Dr. Ruth Grunau, MA’69, EdD’75, PhD’85.
Fifteen people who exemplify excellence will be invested into the Order of British Columbia, the province’s highest honour. Established in 1989, the Order of B.C. recognizes individuals from all walks of life and fields of endeavour who have made extraordinary contributions to the province and beyond.
Dr. Ruth Grunau has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia for her pioneering research that has transformed global understanding and care of infant pain, advancing neonatal health of infants born very pre-term and shaping clinical practices worldwide.
Dr. Ruth Grunau has transformed neonatal care through her groundbreaking research on infant pain. She developed the Neonatal Facial Coding System, the first validated tool to assess infant pain, adapted worldwide.
At BC Children’s Hospital, she was a foundational member of B.C.’s first Neonatal Follow-Up Clinic. Dr. Grunau discovered that repeated NICU pain and stress can significantly impact brain development, stress regulation and behavior into adolescence. Her research identified genetic, hormonal and sex-specific factors in pain vulnerability and revealed that common treatments like morphine and sucrose may have unintended neurodevelopmental effects.
A leader in the Family Integrated Care trial, she showed that involving parents in NICU care improves outcomes. Dr. Grunau has more than 240 refereed journal publications, 35 book chapters, $88 million in research funding and global recognition with international awards. She ranks among the top 1.5 percent of cited researchers.
A dedicated mentor and advocate, her work has shaped clinical practices, public policy and improved outcomes for vulnerable infants and families worldwide. Dr. Grunau loves to spend time with her eight grandchildren.
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