Cardiac research specialist joins the Montreal Heart Institute

Montreal, QC – International specialist Dr Matthias Friedrich has joined the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) as a cardiologist, researcher and director of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. Dr Friedrich also holds the newly created Hornstein Chair in Cardiovascular Imaging at the institute.

In addition to his clinical experience in cardiology, Dr Friedrich has expertise in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac MRI), a technique which allows visualization of the beating heart and alterations of the heart muscle without using x-rays or radioactivity. He was one of the first researchers in the world to develop techniques to detect cardiac inflammation and other abnormalities using magnetic fields. He is also a forerunner in the design of high-efficiency protocols for the clinical application of cardiac MRI.

At the Montreal Heart Institute, he and collaborating teams will work on novel ways to visualize metabolic changes caused by atherosclerosis and other forms of heart disease.

“Dr Matthias Friedrich’s addition to our team is an extraordinary asset for the Montreal Heart Institute, its Research Centre and the University of Montreal,” said Dr Jean-Claude Tardif, director of the MHI Research Centre. “The MHI’s burgeoning research activities, expanding cutting-edge infrastructure and world-class cardiology practices have made it increasingly enticing for international experts.”

Dr Friedrich completed his studies in cardiology in 2003 at Humboldt University in Berlin, where he worked until 2004. Before arriving at the Montreal Heart Institute, he was the director of the Stephenson Cardiovascular MR Centre at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta. Dr Friedrich is the founder of the Canadian Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. He has published more than 100 articles and book chapters, several of them considered landmark research papers. He serves as a reviewer for a number of granting agencies and specialized journals and is a member of many editorial boards and professional organizations. Finally, he designs software such as a free Cardiac MRI Atlas for the iPad.