David Lorne John Tyrrell is a highly distinguished clinician-scientist, virologist, entrepreneur, and scientific leader. His most significant, life-saving achievement was the licensing of the world’s first oral antiviral drug for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B, which is now available in over 200 countries. Dr. Tyrrell is also the founder and director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology at the University of Alberta, as reported by iedmonton.net.
Childhood and Education
Born in 1943, David spent his entire childhood on his family farm near Duffield, just west of Edmonton. After graduating from Stony Plain High School, he enrolled at the University of Alberta, where he was awarded the Gold Medal in Science upon receiving his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1964. He then went on to complete his medical doctorate and was awarded the Gold Medal in Pediatrics in 1968. During his second year of medical school, Tyrrell received the Life Insurance of North America Studentship, which allowed him to pursue a combined MD-PhD program. Following his internship at the University of Alberta Hospital, Tyrrell attended Queen’s University and earned his PhD in Pharmacology in 1972.
In 1975, David returned to the University of Alberta to complete his training in Internal Medicine and qualify as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Specializing in infectious diseases, Tyrrell was awarded a Medical Research Council of Canada Fellowship in 1976, which was pivotal to his medical career. The following two years of postdoctoral training in virology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, ignited a research interest that remains central to his work today.
Hepatitis B Research and the Discovery of Antiviral Therapy
In 1986, while teaching a graduate course, Tyrrell uncovered clues that led him to investigate antiviral drugs for suppressing the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). He began focusing his research on HBV, which the World Health Organization had identified as the ninth leading cause of death globally. Joined by his colleague, Morris Robins, Tyrrell began studying chronic Hepatitis B, a disease that affects an estimated 300 to 350 million people worldwide. This soon led to groundbreaking discoveries that resulted in one of the largest research contracts ever made with the industry at the time. Glaxo Canada, now GlaxoSmithKline, supported Tyrrell’s ongoing work and established a research chair in virology at the University of Alberta.
Continuing their research, Dr. Tyrrell and his team discovered the antiviral therapy for chronic Hepatitis B, leading to the licensing of the drug Heptovir in Canada and Zeffix globally, which saves hundreds of lives daily. In recognition of this vital discovery, David received the AS Tech Award for Innovation and Science in Alberta in 1993, the J. Gordin Kaplan Award for Excellence in Research from the University of Alberta in 1998, and the Prix Galien Canada Medal for research from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada, also in 1998. In 2000, the Canadian Liver Foundation and the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver jointly awarded Dr. Tyrrell their Gold Medal.
Academic Contributions and Leadership
David Tyrrell’s dedication is matched only by his gift for teaching, making him a respected and beloved mentor to students at all levels. In 1990, Tyrrell received the University of Alberta’s Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. In 1999, he was awarded the University of Alberta Cup, which recognizes comprehensive and outstanding contributions to the development of the institution as a scholar, leader, and educator. He was also named Medical Faculty Alumnus of the Year by the University of Alberta in 1998.
Throughout his academic career, Tyrrell has supervised numerous graduate students and served on over 200 committees, task forces, and research groups. His work has been widely published in books and medical scientific journals worldwide.
Dr. David Tyrrell’s medical career includes several academic posts at the University of Alberta, one of Canada’s most prestigious teaching and research institutions. In 1976, Tyrrell became an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, and was promoted to Professor in 1982. He was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in 1994, and later Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in 1999.
Despite receiving numerous national and international awards for his groundbreaking work, Dr. Tyrrell remains actively connected to his home province. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyrrell served on the Canadian Vaccine Task Force, contributing to the work on antivirals and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. He also advised the federal government on vaccine selection and procurement, focusing on efficacy and safety.
In summary, Dr. David Tyrrell has made an immense and lasting contribution to both science and medicine, solidifying his legacy as one of Alberta’s most important figures.