Marc Rodger

Dr. Rodger led the development of the Ottawa Blood Disease Center (OBDC) which opened in 2012 and now houses over 35 hematologists/scientists (+22 since 2012) and 80 staff (+20 since 2012). OBDC members teach medical trainees at all levels (medical students to sub-specialists), conduct leading research with productivity that surpasses almost all Divisions of Hematology worldwide and provide world class care to over 30,000 patients per year. He was previously Deputy Director and Director (acting) of the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the OHRI (2007-2009).

Dr. Rodger obtained his MD (Magna Cum Laude) in 1992 from the University of Ottawa after completing his BSc in Physiology at McGill. He completed his post-graduate medical training at UBC and the University of Ottawa in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Thrombosis. He completed an MSc in Epidemiology in 2000.

Dr. Rodger co-founded, co-directs and obtained CIHR funding for CanVECTOR (Canadian Venous Thrombosis Clinical Trials and Outcomes Research) Network (www.CanVECTOR.ca). This network includes over 145 members in over 25 research sites across Canada. Dr. Rodger also founded and is current Chair of INVENT (International Network of Venous Thrombosis Clinical Research Networks) (www.INVENT-VTE.com). INVENT includes 8 national research networks with over 450 investigators in over 150 research sites throughout the world.

Dr. Rodger’s own venous thrombosis research agenda focuses on two areas: Duration of Anticoagulation and Pregnancy. He has published over 220 research articles including first/senior author papers in the New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet. His work has been cited over 17,000 times. Over his career, he has secured over 38 million in peer reviewed research funding (18.7 million as Principle Investigator). He has led many multi-national randomised trials and cohort studies that have changed clinical practice in venous thrombosis. His program of research explored the link between common blood clotting tendencies and placental mediated pregnancy complications. His research confirmed a link, albeit weak, and conducted trials that showed that blood thinners do not prevent these complications, changing a common practice and sparing many women the need to inject blood thinners daily throughout pregnancy. He derived an validated a tool, “Men continue and HERDOO2”, that is used worldwide to assist patients, clinicians and policymakers in deciding whether to anticoagulate venous thrombosis lifelong. He is currently exploring whether an inexpensive and generic cholesterol lowering drug might reduce the risk of venous thrombosis and its complications. He is regularly invited to speak internationally on these topics.

Among other awards, Dr. Rodger has been a long-time beneficiary of a Career Scientists Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (2007-2019) and holds a Tier 1 Research Chair in Venous Thromboembolism and Thrombophilia from the University of Ottawa (2010-2020). He received the Heart and Stroke Foundation Maureen Andrew Award (2002), Ontario’s Premier’s Research Excellence Award (2006), the Canadian Hematology Society’s Paper of the Year Award (2014) and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Researcher of the Year Award (2014).

Prior to medical training Dr. Rodger played on Canada’s junior national volleyball team. He has continued athletic pursuits throughout his life including recently completing his first half Ironman. He has also been involved in leadership throughout his medical training and career. He was President of the Aesculapian Society in medical school and was on the executive of both provincial (PAIRO now PARO) and national resident organizations (CAIR now RDOC).

Dr. Rodger’s teaching, clinical care and research focuses on venous thrombosis. He founded the Champlain LHIN Regional Thrombosis Program providing world class Thrombosis care with 365/24hr open referral access for the 1.4 million people in Canada’s capital. The Ottawa Thrombosis Fellowship program, which grew international in scope under his leadership, has trained over 20 Thrombosis experts, many of whom have become leaders locally, nationally and internationally.

Dr. Rodger is co-Editor in Chief of Thrombosis Research, a major sub-specialty journal in his area of research. He performs ad hoc reviews for more than 20 journals including top medical journals. He has participated in peer review committees for CIHR, Heart and Stroke and is an international advisor for the German Ministry of Education and Research’s Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis.