Victor J. Dzau is the President of the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM). In addition, he serves as Vice Chair of the US National Research Council. He is Chancellor Emeritus and James B. Duke Professor of Medicine at Duke University and the past President and CEO of the Duke University Health System. Previously, Dr. Dzau was the Hersey Professor of Medicine and Chairman of Medicine at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as well as Bloomfield Professor and Chairman of Medicine at Stanford University.
He is an internationally acclaimed leader and scientist has made a significant impact through his seminal research in cardiovascular medicine and genetics. His important work on the renin angiotensin system paved the way for the contemporary understanding of cardiovascular disease. He pioneered gene therapy for vascular disease and was the first to introduce DNA decoy molecules to block transcription as gene therapy in humans. His pioneering research in cardiovascular regeneration led to the Paracrine Hypothesis of stem cell action and the therapeutic strategy of direct cardiac reprogramming.
In his role as a leader in health, Dr. Dzau has led efforts in innovation to improve health.
At the National Academies, Dr Dzau has designed and led important initiatives such as the Commission on a Global Health Risk Framework for the Future; the Human Gene Editing Initiative; and Vital Directions for Health and Health Care. The launch of the NAM Grand Challenges in Healthy Longevity represents his vision to inspire across disciplines and sectors to coalesce around a shared priority and audacious goal to advance health.
Dr Dzau has served on the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director and as Chair of the NIH Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee. He chairs the Steering Committee of the NIH Progenitor Cell Translational Consortium. He serves on the Advisory Council of Imperial College Health Partners of UK, Health and Biomedical Sciences Council of Singapore, Chairs International Science Advisory Committee of the Qatar Genome Project, Chairs the Scientific Boards of the Peter Munk Cardiac Center of University of Toronto and Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences of University of Glasgow. He served on the Board of Health Governors of the World Economic Forum and chaired its Global Futures Council on Healthy Longevity and Human Enhancement.
Among his many honors and recognitions are the Gustav Nylin Medal from the Swedish Royal College of Medicine, the Research Achievement Award from the American Heart Association, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Poulzer Prize of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Henry Freisen International Prize. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Academia Sinica and European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He has received fourteen honorary doctorates.