Dr. Ruth McPherson

Dr. McPherson is Professor in the Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa. Born in Seaforth, Ontario, she received her undergraduate training at the University of Toronto, followed by a MSc (distinction) and PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of London (UK). She held academic appointments at the University of Guelph and University of Toronto before studying Medicine at the University of Toronto. She then completed training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Toronto. In 1989, she was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Medicine (Endocrinology) at McGill University, where she established her own laboratory, prior to moving to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in 1992 as director of the Lipid Clinic and Lipid Research Laboratory.

Dr. McPherson is a member of the CIHR Lipoprotein & Atherosclerosis Group at the University of Ottawa. Her laboratory research is centered on HDL receptors and intracellular cholesterol trafficking and is supported by the CIHR and HSFO. She has identified two new HDL receptors that mediate the selective uptake of HDL-derived cholesterol, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and the LDL receptor related protein (LRP). Recent studies in her laboratory are defining the intracellular trafficking of the HDL receptor, SR-BI, and its cargo in relationship to the well defined vesicular markers, Rabs 5,4,11 and 7. She has identified a novel pathway for selective uptake of HDL-CE that involves uptake, delipidation and recycling of HDL back to apical surface. Methodologies include molecular biology, cell culture, use of transgenic and knockout mouse models and extensive live cell video microscopy.

These studies are relevant to our understanding of reverse cholesterol transport and may result in novel therapies to increase the functionality of HDL and prevent or treat cardiovascular disease.

Dr. McPherson is also active in clinical research directed at defining genetic risk factors for obesity and its metabolic sequelae, including diabetes and dyslipidemia. Dr. McPherson is a member of the Health Canada Expert Panel on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dyslipidemia and has been a strong advocate of strategies for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. McPherson has had continuous peer-reviewed funding from agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Medical Research Council (MRC) / Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario since 1988. She has recently been awarded a five-year operating grant from CIHR for $565,000 and $174,000 from HSFO. She is a member of CIHR Lipoprotein & Atherosclerosis Group, which holds a CIHR group grant for over $400,000. She has served continuously over the last 10 years on grant review committees for the MRC/CIHR and HSFC and is a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Lipid Research. Dr. McPherson has received a number of professional awards including the F.R.S.Q. Chercheur-Clinicien award in1990, the Wyeth-Ayerst/CIHR Chair in Cardiovascular Disease in Women ($120,000 pa. 1999-2004), Merck Frosst Canada Distinguished MD Award in 2000, Queen’s Jubilee Medal for excellence in research in 2003. Her publication record includes 67 peer-reviewed manuscripts, one book and numerous book chapters and abstracts.

For further information, please contact Dr. Ruth McPherson using the Email contact form or by phone at 613 761-5256