Department of Medicine
Endowed Chairs and Professorships
Endowed chairs enable researchers of the highest calibre to pursue critically important areas of study and recruit and nurture the next generation of researchers. With the support of individual and corporate partners, the endowed chairs listed below serve to attract and retain internationally renowned researchers in a variety of disciplines, ensuring that McMaster's students learn from the very best in the world.
Endowed Chairs in Medicine
Abbott Chair in Education in Rheumatology
Alfred Cividino
Dr. Cividino's research focuses on establishing and maintaining a world class centre of excellence in rheumatology education and on contributing significantly to the body of scholarship in the area of rheumatology education.
The chair is being supported by Abbott Laboratories, Limited.
Alliance for Better Bone Health Chair in Rheumatology
Rick Adachi
Dr. Jonathan (Rick) Adachi, director of the Hamilton Arthritis Centre and head of rheumatology at St. Joseph's Healthcare, will promote education and research in osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
The chair is being supported by the Alliance for Better Bone Health, a partnership between P&G Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and the sanofi aventis Group.
Amgen Canada Chair in Nephrology
Richard Austin
Dr. Austin plans to pursue research into the causes of, and treatments for atherosclerosis: a hardening of the arteries that is often seen in patients living with kidney disease.
The chair is being supported through a $3 million investment made by the Canadian division of AMGEN — a leading human therapeutics company in the biotechnology industry.
Andrew Bruce Douglas Chair in Neurology
John Turnbull
A renowned researcher of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) disease, sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Dr. Turnbull has been active in raising the profile and need for support for ALS research and patient issues with governments at provincial and national levels.
The chair is being supported by a donation from Bartek Ingredients Inc. in memory of its founder, Andrew Bruce Douglas.
AstraZeneca Chair in Respiratory Epidemiology
Malcolm Sears
Dr. Sears, research director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, is investigating respiratory diseases, in particular the reasons for the rapid increase in the number of people, especially children, who have asthma.
The chair is being supported by a donation from AstraZeneca, one of the leading global pharmaceutical companies with a product portfolio that spans six major therapeutic areas: gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, oncology, respiratory, neuroscience and infection.
David Braley and Nancy Gordon Chair in Thromboembolic Disease
Jeffrey Ginsberg
Dr. Ginsberg, the director of the Clinical Thromboembolism Group (CTG), is conducting research into the formation and treatment of blood clots and their effects. Under his leadership, the CTG has led many high impact studies that have influenced the way clotting problems are diagnosed, prevented and treated around the world.
The chair is being supported by a donation from David Braley, president of Hamilton-based Orlick Industries Limited, and his wife Nancy Gordon, a registered nurse who trained and practiced in Hamilton hospitals.
Eli Lilly Canada Chair in Osteoporosis
Alexandra Papaioannou
Dr. Papaioannou is investigating the best strategy for osteoporosis care, particularly for fall and fracture prevention, and to train the next generation of physician scientists to look for a cure.
The chair is being supported by a donation from Eli Lilly Canada, a global research-based pharmaceutical developer and manufacturer along with matching funds from the Division of Rheumatology of the Department of Medicine, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.
Eli Lilly Canada / May Cohen Chair in Women's Health
Sonia Anand
Dr. Anand is conducting epidemiological research and clinical trials that address the determinants and prevalence of women's health problems as they relate to vascular diseases.
The chair is being supported by a donation from Eli Lilly Canada, a global research-based pharmaceutical developer and manufacturer along with funds from McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute, directed by Dr. Salim Yusuf.
Farncombe Family Chair in Digestive Health Research
John Wallace
Dr Wallace is a pharmacologist and the director of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, which will focus on understanding the causes of common gastroenterology conditions, particularly inflammatory and other bowel diseases, with particular attention on the role of the intestinal microbial environment.
The chair is being supported by a donation from the Farncombe family, who have also funded the gnotobiotic (or sterile) laboratory and the Farncombe Family Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
GlaxoSmithKline Chair in Gastroenterology
Steve Collins
Dr. Collins' research, which involves both basic and clinical science, addresses the pathogenesis of functional bowel disorders and specifically the role of infection, immune activation and inflammation in these chronic conditions. His other research interests include the role of commensal bacteria in digestive health and disease.
The chair is being supported by a donation from GlaxoSmithKline, global research-based pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario / J. Fraser Mustard Chair in Cardiovascular Research
Jeffrey Weitz
Dr. Weitz has contributed to the understanding of how anti-coagulant drugs interfere with the clotting mechanism and has been involved in clinical tests of both new and existing drugs to devise better means of treating clotting disorders, as well as the development of tests for better diagnosis of these problems.
The chair is being supported by donations from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario / Marion W. Burke Chair in Cardiovascular Disease
Salim Yusuf
Dr. Yusuf research focuses on prevention of vascular diseases, thrombolysis, congestive heart failure and meta-analytic approaches to the evaluation of clinical trials.
The chair is being supported by a donation from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario / Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Population Health Research
Sonia Anand
Dr. Anand will be setting up a virtual group of experts in population health, which is the study of conditions and diseases in large groups of people, to look at the many things that determine health, from economic, social and environmental to genetics and health services.
The chair is being supported by donations from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, along with Canadian businessman and philanthropist Michael G. DeGroote.
LEO Pharma Chair in Thromboembolism Research
Mark Crowther
Dr. Crowther's research focuses on contributing significantly to the body of knowledge in thromboembolism research and establishing a world-class Centre of Excellence in thromboembolism, which will exemplify the central values of the St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and McMaster University.
The chair is being supported by a donation from LEO Pharma Inc.
McMaster University / GlaxoSmithKline Chair in Lung Immunology at St. Joseph's Healthcare
Mark Larché
The McMaster University / GlaxoSmithKline Chair in Lung Immunology at St. Joseph's Healthcare is held by Mark Larché, a professor of medicine. Dr. Larché is researching the development of peptide immunotherapy for immunological diseases.
The chair is being supported by a donation from GlaxoSmithKline.
McMaster University / St. Joseph’s Healthcare Regional Academic Chair in Critical Care Medicine
Deborah Cook
Dr. Cook, director of the McMaster General Internal Medicine Fellowship and of the GIM-ICU Clinical Effectiveness and Outcomes Research Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital, will establish an academic program in critical care, with a focus on research on clinical interventions and ethical issues relating to intensive care treatment decisions.
The chair is being supported by a donation from McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Medard DeGroote Chair in Medicine
Akbar Panju
Dr. Panju conducts research on chest pain, neuropathic pain, cardiology, thrombosis and general internal medicine, with particular emphasis on evidence-based health care. He is also undertaking an assessment and evaluation of different models of in-hospital patient care from across Canada, work in collaboration with the Canadian Society of Internal Medicine to increase public awareness of preventative measures in cardiovascular disease, and pursue the understanding and knowledge available on the mechanisms and treatment of pain.
The chair is being supported by a donation from Canadian businessman and philanthropist Michael G. DeGroote.
Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Infectious Diseases
Mark Loeb
Dr. Loeb's research interests focus on being an integral part of the institutional vision towards establishing and maintaining a world class Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases and contributing significantly to the body of scholarship in the area of infectious diseases, through teaching and research.
The chair is being supported by the Department of Medicine and Canadian businessman and philanthropist Michael G. DeGroote.
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Moran Campbell Chair in Respiratory Medicine
Paul O’Byrne
Dr. O’Byrne's research interests include pathogenesis and treatment of asthma, with particular interest in the mechanisms involved in allergic asthma including cell recruitment and activation, the inflammatory and bronchoconstructor mediators released from the inflammatory cells, including eicosanoids and cytokines, the structural consequences of the persisting inflammation in asthma and the efficacy and mechanisms of action of anti-asthma drugs.
The chair is being supported by a donation from AstraZeneca and the Province of Ontario.
Population Health Institute Chair in Diabetes Research and Care
Hertzel Gerstein
Dr. Gerstein's research focuses on preventing diabetes and developing new management strategies for health care providers and people already affected by diabetes.
The chair is being supported by a donation from Sanofi Aventis, a world leader in pharmaceuticals and agriculture.
Richard Hunt / AstraZeneca Chair in Gastroenterology
Paul Moayyedi
Dr. Moayyedi has been recognized internationally for his work in evaluating the management of dyspepsia, the potential for population Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment to prevent gastric cancer and has conducted one of the world's largest cross-sectional survey evaluating Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the community.
The chair is being supported by a donation from AstraZeneca, a global research-based pharmaceutical manufacturer, and Richard Hunt, a professor of medicine at McMaster.
Salim Yusuf Chair in Cardiology
Stuart Connolly
Dr. Connolly is recognized for his research specializing in the evaluation of treatments for heart rhythm disorders, particularly by means of randomized controlled trials.
The chair is being supported by a donation from Dr. Salim Yusuf, Director of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences.
Endowed Professorships
Endowed Professorships from the Department of Medicine are as follows:
Hamilton Hospitals Assessment Centre Endowed Professorship in Neuromuscular Disease
Steven Baker
Steven Baker has research interests in the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying statin-associated neuromuscular toxicity as well as acquired (chemotherapy-related neuropathy) and inherited (CMT, disorders of the peripheral nervous system).
Michael G. DeGroote Professorship in Stroke Management
Demetrios Sahlas
Demetrios Sahlas' research focuses on enhancing the delivery of stroke care and increasing the use of transcranial Doppler in the management of stroke. His interests also include knowledge translation across the continuum of stroke care; neuroimaging of stroke and vascular cognitive impairment; and clinical trials in the treatment and prevention of stroke.
William J. Walsh Professorship in Medicine
Judah Denburg
Judah Denburg's research interests include examination of the mechanisms of allergic inflammation, with particular emphasis on hemopoietic cytokines and their role in activating the differentiation and recruitment of inflammatory cells such as eosinophils, basophils and mast cells. He is seeking an understanding of the growth and differentiation of human basophil and eosinophil precursors, with the development of in vitro assays to monitor clinically relevant fluctuations in these cells during allergic responses.
