Dr. Julio Montaner recognized for life-changing HIV innovations
November 21, 2013 - Dr. Julio Montaner has been awarded the Rx&D Health Research Foundation's prestigious Medal of
Honour for outstanding contributions to health sciences and public health innovation.
The HRF Medal of Honour was presented to Dr. Montaner during a ceremony held in Montreal Tuesday, November 20, co-hosted with Prix
Galien Canada.
Along with the medal, Dr. Montaner also received a $20,000 prize, which he has donated to the Michael Smith Foundation for Health
Research to support HIV/AIDS-related research.
Dr. Montaner is the Director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. He is a former President of the International AIDS Society
and holds an endowed Chair in AIDS Research at SPH /UBC. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Montaner's innovative research led to the development
of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), a triple-drug therapy now the gold standard of HIV treatment. He has pioneered the
implementation of Treatment as Prevention, which calls for the expansion of HAART coverage to simultaneously decrease progression
to AIDS and death, as well as to prevent HIV transmission.
As the only province to implement the strategy, British Columbia has seen HIV-related morbidity and mortality decline by approximately
90 per cent. In addition, the number of new HIV diagnoses has fallen from approximately 800 per year prior to 1996 to 238 in 2012.
B.C. is the only province demonstrating a consistent decline in new cases of HIV. The strategy has gained global acceptance.
The Rx&D Health Research Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support health research in Canadian academic
health centres and promote the value of health research in Canada. Honourable Kelvin K. Ogilvie also received the Medal of Honour.
"The Health Research Foundation is proud to award the Medal of Honour to the Honourable Kelvin K. Ogilvie and Dr. Julio Montaner," said
Mr. Russell Williams, President of Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D). "Above and beyond their extraordinary impact
on biotechnology and AIDS research respectively, they have both demonstrated and exemplified dedication to the advancement of knowledge
in innovative health research."
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About the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) is Canada's largest HIV/AIDS research, treatment and education facility and is
internationally recognized as an innovative world leader in combating HIV/AIDS and related diseases. BC-CfE is based at
St. Paul's Hospital, Providence Health Care, a teaching hospital of the University of British Columbia. The BC-CfE
works in close collaboration with key provincial stakeholders, including health authorities, health care
providers, academics from other institutions, and the community to decrease the health burden of HIV
and AIDS. By developing, monitoring and disseminating comprehensive research and treatment programs
for HIV and related illnesses, the BC-CfE helps improve the health of British Columbians living
with HIV. www.bccfe.ca
Media contact:
Kevin Hollett
BC-CfE
Phone: 604-682-2344 ext. 66536
Mobile: 778-848-3420
Email: khollett@cfenet.ubc.ca
Source: https://www.bccfe.ca/news/our-news/dr-julio-montaner-recognized-life-changing-hiv-innovations
Reproduced with permission - "BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
(BC-CfE)"
BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE)
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