Dr. Abdullah Al Maruf, assistant professor of pharmacy and researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), is co-investigator for “CYMH Trials Network: Canadian Network for Child and Youth Mental Health Trials,” which received $150,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Dr. Heather Armstrong, assistant professor of internal medicine in the Max Rady College of Medicine, Canada Research Chair in integrative bioscience and researcher with CHRIM, received CIHR funding of $814,725 for “Profiling the microbiota-mediated effects of specific dietary fibres on gut barrier and immune cell populations in IBD.”
Meghan Azad [PhD/10], who is internationally recognized for her research on human breast milk and the infant microbiome, was one of two national recipients of the prestigious 2024 Momentum Award from The Gairdner Foundation. Azad, professor of pediatrics and child health, holds a Canada Research Chair in early nutrition and the developmental origins of health and disease. She is also a researcher with CHRIM. The award recognizes mid-career investigators for “exceptional scientific research contributions with continued potential for impact on human health.”
Dr. Madeline Burghardt, assistant professor of occupational therapy, is co-investigator for “Participatory Advocacy Research Network: Building authentic partnerships and collaborations to further the research and advocacy goals of the developmental disability community,” which received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of $79,702. Burghardt also received $3,840 from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund for “Dismantling ableism in OT curricula: Recommendations from disability studies.”
Prashen Chelikani [PhD/04], professor of oral biology and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Oral mycobiome and caries risk in young Indigenous children in Manitoba,” awarded $1,319,625 by the CIHR.
Harvey Max Chochinov [MD/83, PhD/98], distinguished professor of psychiatry, received the 2023 Award for Outstanding Achievements in Cancer Research from the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance. The award recognizes the transformative international impact of Chochinov’s research in the fields of psycho-oncology and palliative care.
Kristine Cowley [PhD/98], associate professor of physiology and pathophysiology and Canada Research Chair in function and health after spinal cord injury, received the Kent Basset-Spiers Award from Spinal Cord Injury Ontario and the Canadian Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Association, recognizing her long-term, influential commitment to people with spinal cord injuries.
Dr. Annie Drapeau, assistant professor of surgery and pediatric neurosurgeon at Health Sciences Centre, was a Top 10 finalist in the 2024 CBC Manitoba Future 40 Awards, recognizing Manitobans under the age of 40 who are making a difference in their communities.
Dr. Elsie Duff [M.Ed./03], associate professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Impact of post- COVID condition on frontline healthcare workers in Manitoba,” which received a Research Manitoba grant of $130,000.
Keith Fowke [B.Sc.(Hons.)/88, PhD/95], professor and head of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, received CIHR funding of $956,250 as principal investigator for “Identifying immune markers of HPV viral clearance.”
Dr. Rodrigo França, associate professor of restorative dentistry, is an investigator for “Toward bedside bio-printing of orthopedic devices,” awarded Ignite funding from UM of $1,050,000.
Dr. José François [B.Sc./93], associate professor and former head of family medicine, received the 2024 Physician of the Year Award from Doctors Manitoba, recognizing his leadership during the pandemic, his commitment to supporting innovative research and his dedication to improving retention and recruitment of family physicians.
Dr. Ed Giesbrecht [BSW/87, BMROT/94, M.Sc./06], associate professor of occupational therapy, received $4,600 from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund for “Development of an online library of wheelchair service provision resources.”
Tara Horrill [BN/05, PhD/21], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Examining inequities in access to lung cancer treatment among people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage in Manitoba,” which received a Canadian Cancer Society grant of $600,000.
Dr. Soheila Karimi, professor of physiology and pathophysiology and researcher with CHRIM, received CIHR funding of $1,143,675 for “Harnessing the potential of CNS progenitor cells for repairing progressive multiple sclerosis.”
Dr. Kaarina Kowalec [B.Sc. (Hons.)/08, M.Sc./11], assistant professor of pharmacy, is a collaborator on “Examining heterogeneity in response to disease-modifying therapy in multiple sclerosis,” which received $836,287 from the U.S. Department of Defense Multiple Sclerosis Research Program. Kowalec is also co-principal investigator for “Using longitudinal cohorts to understand genetic determinants of MS progression,” awarded $30,598 by the same funder.
Dr. Stephen Kowalski, professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from Doctors Manitoba, recognizing his more than four decades of service to patients and the community as an anesthesiologist and clinical researcher.
Dr. Paul Marcogliese and Dr. Robert Beattie [B.Sc.(Hons.)/09], assistant professors of biochemistry and medical genetics and researchers with CHRIM, received $345,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John Evans Leaders Fund for “Functional integration of neurogenetics in development and disease.”
Lisa Mendez [BMROT/99, MOT/12], senior instructor in occupational therapy, received $8,000 from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund for “Interprofessional community-engaged learning within Indigenous communities (Amazon).”
Kim Mitchell [BA/92, BN/97, MN/02, PhD/21], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Can literacy and language screening predict academic performance? Using simulated learning activities to assess medical language learning,” which received Research Manitoba funding of $40,000.
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 “Equity in childhood vaccinations during public health emergencies: experiences of Red River Métis families in Manitoba,” which received $577,574 from the CIHR.
Dr. Christopher Pascoe, assistant professor of physiology and pathophysiology and researcher with CHRIM, was awarded CIHR funding of $784,125 for “Impact of exposure to hyperglycemia during pregnancy on offspring airway smooth muscle contractility and the activity of RhoA.”
Dr. Joel Pearson, assistant professor of pharmacology and therapeutics and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Identifying strategies to therapeutically target the unique epigenetic landscape of small cell lung cancer,” awarded $983,025 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 “Reaching underserved and undiagnosed populations living with STBBIs in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba: Test, treat and linkage to culturally appropriate care,” awarded $2 million by the CIHR.
Dr. Diana Sanchez-Ramirez, assistant professor of respiratory therapy, is co-investigator for two projects funded by Long COVID Web: “Remote-delivered education and strategies intervention for improving symptoms self-management of people with post- COVID condition” ($25,000) and “Development of a framework to inform equitable and inclusive models of care for people with long COVID” ($50,000).
Dr. Annette Schultz, professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Early mobility to improve health outcomes following cardiac surgery – clinical trial development,” which was awarded CIHR funding of $186,253.
Souradet Shaw [BA/97, M.Sc./09, PhD/18], assistant professor of community health sciences and Canada Research Chair in program sciences and global public health, received CIHR funding of $883,576 for “The Manitoba STBBI Epidemiology Platform (MB-STEP): Leveraging epidemiology to transform public health responses to sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections.”
Kristjan Thompson [B.Sc./07, B.Sc.(Med.)/11, MD/11], assistant professor of emergency medicine and chief medical officer at St. Boniface Hospital, was a Top 10 finalist in the 2024 CBC Manitoba Future 40 Awards, recognizing Manitobans under the age of 40 who are making a difference in their communities.
Dana Turcotte [B.Sc.Pharm/05, PhD/14], assistant professor of pharmacy, received $10,000 from the CIHR as principal investigator for “Surveying healthcare and recovery experiences with opioid agonist therapy: a community-based participatory research project.”
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 “Partnering for young carers’ health and well-being: Co-designing policy recommendations and research priorities for young carers across Canada,” which received a CIHR grant of $768,824. Woodgate is also principal investigator for “Applying a learning health system approach to improve equitable and inclusive mental health/ substance use services and equitable outcomes for Manitoba youth accessing Integrated Youth Services,” which received CIHR funding of $1,451,381.