Prof Mark Richards, a cardiologist at the University of
Otago's Christchurch campus, who has just gained a
distinguished research medal. Photo by University of Otago.
A world-leading cardiovascular researcher, Prof Mark
Richards, who has helped pioneer advances in identifying heart
attack-related risk factors, has received the University of
Otago's highest research honour.
He has been awarded the Distinguished Research Medal, which
rewards outstanding scholarly achievement and the development
of concepts that lead to significant advances.
Prof Richards, who is an Otago University graduate, is the
National Heart Foundation professor of cardiovascular studies
at the the university's Christchurch campus.
He has led the Christchurch Cardioendocrine Research Group
since its formation in 1996.
Otago University vice-chancellor Prof David Skegg said Prof
Richards was a gifted researcher whose ground-breaking
studies and strong research leadership had helped improve the
quality of cardiac patient care throughout the world.
Prof Richards and the Christchurch research group had made
major contributions to understanding the part played by
cardiac hormones in the development of heart failure, Prof
Skegg said.
The group had developed sophisticated blood tests which were
being used internationally in diagnosing heart failure and
assessing how intensively patients need to be treated, and
with what drugs, he said.
Other research by the group has been used to improve commonly
used cardiac drugs, such as beta-blockers.
Prof Richards has published more than 300 scholarly papers
and has received many research grants from national and
international funding bodies.
A recent Health Research Council grant will support a
research programme which aims to further develop an improved
tool kit to predict risk, onset and progression of heart
disease through the development and use of blood biomarkers,
cardiac imaging and gene typing of patients.
Prof Richards, who is a cardiologist with the Canterbury
District Health Board, was delighted to receive the medal,
which he felt was also going to the research group, and not
solely to him.
• Prof Richards graduated with the MBChB qualifications from
Otago in 1978 and has since earned Otago doctor of medicine
and doctor of science degrees.
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