition
Yusuf has received many honours for his work, including:
- The Lifetime Research Achievement Awards from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the World Heart Federation
- The Gold Medal of the European Society of Cardiology
- The American Heart Association Clinical Research Award
- The Killam Prize
- The Canada Gairdner Wightman Award
- The McLaughlin Medal of the Royal Society of Canada
He holds the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Research Chair, was a Senior Scientist with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (1999–2004) and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2023, he became an Honorary Fellow of St. John’s College, Oxford. He also holds four honorary doctorates, the most recent from Oxford University, bringing his journey full circle.
“I’ve always believed that impactful science is about collaboration,” he said. “This recognition reflects the work of our excellent team in Hamilton and that of hundreds of researchers, clinicians, and communities who’ve made these discoveries possible. I hope the next generation of scientists will keep pushing boundaries, asking bold questions, and working towards a healthier world.”
