Two neurosurgeons at Toronto Western Hospital's Krembil Neuroscience Centre have received one of Canada's highest civilian honours.
Dr. Michael Tymianski, Head of UHN's Division of Neurosurgery and Senior Scientist at the Krembil Research Institute (Krembil), and Dr. Charles Tator, Scientist Emeritus at Krembil and the Research Director of the Canadian Concussion Centre, were two of 100 appointments to the Order in a year-end announcement by Governor General David Johnston.
Dr. Tymianski, who was made a Member of the Order of Canada, was cited "for his contributions to neuroscience, particularly through his leadership in investigating new mechanisms to protect the brain following a stroke."
Dr. Tator was promoted within the Order to Officer "for his advocacy as a world-renowned authority on concussions and for promoting increased safety in sports." Dr. Tator was first appointed as a Member to the Order of Canada in 2000.
They will receive their insignia at a ceremony in Ottawa later this year.
A world-renowned neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, Dr. Tymianski holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Translational Stroke Research. He is also the recipient of multiple academic awards, and funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, the Canadian Stroke Networks, and the Ministry of Research and Innovation.
For the last two decades, Dr. Tymianski has dedicated his research efforts to developing the only drug in the world, called NA-1, that has the potential to protect the brain from the effects of stroke. NA-1 is currently being tested in a Phase III clinical trial.
Dr. Tator, a renowned neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, professor and safety advocate, is an inductee of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. His laboratory was the first in Canada to study acute spinal cord injury from a basic science perspective, and his research transformed the world's understanding of spinal cord injury.
In 1992, he founded injury prevention organization ThinkFirst Canada, now part of Parachute Canada, to educate young people on how to prevent brain injury in sport. Over the last decade, he has been one of the country's leaders in concussion research, safety and prevention.
The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation; 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the Order. Close to 7,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order since its creation in 1967.
A full list of the 100 new appointments can be viewed here.
