Today, Dr. Tammy Clifford, Acting President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, announced that Dr. Ariane Marelli has been appointed the next Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health for a term of four years, effective April 1, 2024.
Dr. Marelli is one of Canada’s leading cardiovascular scientists and is known internationally for her work in congenital heart disease. She is a Professor of Medicine at McGill University, Associate Member of the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and a Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).
Dr. Marelli is also Founding Director of the McGill Adult Unit for Congenital Heart Disease Excellence, which provides care to thousands of cardiac patients every year. She led the development of the Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan Program at RI-MUHC, a program that brings together scientists working on basic, clinical and health outcomes research to advance knowledge and develop new therapies for cardiac and cardiovascular diseases in children and adults. She is a Clinical Research Scholar of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQ-S). She is the immediate past-President of the Canadian Adult Congenital Heart Network of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society,and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Her background in cardiology and public health has enabled Dr. Marelli to do groundbreaking work to understand the health needs of patients with congenital heart disease from birth to old age. In partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the American College of Cardiology and people with lived experience, her research has influenced policy and led to new models of delivering health services forpatients with lifelong heart conditions. She has an extensive funding history at CIHR and publications that include a book on congenital heart disease that is sold internationally.
The Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health is one of CIHR’s thirteen Institutes. As Scientific Director, Dr. Marelli will develop and advance research and training initiatives that address circulatory and respiratory research priorities in Canada while supporting the implementation of CIHR’s Strategic Plan. During Dr. Marelli’s term, the Institute will be based at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.
Quotes
“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Marelli as the newest Scientific Director at CIHR.Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Marelli has demonstrated a commitment to research excellence and a strong determination to build research capacity through training. I look forward to working with her as we continue to build a stronger, more diverse and more inclusive health research community in Canada.”
Dr. Tammy Clifford
Acting President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
“I am very enthusiastic about working with the outstanding group of Scientific Directors at CIHR to promote CIHR’s strategic plan with cutting edge science that is intersectorial. Strong internal alliances will help us build robust national and international partnerships.This is an exciting time for the Canadian research landscape and I am privileged to be part of this effort.”
Dr. Ariane Marelli
Incoming Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
“It is with great pride that the RI-MUHC will welcome the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, and we will be honoured to support Dr. Marelli as she takes on its leadership. Dr. Marelli’s impressive research career in the areas of health services delivery, quality and policy make her eminently qualified to develop and advance the circulatory and respiratory research and training priorities that will ultimately benefit millions of Canadians.”
Dr. Rhian Touyz
Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
“Throughout her career Dr. Ariane Marelli has made significant contributions to advancing cardiovascular research and care. Her selection as the next Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health is a well-deserved recognition of her expertise and a testament to her leadership in this field. I look forward to seeing the results of the important work that will come from this Institute in the years ahead.”
Dr. Lesley Fellows,
Vice-President (Health Affairs) and Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University