Renowned Scientists
Lawson Health Research Institute is home to world-renowned scientists, responsible for some of the most cutting-edge breakthroughs in health research.
The following are Lawson scientists who have been awarded with our prestigious Scientist Career Award at the Lawson Impact Awards. They represent just a few of the leading researchers who call Lawson Health Research Institute home.
Dr. Frank Prato
Dr. Frank Prato is the Imaging Program Leader and an Assistant Scientific Director at Lawson. He is the visionary, mentor, and leader behind imaging research in London, Ontario. His efforts have resulted in Lawson leading the country and, in many cases, the world with achievements in medical imaging research. His work has contributed to the development of diagnostic imaging procedures that benefit millions of patients each year worldwide. As principal investigator, Dr. Prato has raised over $20-million in research grants and contracts during his career. His research accomplishments have resulted in over 200 peer-reviewed publications, 480 abstracts, and 167 invited presentations. These publications have impacted the scientific community as evidenced by over 5,100 lifetime citations. He has translated his research through 11 patents and 4 start-up companies, one of which was the first ever spin-off from Lawson or Western University to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Under Dr. Prato’s leadership, the Imaging program at Lawson has grown from only two investigators to over 22 scientists and 8 associate/adjunct scientists today. Dr. Prato’s efforts have provided a continuous influx of state-of-the art imaging equipment and prototype technologies, giving Lawson the distinction of being the first place in Canada and, in several cases, the first place in the world to have these cutting-edge technologies available to faculty, staff, and trainees.
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski was chief of service in Clinical Neurological Sciences at LHSC from 1990 to 2000, during which he also served twice as University Chair. Despite taking on very significant administrative responsibilities, Dr. Hachinksi was able to maintain one of the most productive and impactful research careers of any clinician-scientist in Canada. He has authored, co-authored or co-edited 17 books and over 600 scientific or scholarly publications whose impact is reflected in over 28,000 citations and a Hirsch index of 80. He has mentored over 100 physicians and scientists, some who have become leaders in their own right. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Stroke, the leading publication in his field from 2000-2010, during which time he introduced nine international editions and began a unique mentorship program for authors in developing countries. Dr. Hachinski developed the most widely used clinical tool for diagnosing vascular dementia, the eponymous Hachinski Ischemic Scale, and discovered that vascular disease is manifest as radiological changes in the brain white matter of older persons. He coined the term ‘leukoaraiosis’ to describe these radiological changes. These discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of the mechanisms of dementia and offer new avenues for therapy and prevention. Today, Dr. Hachinski continues to provide leadership, mentoring and is an inspiration to new investigators in this complex and ever evolving field.
Dr. William Clark
Distinguished in many areas of medicine and nephrology, Dr. Clark has gained international recognition for his observational studies, randomized clinical trials and treatment of kidney patients. Most recently, he has gained world-wide attention for his work examining the increased risks of initiating dialysis treatment early. Dr. Clark’s career as a clinician-scientist spans over three decades. His work has explored many issues, including the role of platelets in kidney injury resulting from diseases of the immune system such as lupus nephritis or glomerulonephritis. He also studied the application of plasma (blood) exchange and dialysis to improve the treatment and health of people suffering from kidney injury. In addition to his clinical and research successes, Dr. Clark was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for his charitable work, which notably includes initiating and managing two major fundraisers as well as being Honorary Cabinet Member (Ontario) of The Kidney Foundation’s New Challenge Campaign.
Dr. Peeyush Lala
Over the past 50 years, Dr. Peeyush Lala has led a career dedicated to the fields of placental biology and cancer biology. He has built a unique bridge between the two disciplines by progressing our understanding of the mechanisms that control cell migration and tissue invasion. Through this work, Dr. Lala has advanced our knowledge of embryo implantation, placental development and cancer metastasis. This includes studying the role of cancer stem cells in the propogation and metastasis of breast cancer. His most recent findings include the discovery that the production of a molecule called Decorin is dysregulated in pregnancies with pre-eclampsia. This raises the exciting possibility that measurements of the protein may be used as a biomarker to predict pre-eclampsia. Dr. Lala’s passion for science and its translation for clinical relevance and impact are evident throughout his career. Dr. Lala has coauthored more than 225 scientific publications, 26 of which have been cited more than 100 times. He has also contributed to the education and training of leading scientists around the world. Dr. Lala has served on the editorial boards for seven scientific journals, was an associate editor of the American Journal of Anatomy, past President of the Canadian Association of Anatomists, Neurobiologists and Cell Biologists (CAANCB) and past Vice-President of the American Society of Reproductive Immunology (ASRI). He has been awarded with the JCB Grant Senior Scientist Awards from CAANCB in 1990 and a Research Excellence Award from Western University in 1996. In 2001, Queen’s University held an international symposium, cosponsored by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in tribute to Dr. Lala and his research. In 2013, Western conferred their highest honour on Dr. Lala – Doctor of Science (honoris causa).