Renowned cardiovascular researcher to receive Taylor Prize

He was the first to predict the popular anti-inflammatory drug, Vioxx would increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks, and it was his discovery that led to the adoption of low dose aspirin for every day cardio-protection. For these and other outstanding scientific achievements, Dr. Garret A. FitzGerald has been named this year's recipient of the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine by the Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario in London, Canada.

Dr. FitzGerald is the McNeil Professor in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and Chair of its Department of Pharmacology. He will discuss lessons from the COX-2 (Vioxx) saga in a keynote address at the Taylor Cardiovascular Research Symposium on Wednesday, Nov 4th in Auditorium A of University Hospital at the London Health Sciences Centre. The full itinerary can be found at: http://www.robarts.ca/taylor-cardiovascular-symposium

"Dr. FitzGerald's pioneering research has resulted in dramatic and significant changes to clinical practice," says Murray Huff, a member of the selection committee and a scientist at Robarts. "He is a brilliant clinician scientist and his exceptional leadership in cardiovascular research makes him a most deserving recipient of the 2009 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine."

This is the 25th year for the Taylor Prize which awards recipients $10,000 and a classical medallion bearing the likeness of Robarts' founding chair, J. Allyn Taylor. It will be presented to Dr. FitzGerald at the Robarts Celebration of Science Dinner, in the Great Hall at Western following the symposium.

Source: University of Western Ontario