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Dr. Robert McGregor Lindsay

2006 Medal for Research Excellence
University of Western Ontario

For his pioneering work in the field of hemodialysis-related research, Dr. Robert McGregor Lindsay has been awarded The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s 2006 Medal for Research Excellence.

Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario in London and Executive Director of the London Health Sciences Centre Home Hemodialysis Programme, Dr. Lindsay is internationally recognized for his research to improve the quality of hemodialysis delivered to patients with end-stage renal disease. For 40 years, he has consistently been a leader in the field, advancing world knowledge and improving the longevity and quality of life of people who rely on hemodialysis to replace the lost function of their kidneys.

Dr. Lindsay’s research career has covered a number of distinct phases beginning in the 1970s with his doctoral thesis on blood loss and thrombosis during hemodialysis. In the 1980s, he became a leading authority on hemodialyzer biocompatibility, which had a significant influence on the growth and use of synthetic membranes employed during the dialysis process. In the 1990s, his research focus was on new technologies to measure recirculation and access flow. In the most recent decade, his seminal work and advocacy in the area of daily hemodialysis has greatly influenced the field, providing evidence of better outcomes for some patients who dialyze more frequently.

In addition to his work as a researcher and clinician, Dr. Lindsay has mentored generations of research fellows and residents, many of whom have chosen to pursue careers in nephrology and gone on to develop expertise in hemodialysis-related areas. His work, and the original insights for which he is known, have appeared in almost 140 peer-reviewed publications and he is an invited speaker in countries around the world. In 2005, the Department of Medicine at The University of Western Ontario honored him with its own prestigious award in research excellence.