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Featured Contributor Award
The Featured Contributor in Cardiovascular Research Award is a highly selective and prestigious recognition presented annually by Canadian Medical Consultants (CMC), a national network of research sites specializing in clinical trials and translational research in cardiovascular medicine. This award is intended to honor outstanding research staff and trainees who have demonstrated exceptional performance and meaningful contributions to cardiovascular research efforts within the organization.
Each year, over 150 research professionals, including clinical research coordinators, research associates, trainees, and junior investigators, are eligible for nomination. The nomination process is initiated by principal investigators at participating CMC research centers, who identify individuals that exemplify scientific rigor, operational excellence, and innovation in research practice. Final selection is made by a committee of senior clinicians, investigators and members of the scientific leadership team at CMC.
Only two individuals are selected annually, making this award one of the most competitive forms of internal recognition offered by the organization. Awardees are chosen based on several key criteria:
• Excellence in data integrity and compliance, including accuracy in data collection, adherence to protocols, and regulatory preparedness;
• Innovation in clinical and research protocols, such as contributions to improving study design, participant recruitment strategies, or workflow efficiencies;
• Authorship or co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating active engagement with the scientific community and contributing to the dissemination of research findings;
• Impact on patient care and scientific advancement, evidenced by research outcomes that contribute to improvements in cardiovascular diagnostics, treatment strategies, or patient management.
Receiving this award signifies national recognition within Canada’s cardiovascular research community and highlights the recipient’s dedication, leadership, and scientific acumen. It also reinforces the recipient’s role in promoting research excellence and contributing to the advancement of clinical care in cardiovascular medicine.
The Featured Contributor distinction is formally recorded in the recipient’s annual performance evaluations and is often cited in support of applications for internal promotions, research grants, and external fellowships. It serves as a strong indicator of professional credibility and research impact within both academic and clinical settings.
Featured Contributors Awardees
Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Latif has made significant contributions to advancing cardiovascular research, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving pathological cardiac remodeling. Trained as both an interventional cardiologist and immunologist, he brings a unique perspective that bridges clinical expertise with cutting-edge basic and translational science.
His research explores the molecular and immune responses to myocardial stress, particularly the role of bone marrow–derived innate immune cells in cardiac disease. By integrating clinical, biochemical, cellular, and pharmacological approaches, his work has yielded important insights into how cardiac injury progresses to heart failure, while highlighting opportunities for innovative therapeutic interventions.
Beyond his research, Dr. Abdel-Latif has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentorship and collaborative science. He has guided numerous students, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical trainees—many of whom have gone on to publish, win prestigious awards, or establish careers in academia. His leadership in multi-investigator collaborations and multi-center studies reflects a dedication to translating scientific discovery into improved patient care, advancing both the field of cardiology and the next generation of physician-scientists.
Date Awarded: 2024-04-20
Mahmud Tarhuni has contributed to several research initiatives and has played a key role in important studies focused on enhancing patient care through innovative cardiac monitoring and investigating inflammatory mechanisms in heart failure.
His involvement in projects such as real-time continuous cardiac monitoring for arrhythmia detection and management, alongside research into lysophosphatidic acid–mediated inflammation, reflects a strong commitment to bridging clinical practice with scientific discovery.
By assisting in data collection, laboratory coordination, and multidisciplinary collaboration, Madmud actively supports the pursuit of excellence in cardiac research and contributes to improving patient outcomes. focusing on cardiac inflammation and post-injury repair. His work has supported clinical data collection, manuscript preparation, and ethics submissions, while also assisting in lab operations and interdisciplinary coordination. His contributions reflect a growing interest in improving cardiovascular care through research and innovation
Date Awarded: 2024-05-15