Faculty Awards & Honours
Dr. Abdullah Al Maruf, assistant professor of pharmacy and researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), received $70,000 from the Health Sciences Centre Foundation and $60,000 from CHRIM and the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba for “Pharmacogenomics of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-induced behavioural activation in children and adolescents.”
Ruth Barclay [BMRPT/87, PhD/08], professor of physical therapy, and Jacquie Ripat [BMROT/92, M.Sc./98, PhD/11], professor of occupational therapy and researcher with CHRIM, are co-investigators for “IAMABLE: Implementation and evaluation of an app for evidence-based self-management rehabilitation strategies,” which received $165,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Dr. Sanjiv Dhingra, professor of physiology and pathophysiology and principal investigator at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, received CIHR funding of $1,067,176 for “Role of immunoproteasome in the loss of immunoprivilege of mesenchymal stem cells in the ischemic heart.”
Dr. Elsie Duff [M.Ed./03], associate professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Exploring the effective strategies to improve survey response rates among healthcare professionals: A scoping review,” awarded a Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research grant of $7,500.
Dr. Sherif Eltonsy, assistant professor of pharmacy and researcher with CHRIM, is co-investigator for “Understanding health inequities at the intersection of the HIV and substance use epidemics across racial/ethnic and other underserved populations,” which received $3.4 million from the National Institutes of Health. Eltonsy is also principal investigator for “Antiseizure medications during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children,” awarded $60,000 from CHRIM.
Dr. Lisa Engel, associate professor of occupational therapy, is co-investigator for “The best outcome selection study: Reliability, validity and feasibility of critical appraisal tools for measurement property studies,” awarded CIHR funding of $96,000.
Dr. Allan Garland, professor of internal medicine, is co-investigator for “Optimizing intensive care unit staffing in the United States,” which received $324,000 from the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Jody Haigh, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics and researcher with CHRIM, leads “Deciphering the role of ZEB2 transcription factor in B cell ontogeny and transformation,” which received CIHR funding of $1,071,000.
Dr. Nicole Harder [BN/96, MPA/02], associate dean (undergraduate programs) at the College of Nursing, has received a five-year renewal of her Mindermar Professorship in Human Simulation.
Dr. Jillian Horton, associate professor of internal medicine, received an honorary doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University at 2024 Fall Convocation, recognizing her as an award-winning author and champion for humanism in health care.
Dr. Marnie Kramer, is principal investigator for “Understanding undergraduate nursing students’ experiences of coping in stressful situations: A descriptive phenomenological study,” which received $7,500 from the College of Nursing Endowment Fund.
Dr. Julie Lajoie, assistant professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, received CIHR funding of $1,132,200 for “The impact of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on inflammation in female sex workers – implication for HIV susceptibility.”
Dr. Ted Lakowski, professor and associate dean (research) at the College of Pharmacy, is co-principal investigator for “Blood-brain barrier (BBB) modulation using HAV peptides in the treatment of diffuse midline glioma of the pons,” awarded $150,000 from CancerCare Manitoba.
Lisa Lix [M.Sc./91, PhD/95], professor of community health sciences and Canada Research Chair in methods for electronic health data quality, has been elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, one of the highest honours in the Canadian health sciences community.
Dr. Aaron Marshall, professor and head of immunology and researcher with CHRIM, received CIHR funding of $1,151,326 for “PI3K-dependant metabolic reprogramming in B lymphocytes: roles in protective and pathologic immune functions.”
Dr. Diana McMillan [MN/95], professor of nursing and Health Sciences Centre Clinical Chair, received $112,533 from the Health Sciences Centre Foundation’s Gembey Nursing Research Endowment Fund for “Enhancing evidence-informed patient care through clinical and research partnerships.”
Dr. Shweta Mital, assistant professor of pharmacy, received funding of US$278,850 from Breakthrough T1D for “Economics of screening and prevention of Type 1 diabetes in Canada.”
Dr. James Nagy, professor of physiology and pathophysiology, is principal investigator for “Control of muscle force generation by electrically coupled cholinergic spinal interneurons governing motoneuron excitability,” which received CIHR funding of $898,876.
Dr. Nathan Nickel, associate professor of community health sciences, director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “THRIVE: Transforming healthcare through research to improve breastfeeding and advance women’s health,” awarded $597,960 by the CIHR.
Dr. Zulma Rueda, associate professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases and Canada Research Chair in sexually transmitted infection – resistance and control, is principal investigator for “Knowledge, attitudes, and practices for preferred access to health services and STBBI testing and treatment, as well as HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections preventive therapy,” awarded $688,501 by the CIHR.
Dr. Deanna Santer, associate professor of immunology, GSK Endowed Research Chair in immunobiology of infectious diseases and CHRIM researcher, received $625,000 from Crohn’s Colitis Canada for “Signaling proteins that help control colitis inflammation.”
Judith Scanlan [Cert.Nurs.(T & S)/66, BN/67, M.Ed./83, PhD/96], associate professor of nursing, and Dr. Wanda Chernomas, associate professor of nursing, are co-principal investigators for “Early-career nurses and leadership aspirations,” awarded $7,500 from the College of Nursing Endowment Fund.”
Dr. Garry Shen, professor of internal medicine and researcher with CHRIM, leads “Protecting and supporting breastfeeding and lactation equity in Manitoba through community-integrated education and care using novel technologies, culturally safe and gender-affirming approaches,” which received $600,000 from the CIHR.
Dr. Tabrez Siddiqui, associate professor of physiology and pathophysiology and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Deconstructing the molecular bases of synaptic dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder,” awarded $1,143,676 by the CIHR.
Estelle Simons [B.Sc./65, MD/69], professor emerita of pediatrics/child health and immunology, has been appointed to the Order of Canada. Simons, one of the first pediatrician clinician-scientists in Canada, is internationally renowned for research on the pharmacologic management of allergic diseases, including anaphylaxis and asthma.
Jillian Stobart [B.Sc.(Hons.)/06, PhD/12], assistant professor of pharmacy, was awarded CIHR funding of $944,776 for “Astrocyte NMDA receptor-mediated modulation of cortical neuron activity via purine release.” Stobart also received $200,000 from the Alzheimer Society for “Reducing astrocyte P2Y1 receptor signaling to slow Alzheimer’s disease progression.”
Dr. Patricia Thille, associate professor of physical therapy, is co-investigator for “Changing the patient-PCP dialogue: fostering trust through joint clinical decision-making,” which received CIHR funding of $864,451./p>
Genevieve Thompson [BN/97, MN/03, PhD/07], professor and Research Chair in Person-Directed Living at the College of Nursing, is principal investigator for “Reimaging long-term care: Moving to meaningful living and working environments,” awarded a CIHR grant of $24,745. She is also principal investigator for “Moving upstream: Integrating a palliative approach into dementia care,” awarded CIHR funding of $749,988.
Dr. Geoffrey Tranmer, associate professor of pharmacy, is principal investigator for “Development of a biomarker-driven ‘best-in-class’ treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: discovery and proof-of-concept,” awarded $730,576 by the CIHR./p>
Sufia Turner [BN/05, MN/20], instructor II at the College of Nursing, is principal investigator for “Cannabis and older adults simulation study (COAST),” awarded a Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research grant of $7,500 and a Fort Garry Legion Poppy Trust Fund research grant of $3,000.
Dr. Jude Uzonna, professor of immunology and vice-dean (research) of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, was awarded $1,005,976 from the CIHR for “The role of long pentraxin-3 (PTX3) in regulation of immunity to cutaneous leishmaniasis.”
Dr. Ryan Zarychanski [B.Sc./95, B.Sc.(Med.)/00], professor of internal medicine and Lyonel G. Israels Research Chair in Hematology, has been elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, one of the highest honours in the Canadian health sciences community. He has also been appointed scientific director of the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation.
