Dr. Grant N. Pierce, former Executive Director of St. Boniface Hospital Research, renowned scientist and leader in cardiovascular research, will be appointed to The Order of Canada.
Dr. Pierce has conducted groundbreaking research for over 30 years, significantly advancing our comprehension of diabetes, heart muscle disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and strokes. This honor acknowledges Dr. Pierce’s exceptional contributions to better understanding heart disease and his pioneering discoveries concerning the therapeutic benefits of nutraceuticals like flaxseed in addressing ischemia and high blood pressure. His research breakthroughs have gained worldwide recognition from the scientific community for their potential in treating and preventing the leading cause of death globally, heart disease.
In addition to his scientific achievements, Dr. Pierce’s exceptional fifteen years (2005-2020) as Executive Director helped propel St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre to the top ranks of research institutions in Canada, a position it maintains today, consistently ranking among the top ten in the country.
“We are extremely pleased to see Dr. Pierce named to the Order of Canada. His career achievements are most certainly worth celebrating, and St. Boniface Hospital is proud and honoured of our connection with Dr. Pierce and his remarkable work,” said Nicole Aminot, President & CEO, St. Boniface Hospital.
Dr. Pierce also played a pivotal role in establishing the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM) at the Albrechtsen Research Centre, a unique partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Manitoba. This world-class facility has brought significant research investments, faculty and brain power to Manitoba in order to identify novel food products that may be used to address health challenges. Dr. Pierce’s advocacy for this one-of-a-kind collaboration of food science investigators and agricultural producers has led to a growing recognition that foods can be used to manage certain diseases, helping to alleviate the overall burden on our healthcare system, while simultaneously benefiting Canada’s agriculture sector.
Furthermore, Dr. Pierce’s efforts have extended beyond the research community, impacting the lives of young students in Manitoba, playing a key role in the development and construction of the RBC Youth BIOlab at St. Boniface Hospital’s Albrechtsen Research Centre, providing thousands of young students in Grades 5 – 12 from every corner of our province, with hands-on experiences in health research.
“The Order of Canada is bestowed, per its motto, on those ‘desiring to make a better country.’ Grant Pierce has always focused his exceptional skills as a scientist, leader and administrator to do exactly that – to improve the lives of others through the performance and promotion of world-class cardiovascular research,” said Dr. Michael Czubryt, Executive Director Research, St. Boniface Hospital. “It is gratifying to see him recognized by his community and country for his career of dedicated service, and we offer our heartiest congratulations on this remarkable honour.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Pierce has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers in esteemed scientific journals and authored eight textbooks on cardiovascular health. His impact is evident by his exceptional H-index of 70 and 15,000 citations. Moreover, his research has received continuous support from major research funding agencies, reinforcing the significance and impact of his discoveries.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Dr. Pierce’s influence extends to global audiences through over 250 lectures worldwide, sharing his knowledge and advances in cardiovascular research. His commitment as a teacher has made him an outstanding ambassador for Canada in the field of heart disease.
https://www.gg.ca/en/order-canada-appointees-june-2023
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