Dr. Derek So’s sustained research and leadership in interventional cardiology have driven exceptional impact in cardiovascular medicine across Canada and internationally. His groundbreaking work in pharmaco-genomics and personalized antiplatelet therapy includes the RAPID (Reassessment of Anti-Platelet using InDividualized strategies) Program, a multidisciplinary initiative that has transformed the approach to antiplatelet therapy. His pioneering RAPID GENE study, published in The Lancet, led to the world’s first point-of-care genetic test for antiplatelet therapy, and directly influenced the design of large-scale international clinical trials such as TAILOR-PCI. Most recently, Dr. So led the multicentered CIHR-funded RAPID CABG study, which evaluated a very common clinical scenario, to determine the ideal timing between cessation of ticagrelor and bypass surgery, published in JAMA Surgery.
Dr. So’s research has consistently produced practice-changing results, with findings from OPTICROSS, RAPID GENE and RAPID CABG incorporated into national and international guidelines and consensus statements. His work in cardiogenic shock care in cath centres across Canada is shaping the research agenda in this field, accelerated by his co-leadership of the Cardiogenic Shock Working Group of the Canadian Cardiovascular Research Collaboratory, which has developed a Cardiogenic Shock phone-based App now undergoing testing across the country.
Dr. So has also played major roles in the development of Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s 2018 and 2023 guidelines for antiplatelet therapy, and expert panels such as the 2017 International Consensus on Switching Platelet P2Y12 Inhibitors, and the 2019 and 2024 Expert Consensus Statement on Platelet Function and Genetic Testing for Guiding P2Y12 Receptor Inhibitor Treatment in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Next year he will co-lead the Clinical Practice Update on Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Cardiogenic Shock on behalf of CCS, CANCARE, CCTN, CHFS, CAIC, and CSCS. In addition, Dr. So is leading a novel endeavour by the Canadian Association of Interventional Cardiology (CAIC) to create web-based series of learning modules.
Dr. So’s sustained contributions have turned research into action and impact, establishing UOHI as a leader in cardiovascular innovation, care, policy, and training across Canada and beyond.