Dr Michael Hayden, professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at UBC and director of the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, has been named Canada’s 2008 Health Researcher of the Year for Biomedical and Clinical Research. Dr Hayden will be presented with the Canadian Institutes of Health Re­search (CIHR) Michael Smith Prize, an award that recognizes innovation, creativity, and dedication to health research.

Dr Hayden is a researcher in the area of Huntington’s disease (HD), most notably having developed a predictive genetic test for HD. The award provides funding to pursue critical research and to support and mentor trainees, and Dr Hayden will be es­tablishing four trainee endowments in the areas of global health, rare diseases, mental health, and biotechnology. During the next 2 years he will use his CIHR research award to cover the operating costs for each of these trainee awards and will be raising funds for these endowments.