2018 Awards Recipients

Congratulations to the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Graduate Awards recipients

We are pleased to announce the 14 recipients of several Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Internal Graduate Awards. Congratulations to all recipients.

Collip Medal Award

Miljan Kuljanin, PhD
Deptartment of Biochemistry
Supervisors: Gilles Lajoie, PhD, and David Hess, PhD
Title of thesis: Proteomic characterization of human multipotent stromal cells secreted proteins with therapeutic potential for β-cell regeneration

Established in 1959, the Collip Medal Award is presented annually to the most outstanding doctoral student graduating from one of the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s programs. The Award commemorates the contributions of Dr. J. B. Collip, one of the School’s former Deans.

Cobban Student Award in Heart and Stroke Research

Jacqueline Dron, PhD Candidate, Biochemistry
Supervisor: Dr. Robert A. Hegele

Established by Audrey and Delmar Cobban and matched by Robarts Research Institute, this award recognizes doctoral research in the area of heart and stroke disease.

Drs. Madge and Charles Macklin Fellowship for Teaching and Research in Medical Sciences

Zachary Hawley, PhD Candidate, Neuroscience
Supervisor: Dr. Michael J. Strong

This fellowship is available to full-time doctoral students, and it recognizes and rewards excellence in teaching and research. This fellowship was established by a bequest from Margaret Macklin Frewen.

Drs. Madge and Charles Macklin Fellowship for Publication in Medical Sciences

Tracy Ssali, PhD Candidate, Medical Biophysics
Supervisor: Keith St. Lawrence, PhD

The fellowship is available to full-time doctoral students who have published their doctoral research as first author in a peer reviewed journal. This fellowship was established through a legacy donation from Margaret Macklin Frewen.

Jonathan & Joshua Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Mental Health Research ($20,000)

Faraj Haddad, PhD Candidate, Neuroscience
Supervisor: Susanne Schmid, PhD

Ornela Kljakic, PhD Candidate, Anatomy and Cell Biology
Supervisor(s): Vania Prado, PhD, and Marco Prado, PhD

Megan Roussy, PhD Candidate, Neuroscience
Supervisor(s): Drs. Julio Martinez-Trujillo and Lena Palaniyappan

Krystyna Wieczerzak, PhD Candidate, Neuroscience
Supervisor: Brian Allman, PhD

This scholarship is given to doctoral students who are specializing in the neuroscience of mental health disorders, and is generously made available by Mr. Robert McKinnon and friends.

Jonathan & Joshua Memorial Graduate Travel Scholarship ($1,400)

Karen Dunkerley, PhD Candidate, Biochemistry
Supervisor: Gary Shaw, PhD

This scholarship is given to a doctoral or master's student who is specializing in mental health research, and is generously made available by Mr. Robert McKinnon and friends.

Nellie Farthing Fellowship in Medical Sciences

Charmainne Cruje, PhD Candidate, Medical Biophysics
Supervisor(s): Maria Drangova, PhD, and Elizabeth Gillies, PhD

Jacqueline Dron, PhD Candidate, Biochemistry
Supervisor: Dr. Robert A. Hegele

Charles Yin, PhD Candidate, Microbiology and Immunology
Supervisor: Bryan Heit, PhD

Established in 1960 through a generous legacy donation from Nellie Farthing, the Fellowship recognizes excellence in research to a full-time doctoral student in Medical Sciences. The candidate’s record of research is of primary importance.

Norman E. Nixon Marie Rämö Nixon Award

Charmainne Cruje, PhD Candidate, Medical Biophysics
Supervisor(s): Maria Drangova, PhD, and Elizabeth Gillies, PhD

Awarded to a full-time graduate student in a doctoral or master's program at Western who is working with a Robarts Research Institute scientist. This award was established by a generous donation from Mrs. Marie Nixon.

John P. Robarts Award for Innovative Medical Research

Maria Sancho-Gonzalez, PhD
Supervisor: Donald G. Welsh, PhD

Alireza Akbari, PhD
Supervisor(s): Timothy Scholl, PhD, and Charles McKenzie, PhD

Sergio Fabris, PhD
Supervisor: Donald G. Welsh, PhD

This award funding is provided by friends and colleagues of John P. Robarts. Candidates were selected based on research excellence (demonstrated and potential) and degree of innovation of their work. This included specific assessment of candidate’s research record, and the quality and potential impact of the research to be presented.