September 15, 2015 [Vancouver, BC] The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is proud to announce its director, Dr. Julio Montaner, has been selected as a recipient of the 2015 McLaughlin Medal by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).
Established in 1882, the RSC is the nation’s pre-eminent national academy. It promotes learning and research in the arts, the humanities and the natural and social sciences. The McLaughlin Medal was established in 1978 and is awarded for important research of sustained excellence in any branch of medical sciences.
“This award is especially humbling as I was selected from among my peers within the distinguished Royal Society,” said Dr. Montaner.”I hope this honour encourages young medical researchers, including those selected as fellows of the society, to forge ahead with bold, innovative work that advances Canadian science.”
Dr. Montaner is a recognized leader in the field of medical research on HIV and AIDS. Since the start of the HIV epidemic, he has been working to improve the lives of those living with the disease. Dr. Montaner played a key role in the discovery of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which reduces the amount of HIV in an infected individual’s bloodstream to undetectable levels. Dr. Montaner became the Director of the BC-CfE in 2005. One year later, he introduced the Treatment as Prevention¨ (TasP¨) strategy, a concept he pioneered, at the International AIDS Society Conference in Toronto.
TasP¨ consists of widespread HIV testing and the immediate and full offer of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to those who test positive and those who are medically eligible. Based on its success in improving a patient’s quality of life and longevity, while significantly reducing the likelihood of transmission, the strategy has been adopted on a global scale. Within BC, the implementation of TasP¨ with support from the provincial government has led to an 88 per cent decline in new AIDS cases and a 65 per cent drop in new HIV cases since 1994.
Among his many titles and recognitions, Dr. Montaner has served as the President of the International AIDS Society. In 2007, he was appointed to serve as the head of the newly established Division of AIDS at the University of British Columbia Department of Medicine – the first such initiative in Canada. He has been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and was named Officer in the Order of Canada.
The ceremony for the award will take place November 27 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. The ceremony will honour the award winners, as well as 90 Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada who were elected in 2015.
About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is Canada’s largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility and is internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. BC-CfE is based at St. Paul’s Hospital, Providence Health Care, a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. The BC-CfE works in close collaboration with key provincial stakeholders, including government, health authorities, health care providers, academics from other institutions, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV and AIDS. By developing, monitoring and disseminating comprehensive research and treatment programs for HIV and related illnesses, the BC-CfE helps improve the health of British Columbians.
For additional information or to request interviews, please contact:
Caroline Dobuzinskis, BC-CfE
Cell: 604-366-6540
Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 66536
Email: cdobuzin@cfnet.ubc.ca
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