Victor J. Dzau is the President of the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine (IOM). In addition, he serves as Vice Chair of the US National Research Council. He is Chancellor Emeritus and James B. Duke Professor of Medicine at Duke University and the past President and CEO of the Duke University Health System. Previously, Dr. Dzau was the Hersey Professor of Medicine and Chairman of Medicine at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as well as Chairman of Medicine at Stanford U.
He is an internationally acclaimed leader and scientist has made a significant impact through his seminal research in cardiovascular medicine and genetics. His important work on the renin angiotensin system paved the way for the contemporary understanding of cardiovascular disease and the development of drugs (i.e. ACE inhibitors) as widely used, lifesaving drugs for hypertension and heart failure. His pioneering research in cardiovascular regeneration led to the Paracrine Hypothesis of stem cell action and the strategy of direct cardiac reprogramming.
In his role as a leader in health, Dr. Dzau has led efforts in innovation to improve health.
Since arriving at the National Academies, Dr Dzau has designed and led important initiatives such as the Commission on a Global Health Risk Framework for the Future; the Human Gene Editing Initiative; and Vital Directions for Health and Health Care. The launch of the NAM Grand Challenges in Healthy Longevity represents his vision to inspire across disciplines and sectors to coalesce around a shared priority and audacious goal to advance health.
Dr Dzau has served on the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director and as Chair of the NIH Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee. He chairs the Steering Committee of the NHLBI Progenitor Cell Translational Consortium. He serves on the Advisory Council of Imperial College Health Partners, UK, Health and Biomedical Sciences Council of Singapore, Chairs International Science Advisory Committee of the Qatar Genome Project, Chairs the Scientific Boards of the Peter Munk Cardiac Center, University of Toronto and Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow. He served on the Board of Health Governors of the World Economic Forum and chaired its Global Agenda Council on Precision Medicine.
Among his many honours and recognitions are the Gustav Nylin Medal from the Swedish Royal College of Medicine, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Poulzer Prize of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Henry Freisen International Prize. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Academia Sinica and European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He has received eleven honorary doctorates.
Proud of his Canadian roots, Dzau has given his time generously to serve Canada, including the International Review Panel for the CIHR, past chairman of the External Board of the McClaughlin Center of Molecular Medicine, the Canada Gairdner Award Medical Advisory Board, the Scientific Board of the University Health Network of Toronto, the Review Board for the Canadian Excellence in Research Chairs and currently serves on Board of Directors of the Gairdner Foundation, Chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto, and Chairs the International Advisory Board of the new McGill School of Population & Global Health and among many others.