Antoine Hakim

Biography

Dr. Hakim was first an engineer and at the age of 29 began his medical training. In 1979 he completed his residency in Neurology at the Montreal Neurological Institute at which time his research career began. Dr. Hakim came to Ottawa in 1992. He was the Division Head of Neurology for The Ottawa Hospital from 1992 to 2000, Director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of Ottawa between 1992 and 2001, Founding Scientific Director for the Heart & Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke Recovery between 2001 and 2008, Professor and Chair of Neurology for the University of Ottawa between 1992 and 2011. Dr. Hakim's research interests have included the study of the biochemical, ionic, molecular and receptor events that determine selective cerebral vulnerability in stroke and other conditions, the determination of conditions for neuroprotection against ischemic damage, and investigation of post-stroke plasticity and means of enhancing it. During the course of his career, he has published more than 130 scientific papers and received in excess of $65 Million in research funding. Dr. Hakim is a strong national and international leader in the private, academic and hospital sectors. He has chaired and served as a member of many committees and boards of granting agencies, foundations, hospitals and professional associations. In addition to teaching, research, and administrative duties, he maintains clinical functions as a neurologist at The Ottawa Hospital. Dr. Hakim has received many honours during his career. He received the Award of Excellence by the Canadian Stroke Consortium in 2000 and the Ottawa Life Sciences Council Career Achievement Award in 2004. He was University Chair of Neurology from 1992 to 2010. In 2007, he was honoured to receive the Thomas Willis Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007. Since 2007, he has been Chair of the European Stroke Network’s External Scientific Review Committee, Chair of the Best Practice Guidelines Subcommittee of the World Stroke Organization and a member of that organization’s Board of Directors. In 2008, he received the Dr. J. David Grimes Research Career Achievement Award from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. In 2009, he was honoured to participate in the review of the UK Stroke Initiative. As well in 2009, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario announced an annual research grant of $100,000 to be named the “Dr Tony Hakim Innovative Stroke Research Award”. In January 2011, he received the Hans-Chiari Award presented to him in Vienna. In June 2012, Dr. Hakim received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and on May 2, 2013, Dr. Hakim was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. 

Research Interest

Neurological disorders, Neurology