Canada Research Chairs
More than a million Canadians suffer from valvular heart disease. Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is one of the two most common types of this disease, and is a major public health and socio-economic burden that is expected to increase exponentially in the coming decades as the population ages. Left untreated, severe AS is fatal—and currently, the only available treatment is an aortic valve replacement.
Dr. Philippe Pibarot, Canada Research Chair in Valvular Heart Disease, aims to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease, particularly AS. He and his research team are collaborating with clinicians, scientists and engineers to explore a new tool for universal screening and to identify patients with AS who are most at risk for rapid disease progression. They are also conducting randomized controlled trials that will lead to major advances in optimizing and individualizing the timing and type of treatment in patients with AS.