Research Office

Canada Research Chairs

The Canada Research Chairs Program was launched by the federal government in 2000 to help Canadian universities attract and retain the world’s best researchers.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry has 20 active Canada Research Chairs:

Frank Beier

Canada Research Chair in Musculoskeletal Health

Tier 2 - November 1, 2001

Research Involves: Basic research in cell biology and functional genomics related to the musculoskeletal system.
Research Relevance: Findings should lead to improved diagnosis, prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

Ann Chambers

Canada Research Chair in Oncology

Tier 1- October 1, 2003
Research Involves: Finding new ways of looking at how cancer spreads and coming up with new ideas about how cancer metastasis can be prevented.
Research Relevance: The research promises to improve our understanding of the biology of the metastatic process and to permit the development of new ways to prevent cancer deaths due to metastatic spread.

Sean Cregan
Canada Research Chair in Neurodegeneration and Stem Cell Regeneration
Tier 2 - June 1, 2006
Research Involves: Identifying the molecular pathways that regulate cell death in neurodegenerative conditions.
Research Relevance: The research is aimed at developing improved strategies to protect and regenerate damaged brain cells in individuals affected by stroke and neurodegenerative disease.

Aaron Fenster
Canada Research Chair in Medical Imaging
Tier 1 - January 1, 2001
Research Involves: Improving medical-imaging systems and integrating them with surgical procedures.
Research Relevance: Development of new methods to diagnose and treat coronary disease, breast and prostate cancer.

Stephen S.G. Ferguson
Canada Research Chair in Molecular Neurobiology
Tier 1 - July 1, 2006
Research Involves: Studying molecular regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signalling.
Research Relevance: The research is leading to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and will have important consequences for the identification and treatment of neurological disease.

S.M. Mansour Haeryfar
Canada Research Chair in Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis
Tier 2 - June 1, 2010
Research Involves: Understanding and improving T-cell responses to viral pathogens.
Research Relevance: This research will help uncover the mechanisms behind antiviral immunity and will lead to the design of efficient, T-cell-based therapeutic approaches to fighting viral diseases.

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Victor Khin Maung Han
Canada Research Chair in Fetal and Maternal Health
Tier 1 - January 1, 2001
Research Involves: Investigating the reasons for defects in the way the placenta functions, resulting in toxemia, low birth-weight infants, and premature deliveries.
Research Relevance: Earlier diagnosis of problems with placental development may suggest new strategies for prevention or treatment. This would prevent the long-term health consequences that often result for premature and low birth-weight babies.

Robert A. Hegele
Canada Research Chair in Human Genetics
Tier 1 - January 1, 2001
Research Involves: Identifying genes that contribute to the development of common diseases.
Research Relevance: Developing new therapies and identifying people who are at high risk of inheriting certain diseases.

Morris Karmazyn
Canada Research Chair in Experimental Cardiology
Tier 1 - October 1, 2004
Research Involves: Using molecular, cellular, and in vivo approaches to study mechanisms and treatment of heart failure.
Research Relevance: The research aims to lead to development of new therapeutic strategies for treating heart failure.

Dale W. Laird
Canada Research Chair in Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication and Disease
Tier 1 - July 1, 2004
Research Involves: Studying the cellular and molecular basis of gap junction-linked human diseases as revealed by tissue-relevant models and transgenic mice.
Research Relevance: The research explores the potential therapeutic advantage of regulating gap junctional intercellular communication in human breast cancer, deafness, developmental skeletal disorders, and skin diseases.

Shawn Li
Canada Research Chair in Functional Genomics and Cellular Proteomics
Tier 2 - March 1, 2006
Research Involves: Using high-throughput technologies to map human protein interaction networks.
Research Relevance: The research is leading to a systems level understanding of human conditions as well as to new strategies for disease diagnosis and treatment.

Charles McKenzie
Canada Research Chair in Parallel Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Tier 2 - July 1, 2007
Research Involves: Increasing the speed of magnetic resonance imaging.
Research Relevance: Using faster MRI will make the experience more comfortable for patients.

Ravi S. Menon
Canada Research Chair in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Tier 1 - March 1, 2005
Research Involves: Using imaging technology to decipher brain function.
Research Relevance: The research will lead to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Bryan Richardson
Canada Research Chair in Fetal/Neonatal Health & Development
Tier 1 - July 1, 2004
Research Involves: Examining fetal health during pregnancy and studying the impact on later development, especially of the brain, using human and animal model systems.
Research Relevance: The research is leading to a better understanding of those conditions during pregnancy and the neonatal period that optimize our developmental trajectories for later life.

Peter Rogan

Canada Research Chair in Genome Bioinformatics

Tier 1 - October 1, 2008

Research Involves: Applying novel methods to detect and interpret disease-causing genetic variants.
Research Relevance: Leading to better prediction and personalization of genetic diagnoses.

Gary S. Shaw
Canada Research Chair in Structural Neurobiology
Tier 1 - January 1, 2003
Research Involves: Use of nuclear magnetic resonance to understand the function of calcium-binding proteins.
Research Relevance: Greater understanding of the role of S100 proteins in Alzheimer's disease and potential drug development.

Moira Stewart
Canada Research Chair in Primary Health Care
Tier 1 - March 1, 2003
Research Involves: Development and testing of innovative interventions and new models of health service delivery.
Research Relevance: Will strengthen and improve the quality of primary health care in Southwestern Ontario and potentially all of Canada.

Amardeep Thind
Canada Research Chair in Health Services Research
Tier 2 - March 1, 2008
Research Involves: Understanding and improving access to health care.
Research Relevance: Improving our ability to design interventions that shorten wait times by better understanding what determines them, thus improving access to health services.

Miguel A. Valvano
Canada Research Chair in Infectious Diseases and Microbial Pathogenesis
Tier 1 - October 1, 2002
Research Involves: Interdisciplinary and collaborative research related to the molecular mechanisms of infection by drug-resistant microorganisms and opportunistic pathogens.
Research Relevance: Understanding how microorganisms cause infections that escape from host surveillance and resist treatment will provide the knowledge tools to develop more effective antibiotics and vaccines.

Charles Weijer
Canada Research Chair in Bioethics
Tier 1 - July 1, 2005
Research Involves: Exploring the ethics of health research.
Research Relevance: The research is promoting excellent research and the protection of Canadians in research by re-examining and redefining the moral foundations of health research.

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