Professor Rhian M Touyz
Full Name:
Professor Rhian M Touyz BSc (Hons), MSc (Med), MBBCh, PhD, FRCP, FRSE, FAHA, FESC, FMedSci.
Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada
Degrees/Fellowships:
1976 Matriculated with University Entrance Certificate
1979 BSc., major subjects: Anatomy, Physiology.
1980 BSc. (Hons), major subject: Physiology.
1984 MBBCh
1986 MSc. (Med)
1992 PhD.
Place of Employment:
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Current Position:
Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada
Area of Research:
Molecular, cellular and vascular biology of hypertension and complications
Leadership Roles:
2007-2011 Chair of Lifestyle modifications subcommittee, Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) (Annual Canadian guidelines for hypertension treatment)
2008-2010 Chair, Cardiovascular Committee IVB, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
2007-2011 Chair, Cardiovascular Committee A, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
2008-2012 Member, Microcirculation study section, National Institutes of Health, (NIH), USA.
2007-2008 President, Canadian Hypertension Society
2009-2011 Vice-Chair, Leadership Committee, Council for High Blood Pressure, American Heart Association (AHA)
2009-2014 Executive member, International Society of Hypertension.
2010-2012 Chair, Leadership Committee, Council for High Blood Pressure, AHA.
2011-2021 Director – Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow
2014-2020 Director, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence
2014- Member, European Council for Cardiovascular Research (ECCR) Executive Committee
2014-2016 President, International Society of Hypertension
2016- Women in Hypertension Research Network, International Society of Hypertension
2016-2018 Vice-President, European Council for Cardiovascular Research
2018-2020 President, European Council for Cardiovascular Research
Reason for joining ECCR:
I joined ECCR because I wanted to associate with a scientific organisation that was small enough to feel like a family but big enough where I could network with the best researchers in cardiovascular sciences. ECCR is a society that proudly promotes the highest quality science, focusing on translational research. As a clinician scientist, I especially like the fact that both clinical researchers and basic scientists interact in a welcoming and collegial environment at the ECCR meetings.
Favourite book that you would recommend and why
I am enjoying Yuval Harari- ‘21 Lessons for the 21st Century’ – its thought provoking and makes one question the past, the present and especially the future – in a growing world of data, information, bioinformatics and technology.
Journals that you find interesting
Journals to which I subscribe and that are always on my desk are: New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Nature Molecular Biology, Hypertension, Clinical Science.
Something personal about yourself outside of work (something you enjoy doing, an unusual hobby or challenge
I love the arts – art, ballet and music. I trained at an Art, Ballet and Music school and feel fortunate to have had an outstanding schooling in the arts and then to go on to a career of science and medicine.