This honour recognizes her innovative research integrating sex and gender into heart health, advancing equity-focused care worldwide
SOURCE: The Institute
October 1, 2025
Louise Pilote, MD, MPH, PhD has been awarded the 2025 Margolese National Heart Disorders Prize, one of Canada's most distinguished honours in cardiovascular research. Presented by the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine, the award recognizes Canadian researchers whose work has made outstanding contributions to the treatment, amelioration or cure of heart disorders. Recipients are chosen by an international panel of experts, underscoring the global recognition of their achievements.
Dr. Pilote is deputy director of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, and professor of medicine at McGill University. An internationally recognized clinician-scientist, she is renowned for her pioneering research on the role of sex and gender in cardiovascular health. Her work has fundamentally reshaped how the medical community understands heart disease, demonstrating how biological and social factors intersect to influence health outcomes.
Dr. Pilote has developed innovative tools to measure gender and to evaluate its impact on cardiovascular disease, paving the way for more precise and equitable care. She founded GENESIS, a Canada-wide network of 50 investigators dedicated to sex- and gender-based analysis in health, and has played a key role in global initiatives such as GENDER-NET Plus, an international collaboration of more than 30 researchers advancing gender medicine worldwide.
Beyond her research, Dr. Pilote is widely respected for her mentorship and leadership in building research capacity. She has supervised numerous graduate students and trainees, fostering the next generation of clinician-scientists. Her prolific scholarship bridges medical and social sciences, advancing equity-focused health care on a global scale.
"The Margolese Prize is a tremendous honour," said Dr. Pilote. "This recognition highlights the importance of integrating sex and gender into cardiovascular research and care. I share this award with my colleagues, trainees and collaborators, whose dedication has made it possible to advance equity-focused medicine for patients everywhere."
Dr. Rhian M. Touyz, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer of The Institute, praised the announcement: "We are immensely proud of Dr. Pilote's recognition with the Margolese Prize. Her groundbreaking work has transformed how sex and gender are integrated into cardiovascular medicine, ensuring that research and care are more equitable and inclusive. This award not only honours her scientific excellence but also reflects the strength and vision of our research community at The Institute."