Grant N. Pierce, CM, OM, PhD, FACC, FAHA, FISHR, FIACS, FCAHS, FRSC

Cross appointments

Does not hold any cross appointments.

Research summary

We are interested in the role that dietary flaxseed may play in providing significant health benefits on a) recovery from a heart attack, b) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, c) blood pressure and d) our health in general from a variety of other aspects. We are also involved in a study on identifying biomarkers for stroke

Research affiliations

  • Principal investigator, Cell Biology Laboratory, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS), Albrechtsen Research Centre, St Boniface Hospital
     
  • Principal investigator, Cell Biology Laboratory, Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM), Albrechtsen Research Centre, St Boniface Hospital

  • Research interests

    • Role of dietary flaxseed in our cardiovascular health
    • Biomarkers of stroke

  • Research themes

    • Cardiovascular cell biology and disease
    • Benefits of diet to cardiovascular health
    • Ischemic injury

  • Keywords

    • Flaxseed
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Nutrition

Biography

Dr. Pierce is a distinguished emeritus professor at the University of Manitoba in the department of physiology and pathophysiology.

Most recently, he served as the executive director of research at St. Boniface Hospital from 2005 to 2020.

He also chaired the executive scientific review committee for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada where he oversaw all peer review for three years.

Dr. Pierce was editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology from 2003-2016.

He is currently serving as World President of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences (2022-2025).

He received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to Canada, the 2016 Research Canada Leadership Award, and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the highest distinction for a scientist in Canada.

He was also awarded the Order of Manitoba, the highest distinction for a citizen of Manitoba in 2018. He was also made a distinguished professor of UM the same year.

Dr. Pierce has published over 250 peer reviewed research manuscripts and eight textbooks on topics in medicine and health.

Education

  • Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (Hon), Lakehead University (1976)
  • MSc, Dalhousie University (1979)
  • Physiology, PhD, University of Manitoba (1983)

Awards

2023:

  • Member of the Order of Canada

2018:

  • Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cuban Society of Cardiology, Havana, Cuba
  • Lifetime Achievement Award in Cardiovascular Science, Medicine, and Surgery from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences
  • Order of Manitoba
  • Distinguished Professor, University of Manitoba

2016:

  • Research Canada Leadership Award
  • Makato Nagano Award for Distinguished Achievements in Cardiovascular Education from the European Section Meeting of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Marseille, France
  • Suresh K. Gupta Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Sciences from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences India Section, Anand, India

2015:

  • Laufberger Medal from the Czech Physiological Society and the Czech Medical Society in Recognition of Scientific Excellence and Contributions to the Enhancement of International Scientific Collaborations

2014:

  • Bohuslav Ostadal Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Sciences, European Section Meeting of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, Balatongyoruk, Hungary
  • Plaque of Merit in Recognition of Research Excellence and Support of Slovak Young Scientists Education, from the Slovak Medical University and the Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Medal of the Serbian Physiological Society for “Lifetime Achievements and Contributions in Physiology”, Belgrade, Serbia

2013:

  • Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

2011:

  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Government of Canada
  • Medal of Honour for Scientific Achievement from the University of Medical Sciences in Holguin, Cuba

2010:

  • Fellow, Royal Society of Medicine, London, England
  • Jan Jessenius Gold Medal in Medical Sciences from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia, in recognition of outstanding international achievement in the field of medical research

2007:

  • Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Contact us

Physiology and Pathophysiology
432 Basic Medical Sciences Building
745 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9 Canada

physiology@umanitoba.ca
204-789-3696
204-789-3934