International society recognizes Dr. Peter Liu as a pioneer in the field of heart failure

September 26, 2024

OTTAWA, September 26, 2024 - Dr. Peter Liu, a cardiologist and the former chief scientific officer and vice-president of research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), has been named a recipient of the prestigious Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Pioneer Award for 2024.

The Pioneer Award is given to an innovator and pioneer in the field of heart failure. It recognizes an HFSA member’s innovative role in heart failure which helps to set the stage for future generations of heart failure providers.

Dr. Peter Liu has over 350 peer-reviewed publications, many in the most celebrated journals in the world, and his publications have been cited over 20,000 times.
Well known for his contributions to heart failure and cardiac inflammation research, Dr. Peter Liu discovered how viruses can enter the myocardium and trigger inflammation, and how innate and acquired immunity contribute to cardiac remodeling and heart failure progression following injury.

“It is a great honour to be recognized as an innovator and pioneer in the field of heart failure by an international society,” said Dr. Peter Liu, whose research focuses on the pathophysiology and clinical outcomes of heart failure from bench to bedside, and system biology approaches to understanding heart diseases. “Twenty years ago, there were few treatment options available for patients with heart failure, but today, with thanks to our patient partners and federal funding, we have better treatment options, and patients have an improved outlook and a much brighter hope of survival.”

Dr. Peter Liu and his team at the Heart Institute were among the firsts to identify new causes and types of heart failure, such as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and to study the role of inflammation and metabolic rewiring, a discovery believed to have changed the heart failure landscape. Dr. Liu’s research and collaborations with international partners have led to the development of brand-new tools, novel diagnostics and better treatments for heart failure patients.

The HFSA will recognize Dr. Liu with the Pioneer Award during the association’s annual scientific meeting held September 27-30 in Atlanta, GA, USA.

For more information

To learn more, visit the Pioneer Award page on the HFSA website or read the HFSA news release.

To schedule an interview with Dr. Peter Liu, please liaise with the media contact named below.

Media contact

Leigh B. Morris
Communications Officer
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
613-316-6409 (cell)
lmorris@ottawaheart.ca