Dr. Richard Leigh is a physician-scientist and the GSK-CIHR Professor of
Inflammatory Lung Disease in the Division of. Respiratory Medicine at the
University of ...
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE CLINICAL MEDICINE Recipient: Dr. Richard Leigh
Dr. Richard Leigh is a physician-scientist and the GSK-CIHR Professor of Inflammatory Lung Disease in the Division of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Calgary (U of C). He graduated from the University of Cape Town with distinction in the pre-clinical and clinical examinations, and was awarded the Will-Frid Exner Baumann Memorial Gold Medal for the best result in final year Medicine. After specialist training in Internal Medicine and Respirology in South Africa, he undertook further research training in airway inflammation, asthma and COPD at McMaster University, where he obtained a Masters degree in Health Research Methodology and a PhD in Medical Sciences. Dr. Leigh came to Calgary in 2004 to take up his first Faculty position. His current areas of interest include understanding the basic mechanisms underlying airway remodeling in asthma, the assessment of airway inflammation and conducting early phase clinical trials in asthma and COPD. He holds peer-review funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions (formally AHFMR), and is a Principal Investigator in the AllerGen Clinical Investigator Collaborative. Dr. Leigh chairs the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) National Grant Review clinical panel, and serves on the CTS Asthma and Research Steering Committees. He brings his background in research to bear on his decisions and actions in the care of patients. His substantial contributions through the Thoracic Network of Alberta and NWT, COPD and Asthma Network of Alberta and Alberta Breathes and his role as Director of the Calgary COPD and Asthma Program bring improved care to those in our Province with respiratory illnesses. Dr. Leigh has played a key role in the development of the national asthma guidelines which will have a broad impact on those with asthma in Alberta. He is the Professor of Inflammatory Lung Disease at the U of C and in that role has spearheaded many clinical trials of new interventions for asthma and COPD. He is a highly regarded member of the clinical Division of Respirology at the U of C, Alberta Health Services and in that position cares for patients and plays a major role in the education of fellows, residents and medical students. His colleagues and patients attest to his superior knowledge, thoughtfulness, thoroughness and excellence as a Respirologist.
