Announcement: Dr. Lakshman Gunaratnam appointed as the Dr. Robert Zhong Chair in Translational Transplant Research
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lakshman Gunaratnam as the Dr. Robert Zhong Chair in Translational Transplant Research, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, effective April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026.
Dr. Gunaratnam is currently the Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation at the London Health Sciences Centre. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology and a clinician-scientist at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
Dr. Gunaratnam graduated from University of Toronto in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science followed by a Master of Science in Immunology. He earned his MD from the University of Ottawa in 2002 and then completed a residency in internal medicine. He pursued further basic science research training and clinical fellowships in nephrology and transplantation at Harvard Medical School. He returned to Canada and joined the Department of Medicine/Division of Nephrology at the School in 2010.
Dr. Gunaratnam’s research primarily focuses on understanding mechanisms of kidney injury, fibrosis and repair to prolong the lifespan of transplanted kidneys. He has received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, and numerous research awards throughout his career. Most recently, his laboratory validated the importance of apoptotic and necrotic cell clearance in avoiding kidney dysfunction after acute injury and developed a novel therapeutic to promote renal repair.
Recognized for his work in transplantation nationally and internationally, he has held influential positions with Canadian Blood Services, Trillium Gift of Life Network, the Canadian Society of Nephrology, Canadian Society of Transplantation and Ontario Medical Association. He has also provided mentorship and training to countless graduate and undergraduate students.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Gunaratnam on his appointment.
Dr. John Yoo, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
Western University
