Tracie Afifi [B.Sc./99, M.Sc./03, PhD/09], professor of community health sciences and psychiatry and researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), is the 2020 recipient of the Alexander Leighton Award. The award, given by the Canadian Psychiatric Association and the Canadian Academy of Psychiatric Epidemiology, recognizes a significant contribution to the advancement of Canadian psychiatric epidemiology.
Marcia Anderson [MD/02], vice-dean, Indigenous health of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, received a 2020 Certificate of Merit Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education in recognition of her valuable contribution to medical education.
Dr. Mandy Archibald, assistant professor of nursing and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “The experiences and perceptions of youth living with Type 2 diabetes mellitus,” which received $25,000 from the University Collaborative Research Program, and for “A systematic review of living labs in healthcare,” which received $10,000 from the University Research Grants Program.
Trina Arnold [BN/06, MPH/13], director of undergraduate nursing programs in the College of Nursing, is one of three faculty members who received scholarships from The Winnipeg Foundation’s new Martha Donovan Leadership Fund, which supports leadership training for women in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Janilyn Arsenio [B.Sc./04, PhD/12], assistant professor of internal medicine and immunology and Canada Research Chair in systems biology of chronic inflammation, has been admitted to the Global Young Academy as one of 40 inductees for 2020, representing 30 countries. Members are selected for their scientific excellence and commitment to service.
Meghan Azad [PhD/10], assistant professor of pediatrics/child health and community health sciences, Canada Research Chair in developmental origins of chronic disease, and researcher with CHRIM, received $6.5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a new global health initiative dedicated to breast milk: the International Milk Composition Consortium. Azad also co-leads a project that received $2 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to examine the role of the gut microbiome in childhood asthma.
Versha Banerji [B.Sc./97, MD/02], assistant professor of internal medicine, is one of three faculty members who received scholarships from The Winnipeg Foundation’s new Martha Donovan Leadership Fund, which supports leadership training for women in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Ruth Barclay [BMRPT/87, PhD/08], associate professor of physical therapy, is a principal investigator for “Increasing access to community-based task-oriented exercise programs through healthcare-recreation partnerships to improve function for people with balance and mobility limitations: A multi-site randomized controlled trial,” which received $761,176 from the CIHR. Barclay also received $5,956 from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund for “Community ambulation distances and intersection speeds in Manitoba.”
Allan Becker [MD/69], professor of pediatrics/child health and researcher with CHRIM, and Meghan Azad [PhD/10], Canada Research Chair in developmental origins of chronic disease, assistant professor of pediatrics/child health and researcher with CHRIM, are co-principal investigators for “CHILDhood asthma and puberty: understanding the sex shift in asthma to female predominance,” which received $1.2 million from the CIHR.
Adam Burgener [B.Sc.Hons./99, PhD/05], associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, and medical microbiology/infectious diseases, co-leads a research team that received $2 million from the CIHR to study the role of the vaginal microbiome in cervical cancer. The project is co-led by Dr. Thomas Murooka and Dr. Vanessa Poliquin.
Dr. Silvia Cardona, professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, received $799,425 from the CIHR for the project “Identification of novel antibiotic molecules by chemogenetic analysis and machine learning.”
Dr. Louise Chartrand, assistant professor of respiratory therapy, received $25,000 for “Breathing is life: Improving lung health in First Nations communities (in Cree: Pakitatamowin Matisowin)” from the University Indigenous Research Program and $25,000 for the project “Respiratory therapist in primary care” from the University Collaborative Research Program.
Dr. Dan Chateau, assistant professor of community health sciences and research scientist with the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, is principal investigator for “Investigating use of prescription opioids and multiple psychotropic medications during pregnancy: impact on the mother and developing child,” awarded $100,000 by the CIHR.
Dr. Amine Choukou, assistant professor of occupational therapy, received $60,000 from the Mitacs Accelerate Funding Program for “A virtual reality (VR)-based yoga exercise program targeting upper and lower extremities function in stroke survivors who are discharged home.”
Dr. Joseph (Chris) Delaney, associate professor of pharmacy, is co-principal investigator for “Guidelines and best practices for evaluating the causal effects of medications on motor vehicle crashes and driving outcomes using observational data,” which received $13,000 from the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering.
Dr. Michelle Driedger, professor of community health sciences, is one of three faculty members who received scholarships from The Winnipeg Foundation’s new Martha Donovan Leadership Fund, which supports leadership training for women in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Dr. Hani El-Gabalawy, professor of internal medicine and immunology, is principal investigator for a project, awarded $1.6 million by the CIHR, on rheumatoid arthritis in First Nations people. The project includes a clinical trial to test whether the combination of turmeric, Omega-3 and Vitamin D reduces the risk of the disease.
Dr. Sherif Eltonsy, assistant professor of pharmacy and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Comparative safety of antiepileptic therapies during pregnancy,” which received $30,000 from the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation.
Dr. Lisa Engel, assistant professor of occupational therapy, received $9,136 for “A photovoice exploration of barriers and facilitators to managing finances and experiencing financial security for Manitoban adults living with acquired brain injury” from the University Research Grants Program.
Dr. Nicole Harder [BN/96, MPA/02], assistant professor of nursing, received the Excellence in Nursing Education (Tenured) Award from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing in November 2019.
Dr. Christine Kelly, assistant professor of community health sciences, is principal investigator for “Perennial policy issues in directly-funded home care in Canada: an intersectional, qualitative study to enhance social and health outcomes,” awarded $726,750 by the CIHR.
Gilbert Kirouac [BA/88, M.Sc./92, PhD/95], professor of oral biology in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, is principal investigator for “The midline thalamus and anxiety,” awarded $707,625 by the CIHR.
Dr. Ji Hyun Ko, associate professor of human anatomy and cell science, received $1.5 million from the Weston Brain Institute for the project “Changes in metabolic activity and gait function by dual-task cognitive game-based treadmill system intervention.”
Dr. Kaarina Kowalec [B.Sc.(Hons.)/08, M.Sc./11], assistant professor of pharmacy, is principal investigator for “Understanding psychiatric comorbidity in multiple sclerosis using genomics,” awarded $40,000 US by the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers.
Dr. Hagar Labouta, assistant professor of pharmacy, received $250,000 from the New Frontiers in Research Fund for “Transplacental delivery of microRNA-loaded nanoparticles for corrective congenital therapy before birth.” Labouta also received the Junior Investigator Award from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Dr. Lily Lim, assistant professor of pediatrics and child health and researcher with CHRIM, is co-principal investigator for “Accelerating discoveries: the employment trajectory of young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus,” which received $321,300 from the CIHR.
Dr. Robert Lorway, associate professor of community health sciences and Canada Research Chair in global intervention politics and social transformation, is co-principal investigator for “Confronting HPV infection with men who have sex with men and male sex workers in Kenya: Toward a community-led early screening, detection, prevention and treatment program,” which received $100,000 from the CIHR.
Dr. Donna Martin [BN/81, MN/97], associate professor and associate dean, graduate programs in the College of Nursing, received the Faculty of Graduate Studies Outstanding Administrator Award in November 2019.
Dr. Lucy Marzban, associate professor of pharmacy, is principal investigator for “New insights into islet amyloid pathology in diabetes,” awarded $9,900 by the University Research Grants Program.
Dr. Neeloffer Mookherjee, associate professor of internal medicine and immunology, has been awarded Canada’s first Sex and Gender Science Chair in circulatory and respiratory health. The four-year chair is the only one focused on circulatory and respiratory health among 15 new chairs awarded across Canada by the CIHR’s Institute of Gender and Health.
Dr. Elaine Mordoch [BN/91, MN/96], adjunct professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Encouraging connections one conversation at a time: The friendship bench and yellow is for hello,” awarded a $5,000 UM Success Through Wellness grant.
Valerie Olivier [Dip.D.Hyg./11, B.Sc.D.Hyg./19], a clinical instructor at the School of Dental Hygiene, received the 2020 Individual Award for Outstanding Leadership in Advancing Interprofessional Education. The award, given by the Office of Interprofessional Collaboration, recognizes an educator in a community- or hospital-based setting who has made a significant impact on interprofessional education in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Jamie Penner [BPE/97, BN/02, MN/09], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Engaging communities to promote the health and wellbeing of family caregivers,” which received $10,000 from the University Research Grants Program.
Dr. Trenna Reeve, assistant professor of restorative dentistry and associate dean (clinics) of the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, was inducted as a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, a service organization of dentistry leaders.
Gayle Restall [BMROT/79, PhD/10], associate professor of occupational therapy, won the 2020 Golden Quill Award from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists for the article “The Equity Lens for Occupational Therapy: A program development and evaluation tool,” published in the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Kendra Rieger [BN/05, PhD/17], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Elevating the uses of storytelling approaches within Indigenous health research: A patient-engaged scoping review study involving Indigenous people and settlers,” which received $100,000 from the CIHR.
Jacquie Ripat [BMROT/92, M.Sc./98, PhD/11], assistant professor of occupational therapy, is principal investigator for “Learning to address and understand new challenges by young persons using assistive devices: Project LAUNCH-PAD,” which received $14,133 from the CIHR.
Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, distinguished professor of pediatrics/child health and biochemistry/medical genetics and researcher with CHRIM, has been appointed to the Order of Canada. Rockman-Greenberg has advanced the global understanding of rare genetic disorders.
Robert Schroth [DMD/96, M.Sc./03, PhD/11], professor of preventive dental science, oral biology, pediatrics/child health and community health sciences and researcher with CHRIM, was inducted as a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, a service organization of dentistry leaders.
Jillian Stobart [B.Sc.(Hons.)/06, PhD/12], assistant professor of pharmacy, is principal investigator for “The progression of brain pericyte alterations in Alzheimer’s disease and aging,” which received $504,900 from the CIHR.
Kellie Thiessen [PhD/14], associate professor of nursing and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Collaborative midwife-physician maternity care and its impact on patient wellness,” which received $4,000 from the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation.
Dr. Patricia Thille, assistant professor of physical therapy, is principal investigator for “The swarm at the clinic door: developing methods to study multiple, co-existing practice change attempts in Canadian primary care clinics,” which received $30,000 from the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation.
Dr. Sonia Udod [BA/89], assistant professor of nursing, was appointed as the Canadian representative to the board of the Association for Leadership in Nursing Science at the annual meeting in November 2019.
Dr. Ken von Kuster, assistant professor of pathology, was named 2020 Physician of the Year by Doctors Manitoba. The award is given annually to a member of the organization who has made a significant contribution to the practice of medicine and/or to the community.
Sandra Webber [BMRPT/90, M.Sc./96, PhD/10], associate professor of physical therapy, is co-principal investigator with Dr. Ruth Barclay for “Developing the Winter-Walk team and determining research priorities,” which received $5,000 from the University of Manitoba Centre On Aging.
Dr. Adrian West, assistant professor of physiology and pathophysiology and researcher with CHRIM, leads an interdisciplinary Rady Faculty team that received about $100,000 from The Winnipeg Foundation Innovation Fund. The team will create heart tissue using a 3D bioprinter in order to study the development of diabetes.
Roberta Woodgate [BN/89, MN/93, PhD/01], professor of nursing, Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare, and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Engaging youth in patient-oriented research to develop a research project on culturally sensitive mental healthcare for youth,” awarded $99,890 by the CIHR.
Frederick Zeiler [B.Sc./05, MD/10], assistant professor of surgery, and Dr. Jai Jai Shankar, professor of radiology, are co-principal investigators for “Early diagnosis of mortality using admission CT perfusion in severe traumatic brain injury patients,” which received $100,000 from the CIHR. Zeiler also received $120,000 from the National Institutes of Health for “Near infrared based cerebrovascular reactivity as a means of monitoring cerebral autoregulation and predicting outcome in moderate/severe traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.”
George Zhanel [B.Sc.Pharm/84, PhD/94], professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, received a 2020 Certificate of Merit Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education in recognition of his valuable contribution to medical education.
