Peter Libby, MD, receives his honorary doctorate from Université Laval.
Peter Libby, MD, of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, was conferred an honorary doctorate from Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada, in recognition of his remarkable contributions to cardiovascular health, research and education worldwide.
Libby, the Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has achieved worldwide recognition for his laboratory’s work on the biology of the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle and their interactions with inflammatory cells.
Among his many accomplishments were two important discoveries: that vascular wall cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and that inflammatory mechanisms change collagen metabolism and control the susceptibility of atheromata (arterial plaques) to disrupt and cause clotting in a blood vessel. This knowledge is core to the current understanding of the progression and complication of atherosclerotic disease. Libby instigated and helped to lead the first large scale clinical trial showing that targeting inflammation could reduce recurrent events in patients with prior heart attacks.
Université Laval is the oldest French-language university in the Americas, known for its global perspective and commitment to the highest standards, Université Laval contributes to the advancement of society by training skilled, responsible individuals who promote change and advancing knowledge in a high-energy research and development environment.
