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), received the 2018-19 CIHR Gold Leaf Prize of $100,000 for outstanding achievements by an early-career investigator. The award recognizes excellence in health research and its translation into benefits for Canadians.
Dr. Silvia Alessi-Severini, associate professor of pharmacy, received a Merit Award from the University of Manitoba for combined merit in research, teaching and service in the 2018 calendar year. The award comes with a $3,000 prize.
Dr. Rakesh Arora, associate professor of surgery, anesthesiology and physiology/pathophysiology, and scientist at the St. Boniface Hospital Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, received a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada grant of $265,965 for “Protein to enhance outcomes of (pre) frail patients undergoing cardiac surgery: The protect-cs study.”
Dr. Devi Atukorallaya, assistant professor of oral biology and researcher with CHRIM, received $162,500 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council for the study “Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus) as a model to understand the development and regeneration of the epithelial appendages.”
Cara Brown [BMROT/96, M.Sc./08, PhD/19], assistant professor of occupational therapy, is principal investigator for “Extending the safety net: How can interprofessional primary care teams facilitate successful hospital discharge?” awarded $1,981 from the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation.
Marni Brownell [PhD/91], professor of community health sciences, associate director, research and senior research scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, and researcher with CHRIM, received Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council funding of $252,756 for “Quantifying social disparities in youth justice system trajectories: evidence to inform policy change.” Brownell also received the Geoffrey C. Robinson Award from the Canadian Paediatric Society, recognizing outstanding contributions to child and youth health through research.
Adam Burgener [B.Sc.(Hons.)/99, PhD/05], associate professor of medical microbiology, leads the study “The microbiome in HIV prevention,” awarded CIHR funding of $1,999,840.
Harvey Max Chochinov [MD/83, PhD/98], distinguished professor of psychiatry, has been chosen for induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2020. Chochinov is a world leader in the field of palliative care. His research has informed worldwide debate about euthanasia and assisted suicide. He is a senior scientist at the Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology at CancerCare Manitoba.
Dr. Amine Choukou, assistant professor of occupational therapy, received a grant of $12,000 to develop and test “A virtual senior roommate” and “An information and computer technology-based mobile application for training of family members caring for someone with dementia” from the Manitoba Aging, Rehabilitation, and Technology Institute, funded by AGE-WELL.
Shyamala Dakshinamurti [MD/92, M.Sc./03], assistant professor of pediatrics and child health, adjunct professor of physiology and researcher with CHRIM, received a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada grant of $269,640 for “Pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure due to impaired adenylyl cyclase in hypoxia.”
Malcolm Doupe [BPE/89, M.Sc./94, PhD/05], associate professor of community health sciences and senior research scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, received CIHR funding of $200,000 for “Evaluating hospital transitions for older adults: Understanding how, why and for whom a planned intervention is working.”
Renée El-Gabalawy [B.Sc.(Hons.)/08, MA/10, PhD/15], assistant professor of anesthesiology and clinical health psychology, leads the project “A targeted preoperative virtual reality intervention with artificial intelligence integration for anxiety in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery,” which received funding of $250,000 from the New Frontiers in Research Fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Dr. Jamie Falk [B.Sc.Pharm/97], assistant professor of pharmacy, is co-investigator for “Tranexamic acid use to safely reduce transfusion in major non-cardiac surgery (TRACTION): A pragmatic, registry-based, pilot randomized controlled trial,” awarded $35,000 by the Health Sciences Centre Foundation.
Dr. Ross Feldman, professor of internal medicine, medical director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority cardiac sciences program, and research scientist at the St. Boniface Hospital Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, has been inducted as a fellow into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Feldman, whose research has greatly advanced the understanding of hypertension, was also recently invested into the Order of Canada.
Keith Fowke [B.Sc.(Hons.)/88, PhD/95], professor and head of medical microbiology/infectious diseases and professor of community health sciences, leads the project “Combination HIV prevention: Using anti-retroviral and anti-inflammatory medications,” awarded $2,000,000 by the CIHR.
Dr. Joseph Gordon, associate professor of nursing, adjunct professor of human anatomy and cell science, and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Modulation of cell death and differentiation by myocardin-regulated microRNASs during mammalian development,” which received a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council grant of $379,105, and for “Gene-targeting of skeletal muscle Nix to prevent cardiometabolic complications in offspring exposed to gestational diabetes,” awarded CHRIM funding of $59,790.
Dr. Nicole Harder [BN/96, MPA/02], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Withdrawing treatment in the critical care areas: An interprofessional simulation-based experience,” which received a Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research grant of $7,500, and “The impact of dramabased primer activities on student participation in role-play simulation experiences: An exploratory qualitative descriptive study,” awarded College of Nursing funding of $7,500. Harder received a 2019 Award of Excellence in Nursing Education from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.
Davinder Jassal [B.Sc./94, B.Sc.(Med.)/98, MD/98], professor of internal medicine, radiology and physiology/ pathophysiology, and principal investigator of the cardiovascular imaging laboratory at the St. Boniface Hospital Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, was awarded $254,659 by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada for “Flaxseed in the prevention and treatment of anthracycline and trastuzumab mediated cardiotoxicity.”
Dr. Meaghan Jones, assistant professor of biochemistry and medical genetics and researcher with CHRIM, co-leads the project “Reversing frailty through transmission of epigenetic age by extracellular vesicles,” which received funding of $250,000 from the New Frontiers in Research Fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Lorrie Kirshenbaum [M.Sc./88, PhD/92], professor of physiology/pathophysiology and pharmacology/ therapeutics, Canada Research Chair in molecular cardiology, director of research development at the Max Rady College of Medicine and director of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at St. Boniface Hospital, received the 2019 Bohuslav Ostadal Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Sciences.
Dr. Kaarina Kowalec [B.Sc.(Hons.)/08, M.Sc./11], assistant professor of pharmacy, is co-investigator for the project “Enhancing CAN-AIM capacity to respond to drug safety and effectiveness queries,” awarded CIHR funding of $2,550,000.
Dr. Ted Lakowski, associate professor of pharmacy, is principal investigator for “The mechanisms of enzymes catalyzing epigenetic post-translational modifications,” awarded $32,000 by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
Michelle Lobchuk [BN/92, MN/95, PhD/01], associate professor of nursing, is co-principal investigator for “Perspective-taking in conversations about health behaviour change: A collaborative knowledge-to-action project,” which received a Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research grant of $7,500.
Dr. Susan Logue, assistant professor of human anatomy and cell science, has been awarded a Canada Research Chair in cell stress and inflammation. Logue’s research aims to understand how stressed cells “talk” to neighbouring cells. The knowledge gained will have applications in the treatment of diseases such as cancer.
Dr. Sabine Mai, professor of physiology, biochemistry/ medical genetics and human anatomy/cell science, Canada Research Chair in genomic instability and nuclear architecture in cancer, and senior scientist at the Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, received $200,000 from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada for “Targeting telomere maintenance in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, professor of internal medicine and community health sciences, received a Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada grant of $233,479 for the project “Comorbid cancer in multiple sclerosis (CCIMS): Diagnosis and outcomes.”
Dr. Donald Miller, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, leads a multidisciplinary team that received $410,761 from the CIHR and $342,671 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council for “SSAT1 as a biomarker drug target for early detection and clinical management of glioblastoma.”
Dr. Elaine Mordoch [BN/91, MN/96], adjunct professor of nursing, is co-investigator with Elder Albert McLeod for “Sharing the Traditional Understandings of the Two-Spirit People: Part B,” which received $7,500 from the Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network, supported by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living.
Jamie Penner [BPE/97, BN/02, MN/09], assistant professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Responding to changing tides: Exploration of clinical nursing educators’ understanding of and engagement with a palliative approach to care,” which received a Poppy Trust Fund research grant of $3,000 and a College of Nursing grant of $7,500.
Dr. Kelly Russell, associate professor of pediatrics/child health and community health sciences and researcher with CHRIM, received funding of $415,180 from the University of Calgary/National Football League Scientific Advisory Board for “Surveillance in high school to reduce concussions and consequences of concussions in Canadian youth.”
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, is principal investigator for “A randomized clinical trial of silver diamine fluoride to arrest early childhood caries in young children,” awarded $60,000 by CHRIM.
Dr. Annette Schultz, professor of nursing, is principal investigator for “Indigenous People and Diabetes – Indigenous Knowledge and Wellness Practices Disrupting Biomedical Colonization,” which received funding of $100,000 from the CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health.
Lynn Scruby [PhD/99], assistant professor of nursing, was honoured with the Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba’s 2019 Celebrating Women Award. Scruby was nominated by the Women’s Health Research Foundation of Canada.
Tony Szturm [PhD/88], professor of physical therapy, is coprincipal investigator for “Bringing advanced, yet easy-to-use and low-cost assistive rehabilitation and monitoring devices to homes,” which received funding of $32,600 from the Collaborative Innovation Research Fund.
Sandra Webber [BMRPT/90, M.Sc./96, PhD/10], associate professor of physical therapy, is principal investigator for “Physical therapists’ beliefs about bodies and health,” awarded $8,416 by the University Research Grants Program. Webber also leads “Evaluating the effectiveness of admissions requirements in the master of physical therapy program,” awarded $5,913 by the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Endowment Fund.
Dr. Christina West, assistant professor of nursing and researcher with CHRIM, is principal investigator for “Expressive healing network: Partnering to create meaningful change for children and families in pediatric blood and marrow transplant,” which received a CHRIM grant of $60,000.
Kristy Wittmeier [BMRPT/02, M.Sc./05, PhD/10], assistant professor of pediatrics and child health and researcher with CHRIM, has been awarded the inaugural Dr. John M. Bowman Chair in Pediatrics and Child Health. Wittmeier, a physiotherapy clinician-researcher, will work to improve quality of life and outcomes for children and youth with neurodevelopmental and rehabilitation needs. The Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation is a major supporter of the new research chair through a gift of $1 million.
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 “Indigenous youth aging out of the child welfare system in Manitoba: Where do we go from here?” which received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant of $395,039.
Dr. Sheryl Zelenitsky [B.Sc.Pharm/89], professor of pharmacy, received $99,890 from the Kidney Foundation of Canada for the project “Optimizing antibiotic dosing for patients on hemodialysis: A high-risk population.”