U of S Researcher Kamal Midha Honoured by World's Pharmaceutical Scientists

Posted July 12, 2004


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Monday, July 12, 2004 2004-07-05-OTHER

U of S Researcher Honoured by World's Pharmaceutical Scientists

University of Saskatchewan pharmacy researcher Kamal Midha is one of nine
scientists from around the world to receive a prestigious achievement award
at the recent Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress in Kyoto, Japan.

Midha received the Research Achievement Award from the Congress - an event
held every four years by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) -
for his "significant contributions to the advancement of worldwide
pharmaceutical science."

For Midha, it's the latest in a long series of awards in a career spanning
more than 35 years. And for the U of S, it's further proof that the
institution is home to some of the top research minds in the world.

"Kamal Midha is also one of those rare individuals that can bring out the
talent in other people and motivate them. It's his own passion for the work
that brings that out in others," says Gordon McKay, a U of S pharmacy
professor and CEO of Pharmalytics Inc.

Midha is best known for his groundbreaking research into the drug treatment
of psychotic and schizophrenic patients, says McKay.

At the U of S, Midha helped create a research group that attracted more than
$6 million from granting agencies and industry. He also played a critical
role in the founding of Pharmalytics Inc., a not-for-profit research
institute owned by the U of S.

"My whole life has been really devoted to the idea of developing safer and
better medicines," says Midha, who came to Canada in 1966 with a Master's
degree in pharmacy from the University of Saugar in India.

He later taught at the University of Alberta and worked for the federal
health department before coming to the U of S College of Pharmacy and
Nutrition in 1979.

Midha's achievements have not gone unnoticed at home in Canada. He received
the "Distinguished Researcher" award from the U of S in 1994, and in 1995
was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to pharmaceutical
science.

Midha says one reason for his success is his penchant for under-explored
areas of research. He points to alternative drug delivery methods - such as
nasal sprays and inhalers - as being one such area in which researchers
still need to develop the science.

Pharmalytics provides research and training in the areas of drug
development, drug discovery and drug regulatory sciences. For more
information, visit: http://www.pharmalytics.ca

-30-

Note to editors: Photos of Professor Midha are available upon request.

For more information, contact:

Gordon McKay
Professor of Pharmacy and
CEO Pharmalytics, Inc.
(306) 668-8580

Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research