Biography

Dr. Sownd Sankaralingam received his MBBS degree from the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India in 2002. He completed an MSc in Pharmacology from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada in 2004 with thesis on the role of 20-HETE in salt-sensitive hypertension. Subsequently, he obtained his PhD degree from the Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Canada in 2009 for his thesis on the mechanisms of endothelial cell oxidative stress in preeclampsia. During this time, he received studentships from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. As an Alberta Innovates Health Solutions funded post-doctoral fellow (2011-2014) at the University of Alberta he investigated the alterations in cardiac energetics (energy metabolism) in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Subsequently, he completed a clinical research fellowship in the Department of Medicine with focus on hypertension.

His research focuses on pharmacist-involved care in cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and diabetes.  He is currently investigating validation status of blood pressure monitoring devices sold in community pharmacies and pharmacist preparedness to be involved in home blood pressure monitoring. His research interests include use of digital technology for cardiovascular risk management.

Dr. Sownd has published more than 25 peer-reviewed articles, and has presented his work at several national and international conferences. His research is funded by grants from Qatar University and QNRF.