Rhian Touyz receives two international honours
We are proud to share the news that our Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Rhian Touyz, has recently been recognized on the international stage — twice.
Dr. Rhian Touyz, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute), has been awarded the 2026 Robert Tigerstedt Award by the Finnish Hypertension Society — one of the field's most distinguished honours in cardiovascular and hypertension research.
The Robert Tigerstedt Award recognizes an internationally acclaimed researcher for exceptional scientific achievement in hypertension and cardiovascular research. It bears the name of Robert Tigerstedt, the Finnish physiologist whose discovery of renin in the late 19th century laid the groundwork for the modern understanding of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) — a fundamental regulator of blood pressure and cardiovascular function.
For Dr. Touyz, the recognition carries particular resonance. She has spent more than 30 years studying the renin–angiotensin system, making foundational contributions to our understanding of how vascular and molecular mechanisms drive hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
“It is a privilege to be the recipient of this award and I am humbled by the recognition it represents,” says Dr. Touyz. “I have been studying the renin–angiotensin system for over 30 years, and to be recognized in the name of the great scientist Dr. Robert Tigerstedt is a true honour. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Finnish Hypertension Society who made this possible.”
The award was presented at a ceremony in Helsinki.
Only weeks later, Dr. Touyz celebrated another international milestone. In May, she travelled to Guangzhou, China, for the launch of the Chinese-language edition of Textbook of Vascular Medicine — the widely used reference work she co-edited with Dr. Christian Delles, Head of School, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, and first published in 2019. The book was launched at Sun Yat-sen University on May 16, where it was received as a significant resource for students and clinicians in vascular biology and medicine.
