As Vice-President (Research), Dr. Rui Wang hopes to lead Lakehead to new levels of excellence.

Lakehead University’s new Vice-President (Research) has a strong vision: Within the next five to ten years, Lakehead University should place in the top 25 research universities in Canada. (Lakehead University was ranked 37th
in 2003 by the Re$earch Infosource, Inc.)

“By strengthening our research strongholds and involving the whole academic community, Lakehead University should be placed in the top 25 research universities in the country within the next five to ten years,” says Dr. Rui Wang. “As well, in selected key areas, we should strive over the next few years to become internationally competitive.”

Rui Wang comes to Lakehead from the University of Saskatchewan, Department of Physiology, where he is a Professor and the Leader of the Cardiovascular Research Group and of the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Network.  Prior to this, Wang was an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan (1997 to 2001), and an Assistant Professor at the Université de Montréal (1993 to 1997). 

Wang says he feels it is important for an institution to be involved in various research activities because a university exists to create, interpret, and share knowledge.  “A central element of who we are and what we do is to be engaged in various research activities,” he says.

“The importance of scholarship and teaching has been recognized increasingly in universities.  Both the best faculty members and best students are attracted to research-intensive universities.  Furthermore, research activities are critical for an institution to be engaged with diverse communities in the co-creation, interpretation, and dissemination of knowledge. Finally, federal and provincial budgets put a great emphasis on research and innovation.  We at Lakehead University should champion this extraordinary opportunity by significantly enhancing our research activities.” 

Wang says his decision to work at Lakehead University can be summed up in two words:  opportunity and challenge. He says that for the next five to 10 years, Lakehead will enter a critical phase of development in its history, and intensified research activities will be one of the landmarks of this development. 

“We at Lakehead University have excellent researchers, a great sense of place and community, a rich culture of conducting trans-disciplinary research, and blooming health research programs. More importantly, our University community as a whole is committed to innovation and research excellence.

“Not very often, one can find such an opportunity to make an impact on the development of a university. This great opportunity also presents a great challenge.  With the support and full engagement of our Lakehead University community, I embrace the opportunity and accept the challenge.”

Wang is recognized as an outstanding scientist, and his research on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology has been well funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, other funding agencies, and industry.  Dr. Rui Wang is the author of two books, holds two patents, and lists 95 published papers. 

Dr. Wang took up his new position on September 1, 2004, although he will not be on campus until January 2005. In the meantime, he can be reached by email at rui.wang@lakeheadu.ca.