Dr. Jack Jhamandas
Today the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) announced the appointment of Jack Jhamandas to the new position, vice-president, research.
Jhamandas will be responsible for the development and implementation of the AFMC Research Mandate. His responsibilities will include liaising with key stakeholders and providing leadership to AFMC on the promotion of health research in Canada.
"We are thrilled that Jack is joining the AFMC as our inaugural VP research. His track record as a renowned clinician scientist and his outstanding people skills make him the ideal candidate," said Hélène Boisjoly, chair of the AFMC Board of Directors.
Jhamandas is currently a Distinguished University Professor in the Division of Neurology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. He received his bachelor of science in applied physics and a master's degree in biophysics from the University of Alberta and his medical degree from the University of Calgary. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine at the Toronto Western Hospital and in neurology the Montreal Neurological Institute, and he received his PhD in neuroscience from McGill University. He served as associate dean, research, in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
Jhamandas is a practicing neurologist and neuroscientist whose research program focuses on studying misfolded proteins in Alzheimer's and prion diseases and aspects of brain control of cardiovascular function. His research has been funded by the CIHR, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and other national and provincial granting agencies. He has received the Gold Medal in Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; a Killam Professorship; held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's Research, and has been elected as a Fellow of both the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the American Neurological Association. Jhamandas has served on the Board of Directors of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta and is a member of the inaugural Advisory Board for the CIHR Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction.
"Please join me in welcoming Jack to the team. I look forward to working closely with him as we move the health research agenda forward in support of our faculties of medicine for better health for all," concluded Geneviève Moineau.