Lori-Ann Linkins, MD, and Yu-jing Gao, PhD pharmacology, are this year's recipients of the Basmajian Award for Excellence in Post-Doctoral Research Work.

The award is intended to recognize post-doctoral research fellows at McMaster who have made meritorious contributions in research during their post doctoral research training.

The award, first established in 1991, was made possible by John Basmajian, professor emeritus of medicine and anatomy. Basmajian is recognized as a world leader in rehabilitation medicine and in 2001 was awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Science, at the Faculty of Health Sciences convocation.

This year the Basmajian award was offered in two catergories: one to a clinical post-doctoral fellow and the other to a non-clinical post doctoral fellow.

Linkins (Department of Medicine) garnered the clinical post-doctoral fellow award for her work to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with thromboembolic disease (blood clots).

In recommending Linkins for the award, a nominator writes, “Her findings are expected to have major clinical impact and influence future interpretation of ultrasound findings world-wide in patients with previous deep vein thrombosis.”

Gao (Department of Anaesthesia) won the non-clinical post-doctoral fellow award for his research on hypertension. He has been studying reactive oxygen species, especially hydrogen peroxide, in the maintenance of hypertension in an animal model. This research may benefit understanding of the role of hydrogen peroxide in human hypertension.

“We are very grateful to Dr. John Basmajian for his generosity and
foresight in establishing the Basmajian Award for Excellence in Post-Doctoral Research in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University,” said John Capone, associate dean of research, Faculty of Health Sciences.

“Post-doctoral fellows are at the core of research advances and the Basmajian award recognizes the essential contributions that these individuals play. This year's recipients, Dr. Lori-Ann Linkins and Dr. Yu-jing-Gao, are outstanding young researchers and the Basmajian Award is a deserved recognition of their research achievements.”

The researchers were presented with their awards at a celebration May 7, where each received a certificate and $500 cash prize.

Photo: John Basmajian, professor emeritus of medicine and anatomy (centre) celebrates with Basmajian Award winner for non-clinical post-doctoral research, Yu-jing Gao (left centre) and Lori-Ann Linkins (right centre), Basmajian Award winner for clinical post-doctoral research. The trio is flanked by associate dean of research, John Capone (far left) and John Kelton, vice-president and dean, Faculty of Health Sciences (far right).

Photo by Rob Tatlock