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Graduate students named Vanier Scholars
By Emily Leighton
Two doctoral researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry are recipients of the 2025 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships. Each will receive $50,000 annually for three years.
Vanier Scholars are chosen based on their leadership skills, research potential and academic achievement.
This is the final year the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships will be offered. Scholarship and fellowship programs administered by the three federal research funding agencies – the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – have been streamlined into a new harmonized program called the Canada Research Training Awards Suite.
Ella Doornaert, PhD candidate in neuroscience
One in 50 Canadian children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is commonly associated with differences in sensory processing.
The drug R-Baclofen has been tested in clinical trials for its impact on autism-related traits in children, but long-term effects of the treatment – particularly when used in early development – remain unclear.
Doornaert’s research explores how the drug may influence sensory and behavioural outcomes later in life. She will evaluate auditory processing abilities such as reactions to loud and sudden noises, social and anxiety-related behaviours and the influence on sound-processing pathways.
Her research aims to better understand how early-life interventions shape long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with ASD.
“I hope to contribute to both scientific knowledge and practical strategies that support and advocate for the autistic community,” she said.
Doornaert is also a wrestler and competed with Western’s varsity wrestling team for five years, winning several championships and the 2024 OUA Female Student-Athlete Community Service Award. She continues to train with a local wrestling club with the goal of one day representing Team Canada on the world stage.
“Chasing an Olympic dream while progressing through graduate school has demanded a deep level of discipline and resilience,” she said. “These experiences have taught me to navigate setbacks, stay grounded under pressure, and keep moving forward with purpose. Being seen for the values that connect these experiences makes this award feel especially meaningful.”
Christina Ji, MD/PhD candidate in physiology and pharmacology
Back pain is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder, and while many factors contribute, the most common is degeneration of the joints in the spine – the intervertebral discs.
As people age or experience injuries, the structural components of intervertebral discs undergo degenerative changes, which can progress over time and lead to chronic back pain.
“Despite its high prevalence and significant clinical and societal impacts, back pain is complex and multifactorial, and its pathogenesis remains poorly understood,” said Ji.
Ji’s interdisciplinary research will apply basic science tools to investigate fundamental questions in disc biology, including how we can intervene to prevent disc degeneration.
“I feel privileged to work within a community of accomplished scientists, clinicians and leaders,” she said. “Their diverse expertise and experiences are a constant source of inspiration and challenge me to develop new approaches, think critically, and pursue ongoing personal and professional growth.”