Dr. Ernesto Luis Schiffrin is a world-renowned cardiologist and leading authority in hypertension research with a distinguished career spanning over four decades. He currently serves as a Distinguished James McGill Professor of Medicine at McGill University and holds the position of Canada Research Chair in Hypertension and Vascular Research at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research. Following his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 1969 and subsequent PhD from McGill University in 1980, Dr. Schiffrin established himself as a preeminent cardiovascular researcher at the Jewish General Hospital where he served nearly 18 years as Physician-in-Chief before transitioning to his Emeritus role. His leadership extended across multiple institutions including his directorship of the Hypertension and Vascular Research Unit at the Lady Davis Institute and his influential position as Associate Chair of the McGill Department of Medicine.
Dr. Schiffrin's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of vascular remodeling mechanisms in hypertension, particularly through his groundbreaking work demonstrating how angiotensin II, aldosterone and endothelin contribute to structural changes in small resistance arteries. His seminal studies established that antihypertensive therapies targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system not only lower blood pressure but also selectively reverse vascular remodeling in hypertensive patients, revolutionizing clinical approaches to hypertension management. This work earned him the American Heart Association's Excellence Award for Research in Hypertension in 2011, with the citation specifically recognizing his pioneering translational work leading to discovery of mechanisms involved in the remodeling of small resistance arteries in experimental and human hypertension. The clinical impact of his research extends globally, with his findings incorporated into international hypertension guidelines and therapeutic protocols that have improved cardiovascular outcomes for millions of patients worldwide.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Schiffrin has profoundly shaped the field of hypertension through extensive leadership roles including presidency of the Canadian Society of Hypertension, the American Heart Association's Hypertension Council, and the International Society of Hypertension. As Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Hypertension since 2016, he continues to guide the scientific discourse in his field while maintaining an active research program focused on vascular microRNAs, endothelin signaling, and immune mechanisms in cardiovascular disease. His laboratory remains at the forefront of hypertension research with recent funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research supporting innovative investigations into novel therapeutic targets. Dr. Schiffrin's enduring legacy lies not only in his scientific discoveries but also in his mentorship of generations of cardiovascular researchers and clinicians who continue to advance the field he helped define.
