The Rx&D Health Research Foundation recently awarded its prestigious Medal of Honour to the Honourable Kelvin K. Ogilvie for his outstanding contributions to health sciences and public health. The medal comes with a $20,000 research grant, and Dr. Ogilvie awarded this grant to Acadia University to enhance the study of healthcare delivery in rural Nova Scotia.

“It is a unique privilege to be able to direct this research grant to Acadia,” said Dr. Ogilvie. “The delivery of healthcare in rural settings is a major challenge but offers great opportunities for innovative approaches to in-home personal healthcare delivery.

“Acadia is ideally situated to look at the challenges and opportunities for change in this important area, and I have great confidence that the Acadia scholarly community can make a real contribution.”

According to Dr. David MacKinnon, Dean of Research & Graduate Studies, the funds from Dr. Ogilvie will be used to support student research on local in-home health care. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students, and we are currently consulting with local health authorities to determine how best to engage the student researchers.”

“This is a thoughtful and welcome gift from a man who has made his mark on our small campus as a student, scholar, researcher, and leader,” said Dr. Tom Herman, Acadia’s Vice-President, Academic. “We are very fortunate to have additional funds to enhance research that will ultimately benefit rural Nova Scotia. I thank Dr. Ogilvie for choosing Acadia as his award recipient, and for once more giving back to the Acadia community.”

Dr. Ogilvie is a leading expert on biotechnology, bioorganic chemistry and genetic engineering. His scientific accomplishments include the development of the 'Gene Machine', an automated process for the manufacture of DNA. He is the inventor of Ganciclovir, a drug used worldwide to fight infections that occur when the immune system is weakened. Among numerous awards, he was named a Steacie Fellow in 1982, admitted to the Order of Canada in 1991, inducted into the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame in 201, and received the Biomedical Science Ambassador Award in 2012. Dr. Ogilvie has achieved and continues to achieve tremendous success within multiple scientific fields.

About the Rx&D Health Research Foundation (HRF)

The Rx&D Health Research Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support health research in Canadian academic health centres and promote the value of health research in Canada. By applying the highest standards of scientific excellence, addressing health challenges and establishing partnerships, HRF, one of the leading private health foundations in the country, contributes significantly to the prevention and treatment of disease, to a better health care system and the availability for Canadians to access effective health products.

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