Dr. Benedict Albensi, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, investigator at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre and researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), received funding of $725,985 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for the study “Sex-based differences associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease.”
Janilyn Arsenio [B.Sc./04, PhD/12], assistant professor of internal medicine and immunology and Canada Research Chair in systems biology of chronic inflammation, received $156,834 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund for the project “Single-cell transcriptomics analysis of the immune system during infection and chronic inflammation.”
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, is co-investigator for “Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC): a provincial infant feeding database and human milk biorepository,” awarded $165,464 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund. Azad also received a 2018 Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award.
Ruth Barclay [BMRPT/87, PhD/08], associate professor of physical therapy, leads a study with co-investigators Dr. Sandra Webber (physical therapy) and Dr. Jacquie Ripat (occupational therapy) titled “Self-reported and physical factors associated with community ambulation in older adults and people with osteoarthritis,” which received a CIHR grant of $69,868.
James Blanchard [B.Sc.Med./86, MD/86], professor of community health sciences, Canada Research Chair in epidemiology and global public health, and director of the U of M’s Centre for Global Public Health, received funding of $2,636,105 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the project “Generating evidence on HIVST within MSM communities.”
Cara Brown [BMROT/96, M.Sc./08], assistant professor of occupational therapy, is principal investigator for “Indigenous students’ experiences of recruitment, retention and support in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences as told through story,” which received $4,140 from the Indigenous Health Research Cluster of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.
Dr. Amine Choukou, assistant professor of occupational therapy, is principal investigator for “Development and implementation of a haptic-enabled multimodal robotic platform for upper-limb fine motor skills retraining – to support postdoctoral fellow Dr. Ali Maddahi,” which received funding from the Mitacs Accelerate Funding Program of $135,000.
Benita Cohen [M.Sc./94, PhD/04], associate professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Social justice and health equity in the teaching and learning environment,” awarded a Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research grant of $7,500.
Michael Czubryt [B.Sc.(Hons.)/90, PhD/00], professor of physiology and pathophysiology and investigator at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, received a CIHR grant of $1,017,450 for the project “Targeting scleraxis to combat cardiac fibrosis.”
Dr. James Davie, professor of biochemistry and medical genetics and Canada Research Chair in chromatin dynamics, has been honoured with the title of distinguished professor. Davie is a researcher with CHRIM, senior scientist at the Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology and director of the Manitoba Epigenetic Network.
Ian Dixon [B.Sc.(Hons.)/83, M.Sc./87, PhD/90], professor of physiology and pathophysiology and investigator at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, was awarded CIHR funding of $684,675 for the project “Ski is a negative regulator of cardiac fibrosis.”
Dr. Paul Fernyhough, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics and investigator at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, received funding of $1,090,125 from the CIHR for the study “Muscarinic receptor antagonism as a novel mechanism for sensory nerve repair.”
Dr. Evelyn Forget, an economist who is professor of community health sciences and academic director of the Manitoba Research Data Centre, was short-listed for the $50,000 Donner Prize for her book Basic Income for Canadians: The Key to a Healthier, Happier, More Secure Life for All. The prestigious annual prize honours the best book on public policy by a Canadian. .
Dr. Jean-Eric Ghia, associate professor of immunology and internal medicine and researcher with CHRIM, has been awarded the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology’s 2019 Young Investigator Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to gastroenterology through basic or clinical research by a young investigator.
Dr. Ed Giesbrecht [BSW/87, BMROT/94, M.Sc./06], associate professor of occupational therapy, is principal investigator for “Evaluation of a peer-led eHealth wheelchair skills training program: Training to Enhance Adaptation and Management for Wheelchair users (TEAM Wheels),” which received CIHR funding of $566,099.
Dr. Joseph Gordon, associate professor of nursing, adjunct professor of human anatomy and cell science, and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “The impact of nix on metabolic dysfunction in skeletal muscle,” which received a DREAM Catalyst grant of $12,000.
Dr. Alan Katz [M.Sc./95], professor of community health sciences and director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, co-leads Manitoba’s participation in the SPOR (Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research) Canadian Data Platform. With $81 million in funding nationally, this platform will enable researchers across Canada to access and share health data among provinces.
Dr. Tiina Kauppinen, associate professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, investigator with the Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine at Health Sciences Centre, and researcher with CHRIM, received a CIHR grant of $1,051,875 for the project “Microglia and cognitive impairments in offspring exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus.”
Suzanne Lennon [BN/98, PhD/19], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric testing of perception of pregnancy risk-diabetes questionnaire,” which received a University Research Grants Program award of $7,320.
Dr. Christine Leong [B.Sc.Pharm/10], assistant professor of pharmacy and CHRIM researcher, received funding of $5,000 from the Centre on Aging for the project “Polypharmacy and de-prescribing among community-dwelling adults 65 years and older.”
Lisa Lix [M.Sc./91, PhD/95], professor of community health sciences, Canada Research Chair in methods for electronic health data quality, director of data science at the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, and senior scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, co-leads Manitoba’s participation in the SPOR (Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research) Canadian Data Platform.
Laura MacDonald [Dip.D.Hyg./81, M.Ed/87], associate professor of dental hygiene, has been honoured with the Dr. and Mrs. H. H. Saunderson Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes an outstanding educator who has taught for more than 10 years at the U of M, demonstrated continuing teaching excellence, and contributed to advancing teaching and learning at the university, as well as at the national or international level.
Dr. Alyson Mahar, assistant professor of community health sciences and research scientist with the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, is co-investigator for the project “Social Determinants of Health Digital Library,” awarded $240,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund.
Dr. Aaron Marshall, professor of immunology, received CIHR funding of $956,250 for the study “Control of B cell metabolism by the PI3K pathway: applications for autoimmunity.”
Lyle McKinnon [PhD/09], assistant professor of medical microbiology/infectious diseases and community health sciences and CHRIM researcher, received $155,942 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund for the project “Enhancing capacity for cellular phenotyping for HIV prevention and cure research.”
Dr. Nathan Nickel, assistant professor of community health sciences, research scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and researcher with CHRIM, is co-investigator for “Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC): a provincial infant feeding database and human milk biorepository,” awarded $165,464 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund.
Joanne Parsons [BMRPT/03, M.Sc./09, PhD/14], assistant professor of physical therapy and CHRIM researcher, received a Manitoba Medical Service Foundation grant of $23,000 for the study “An unconventional classroom: the effect of mandatory hours in the school weight room on student participation in resistance training activities.”
Jamie Penner [BPE/97, BN/02, MN/09], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Exploring family caregiver ambivalence towards self-care,” which received a Manitoba Medical Service Foundation/Winnipeg Foundation grant of $20,000.
Brian Postl [MD/76], dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and vice-provost (health sciences), was honoured at Government House with the 2019 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration. The prestigious award is presented by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (Manitoba Region) to a public-sector practitioner whose career exhibits the highest standard of excellence, dedication and accomplishment.
Gayle Restall [BMROT/79, PhD/10], associate professor of occupational therapy and CHRIM researcher, is co-principal investigator for “An examination of health, HIV risks, HIVrelated and other health and social care programs and services for marginalized gay, bisexual, two-spirit, and other men who have sex with men in Manitoba,” which received CIHR funding of $40,000.
Judith Scanlan [Cert.Nurs.(T & S)/66, BN/67, M.Ed./83, PhD/96], associate professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Imposter phenomenon in graduate nursing students,” awarded the College of Nursing Endowment Fund Research Grant in Professional Foundations of $7,500.
Brent Schacter [B.Sc.(Med)/65, MD/65], professor of internal medicine and researcher with CancerCare Manitoba, has been appointed to the governing council of the Standards Council of Canada, the federal Crown corporation responsible for promoting standardization in Canada.
Dr. Annette Schultz, associate professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Investigating the enactment of the patient engagement in SPOR funded studies: A pan Canadian mixed methods study,” which received a University Collaborative Research Program grant of $24,988.
Elliott Scott [M.Sc./77, PhD/80], professor of oral biology and human anatomy/cell science, and editor-in-chief of the journal Tobacco Induced Diseases, received a lifetime achievement award from the International Society for the Prevention of Tobacco Induced Diseases at the society’s 2018 meeting in Turkey.
Jillian Stobart [B.Sc.(Hons.)/06, PhD/12], assistant professor of pharmacy, received an Azrieli Foundation – Brain Canada grant of $100,000 for the study “Brain pericyte calcium signaling during vasomotion and neurovascular coupling.”
Tony Szturm [PhD/88], professor of physical therapy, is principal investigator for “Neural underpinnings of improved mobility function by dual-task cognitive game-based treadmill system intervention in Parkinson’s disease PET imaging study,” which received $25,000 from the University Collaborative Research Program.
Dr. Larry Tan, associate professor of surgery and director of the residency program in surgery, received a 2019 Certificate of Merit Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education. The award recognizes the recipient’s valuable contribution to medical education.
Dr. Michael Teschuk, assistant professor of clinical health psychology and director of the residency program in clinical psychology, received a 2019 Certificate of Merit Award from the Canadian Association for Medical Education. The award recognizes the recipient’s valuable contribution to medical education.
Dr. Patricia Thille, assistant professor of physical therapy, is principal investigator for “Mapping access inequities in physiotherapy services,” which received funding from the University Research Grant Program of $5,281.
Dr. Geoff Tranmer, associate professor of pharmacy, is participating in the 2019 Mitacs Globalink Research Internship. From May to September 2019, he will supervise a visiting undergraduate student from Mexico in the research project “Development of advanced flow chemistry techniques for use in medicinal chemistry programs.”
Dr. Sonia Udod [BA/89], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Nurse managers’ role for transitional care: Supporting family caregivers and cardiac patients in the home,” which received a Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research grant of $7,500.
Dr. Marcelo Urquia, assistant professor of community health sciences, Canada Research Chair in applied population health, research scientist with the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and researcher with CHRIM, is co-investigator for the project “Social Determinants of Health Digital Library,” awarded $240,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund.
Sandra Webber [BMRPT/90, M.Sc./96, PhD/10], associate professor of physical therapy, is co-investigator for “Unpacking perceptions of nursing home care: informing the function and purpose of nursing homes in the changing landscape of health care,” awarded $25,000 by the University Collaborative Research Program.
Michael West [B.Sc.Med./73, MD/73, PhD/80], who recently retired as professor of surgery and associate dean, professionalism in the Max Rady College of Medicine, will be invested into the Order of Manitoba in July. West established Manitoba as a centre for excellence in neurosurgery by introducing gamma knife surgery to Canada, improving the treatment of brain tumours.
Ian Whetter [B.Sc./01, MD/05], a family doctor who cofounded and co-leads the Office of Community Engagement in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, was honoured with a 2018 University of Manitoba Community Engagement Award. Whetter was instrumental in introducing service learning as a curricular requirement for first- and secondyear medical students. He co-chairs the Rady Faculty’s social accountability committee.