1964
Dr. J. Corbett McDonald reshaped the Department of Public Health. It was renamed the Department of Epidemiology & Health and was relocated in the Lyman Duff Building.
1964-1972
Dr. McDonald, Dir., had three laboratories: viral, environmental and pulmonary function. Dr. Margaret Becklake was recruited to set up the Pulmonary Function Lab.
1974-1983
Dr. Robert Oseasohn, Dir., expanded to include clinical topics covering a much broader field.
1984
Dr. Walter Spitzer, Dir., relocated the Department to Purvis Hall, and the Pulmonary Function Lab moved to Lady Meredith House. The Pulmonary Function Lab evolved into the Respiratory Epidemiology Unit (REU) – with Dr. Becklake as the first Director – to reflect its increasing focus on the epidemiology of lung disease.
1990-1995
Under Dr. Pierre Ernst, the REU progressed into a unit with a much greater focus on clinical research and on studying patient populations served by the Montreal Chest Institute, notably those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and tuberculosis.
1995-2004
Under Dr. Dick Menzies, (because of increasing emphasis on clinical research). In May 2003 the REU moved from Lady Meredith House to the Montreal Chest Institute. The unit was renamed the Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit (RECRU).
2005 – 2014
Dr. Jean Bourbeau is the Director of RECRU.
2015-Present
Dr. Dick Menzies is the current Director of RECRU.