Faculty Awards & Honours
Dr. Mandy Archibald, assistant professor of nursing and researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), is co-principal investigator for “Implementing BEAM: An mHealth tool to prevent mental health problems and improve developmental outcomes in young children,” which received Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding of $1 million.
Meghan Azad [PhD/10], professor of pediatrics and child health, Canada Research Chair in developmental origins of chronic disease and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “The Multi-omic Milk (MuMi) Study: Leveraging the IMiC Platform and the CHILD Cohort to study human milk as a biological system and understand its composition, determinants and impacts on child health,” awarded US$2.5 million from the National Institutes of Health. Azad was also honoured with the prestigious 2022 Steacie Prize for her notable contribution to research in Canada.
Ian Dixon [B.Sc.(Hons.)/83, M.Sc./87, PhD/90], professor of physiology and pathophysiology, was awarded CIHR funding of $1,040,400 for “Novel regulators of dermal wound healing.”
Debra Beach Ducharme [B.Ed/85, M.Ed/09], director of Indigenous health integration with Ongomiizwin – Education, received a 2023 Certificate of Merit Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education, recognizing her commitment to medical education.
Dr. Elsie Duff [M.Ed/03], assistant professor of nursing, received a Leadership Award of Excellence from the Nurse Practitioner Association of Manitoba.
Dr. Jean-Eric Ghia, professor of immunology and internal medicine, researcher with CHRIM and honorary consul of France in Winnipeg, has been appointed a Knight of the Order of Academic Palms by the French government, recognizing his work in research, academia, science communication and consular activities.
Dr. Joseph Gordon, associate professor of nursing and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Molecular regulation of muscle remodeling during obesity and Type 2 diabetes: The role of altered mitochondrial quality control,” which received a DREAM Catalyst Grant of $20,000. Gordon also leads “Determining how mitochondria quality control impacts cell signaling pathways that influence muscle remodeling,” awarded a University Collaborative Research Program grant of $25,000.
Dr. Nicole Harder [BN/96, MPA/02], associate dean (undergraduate) and associate professor of nursing, is principal investigator for two projects that received UM Scholarship of Teaching and Learning awards of $6,000: “Evaluating remediation strategies for clinical practice in nursing education” and “Evaluating an immersive virtual reality training program for nursing students.”
Dr. Soheila Karimi, professor of physiology and pathophysiology and researcher with CHRIM, received a CIHR grant of $1,136,025 for “Evaluating novel approaches to promote neuro-regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury.”
Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, associate professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Canada Research Chair in molecular pathogenesis of emerging viruses and researcher with CHRIM, received CIHR funding of $1,840,500 for “A prospective and retrospective multi-centre cohort study for clinical, virologic and immunologic characterization of monkeypox virus clade IIb by the International Monkeypox Response Consortium.”
Lorrie Kirshenbaum [M.Sc./88, PhD/92], professor of physiology and pathophysiology, Canada Research Chair in molecular cardiology and director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, received CIHR funding of $853,931 for “Circadian dependent regulation of cardiac cell death.” Kirshenbaum has been appointed to the Order of Manitoba for his research excellence, including his pioneering work on cardiac cell death.
Linda Larcombe [MA/88, PhD/05], associate professor of internal medicine, was awarded CIHR funding of $1,438,199 for “Connecting with cultural heritage: Land-based learning and healing through archaeology in northern Manitoba.”
Lisa Lix [M.Sc./91, PhD/95], professor of community health sciences and Canada Research Chair in methods for electronic health data quality, received funding of $508,725 from the CIHR for “Comparing methods to construct chronic disease histories from administrative data: Application to family disease studies.”
Sally Longstaffe [B.Sc.(Med.)/71, MD/71], senior academic advisor in the Max Rady College of Medicine undergraduate medical education student affairs office, received a 2023 Certificate of Merit Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education, recognizing her commitment to medical education.
Dr. Jon McGavock [BPE/97], professor of pediatrics and child health and researcher with CHRIM, is part of a cross-Canada team that received $1 million from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the CIHR for “Type 1 Diabetes, Exercise and Mentoring (TEAM) Trial: Peer mentorship to increase physical activity and quality of life in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.”
Lyle McKinnon [PhD/09], associate professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases and researcher with CHRIM, was awarded US$779,095 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for “HPV therapeutic vaccine discovery: Samples for epitope discovery.”
Kim Mitchell [BA/92, BN/97, MN/02, PhD/21], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Development and testing of a literacy and language screening assessment for nursing education: A pilot using simulated learning activities to assess medical language learning,” which received a College of Nursing Endowment Fund grant of $7,500.
Joanne Parsons [BMRPT/03, M.Sc./09, PhD/14], associate professor of physical therapy and researcher with CHRIM, is a co-investigator for “Levelling the playing field: social innovations for addressing gendered inequities in sports injury,” awarded more than $250,000 by British Academy Innovation Fellowships.
Samantha Pauls [B.Sc.(Hons.)/09, PhD/17], assistant professor of pharmacy, received $9,956 from the University Research Grants Program for “Effects of macronutrient stress in monocytes.”
Marshall Pitz [B.Sc./98, B.Sc.(Med.)/02, MD/02], associate professor of internal medicine, received a Brain Canada Foundation grant of $774,565 for “Risk-adapted radiation treatment planning for patients with glioblastoma using advanced MRI and Deep Learning to predict location of disease progression.”
Dr. Mojgan Rastegar, professor of biochemistry and medical genetics and researcher with CHRIM, was awarded $990,675 by the CIHR for “Investigating the molecular and cellular abnormalities of the brain in Rett syndrome.”
Emily Rimmer [B.Sc./02, MD/06, M.Sc./18], assistant professor of internal medicine, received CIHR funding of $307,530 for “Therapeutic plasma exchange in septic shock (PLEXSIS): a pilot study.”
Jacquie Ripat [BMROT/92, M.Sc./98, PhD/11], professor of occupational therapy, associate dean of research at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences and researcher with CHRIM, has been appointed vice-dean (academic affairs) of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
David Safronetz [M.Sc./03, PhD/09], adjunct professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases and principal investigator at the National Microbiology Laboratory, received the CIHR and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations Leadership Award for Excellence in Vaccine Research. The award provides funding of $400,000 for Safronetz’s research on a Lassa virus vaccine.
Dr. Diana Sanchez-Ramirez, assistant professor of respiratory therapy, and Sandra Webber [BMRPT/90, M.Sc./96, PhD/10], associate professor of physical therapy, received a Manitoba Medical Service Foundation grant of $29,000 for “Effect of pulmonary telerehabilitation and telemonitoring for patients with chronic respiratory diseases: a feasibility study.” Sanchez-Ramirez is also a co-investigator for “Long COVID Web: Pan-Canadian Post-COVID Condition Research Network,” which received CIHR funding of $20 million.
Dr. Patricia Thille, assistant professor of physical therapy, is co-investigator for “To touch and be touched: Communication and interaction in physiotherapy practice,” awarded $450,000 by the Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy. Thille is also co-investigator for “Developing a set of essential competencies and training program for physiotherapists working in interprofessional primary care teams,” awarded $150,000 by the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine.
Dr. Geoffrey Tranmer, associate professor of pharmacy, received $100,000 from the CIHR for “Development of novel agents for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Discovery and proof-of-concept.”
Dr. Sonia Udod, associate professor of nursing, leads “Advancing health system leadership capacity for psychological health and organizational resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” which received CIHR funding of $450,000. She is also principal investigator for “Engaging nurses and managers in a World Café: Fostering nurses’ worklife and mental health and well-being,” awarded a Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research grant of $7,500.
Dr. Jude Uzonna, professor of immunology and medical microbiology/infectious diseases, has been appointed vice-dean (research) of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
Roberta Woodgate [BN/89, MN/93, PhD/01], distinguished professor of nursing, Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health and well-being of Canadian youth coming of age in COVID times,” awarded a CIHR grant of $776,475. Woodgate also leads “Connections matter: Fostering social connectedness in youth to optimize mental health and well-being,” which received CIHR funding of $100,000.
