Dr. Salim Yusuf

Dr. Yusuf is a Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and Executive Director of the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI). He is an internationally renowned cardiologist and epidemiologist whose work has substantially influenced prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. He, together with Richard Peto, Rory Collins, and Peter Sleight, initiated the concept of large simple trials and meta-analysis. He leads several global studies in more than 60 countries to enhance the understanding of the biological behaviour and societal causes, consequences, and approaches to the control of heart disease and strokes. These large multi-country programs include HEART, INTERSTROKE, and PURE. Dr. Yusuf has published more than 1,000 articles in refereed journals. In 2011, he was the world's second-most cited cardiology researcher and in 2020, he was the most-cited. He is among the 20 most cited health researchers in history. His large-scale clinical trials have had a significant impact on the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, in particular, he has demonstrated the value of combinations in a single pill (the polypill) of blood pressure lowering and lipid lowering with statins and combinations of antiplatelet therapy and joint use of anticoagulants and aspirin in low doses, to prevent cardiovascular disease and death.