List of Award Recipients

This award is presented on behalf of the CIHR-Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) and the Canadian Society of Atherosclerosis, Thombosis and Vascular Biology (CSATVB) to recognize an individual’s outstanding contribution to the advancement of blood and/or blood vessel sciences both in Canada and internationally. Dr. Wells is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine and is a world renowned clinician-scientist who has revolutionized the field of venous thromboembolism.  He developed the clinical scoring system for patients suspected of blood clots known as the Wells Model for DVT (legs clots) and the Wells Model for PE (lung clots). The Wells Models have had a major impact on clinical practice and patient care, including significant cost savings to the healthcare system by eliminating unnecessary imaging and reducing emergency department wait times.

This award is presented on behalf of the CIHR-Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) and the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) to recognize significant contributions of mid-career researchers to the advancement of emergency medicine in Canada. Dr. Thiruganasambandamoorthy is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Scientist at OHRI.  His research focuses on cardiac emergencies, predominantly in the management of emergency department syncope and chest pain. His research results have had a signification impact on clinical practice in emergency medicine in Canada and internationally.

This distinction aims to recognize the exceptional contribution of members of the First Nations and the Inuit Nation.  In addition, this recognition highlights the journey of remarkable people who, through their achievements and their commitment, contribute to the influence of their community, their nation or First Peoples across Quebec or Canada or even internationally. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Darlene Kitty teaches and develops Indigenous health curricula including academic activities in Indigenous health and several specialty programs.

These awards are presented annually by Health Promotion Canada to elevate and acknowledge health promoters at various stages in their careers and celebrate those who are making significant contributions in the field of health promotion across Canada.  Dr. Potvin Kent is an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health and has emerged as a leading expert in food and nutrition policy in Canada, particularly focused on food and beverage marketing to children and adolescents. Working with various stakeholders, Dr. Potvin Kent is actively translation her work for all audiences outlining the persuasive and dangerous nature of food marketing to children. Her work provides important evidence to NGOs and the federal government to enact laws and regulations to protect children from unhealthy food and beverage marketing.

This award is given to researchers with outstanding achievements in knowledge translation in aging at a local or regional level. Knowledge translation involves the conversion of research into clinical practice—something that Dr. Barbara Farrell has excelled at through her work in deprescribing. Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of stopping or reducing medications that may be causing harm or may no longer be of benefit. Since 2013, Dr. Farrell and the Bruyère Deprescribing Research Team have worked tirelessly to address challenges related to polypharmacy and improving medication-related care for older adults. Dr. Barbara Farrell, is currently a scientist with the Bruyère Research Institute (BRI) and the CT Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, and an Assistant Professor with the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa.

Fellows of the Academy are elected on the basis of their demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies and commitment to advance academic health sciences. Dr. David Moher is a Senior Scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology Program of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health. Dr. Moher is an internationally recognized leader and pioneer in the conduct of randomized clinical trials, methodology of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, developing guidelines for reporting health research, and for pioneering the emerging field of journalology (publication science). He is one of the most cited and impactful researchers in the world.

Fellows of the Academy are elected on the basis of their demonstrated leadership, creativity, distinctive competencies and commitment to advance academic health sciences. Dr. Mark Tremblay is Director of Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research at the CHEO Research Institute, Full Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa, and an internationally renowned researcher in pediatric exercise science. He is among the mostly highly cited (top 1%) and sought after scientists in the world in childhood healthy active living leadership, research, education and training, and advocacy. He is the founder and President of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network, and cofounder of Outdoor Play Canada.

The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists is Canada’s first national system of multidisciplinary recognition for the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership. It comprises a fourth entity (along with the current three Academies) within the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Katey Rayner is Principal Investigator at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Director of the Cardiometabolic microRNA Laboratory. She is an internationally recognized leader in the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving cardiovascular disease, and her work has identified novel microRNA- and inflammatory-based mechanisms that contribute to atherosclerosis and obesity. Her work has significant translational implications on the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostic tests to identify at-risk individuals.

Fellows of the RSC are distinguished women and men from all branches of learning who have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life. Dr. Grimshaw is a Senior Scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, a Full Professor in the Department of Medicine at uOttawa and the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Health Knowledge Transfer and Uptake. He is one of the world’s foremost implementation researchers. He has produced an innovative, interdisciplinary body of research developing the scientific basis of how to promote the uptake of evidence in healthcare to improve patient outcomes and ensure healthcare system sustainability. His research contributions have informed the policy and practice in Canada and globally.

Fellows of the RSC are distinguished women and men from all branches of learning who have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life.  Dr. Kym Boycott, a Professor of Pediatrics at uOttawa, Clinical Geneticist at CHEO, and Senior Scientist at CHEO Research Institute, is a visionary in employing genomics to understand molecular mechanisms of rare disease. She leads Care4Rare Canada, an internationally-renowned platform that has identified the genetic cause of 460 rare diseases while discovering 125 new genes. She also leads international initiatives to advance global cooperation and data sharing in rare disease.

The Meridith Marks Mentorship Award recognizes an individual who excels in the mentorship of those involved in medical education scholarship and innovation. Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto is a Professor in the Department of Medicine and is highly active in medical education at a national level and within the University of Ottawa. She also has several ongoing research projects covering topics such as performance-based assessment, feedback, consensus research methods and emotional intelligence.

The award, based on the evaluation of his or her peers, honors scholarly achievements and contributions to knowledge about mechanisms of neural repair, translational research from mechanisms of repair to clinical practice, or clinical Neurorehabilitation. Dr. Dale Corbett is a Professor of Neurosciences in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, whose research program concerns the recovery of sensory-motor and cognitive function following stroke.  His lab uses a variety of approaches to enhance neuroplasticity and stroke recovery including novel forms of rehabilitation, exercise and mobilization of endogenous neural precursors and stem cells.

This honour is conferred as a way of honouring a distinguished visitor’s contributions to a specific field of to society in general. Dr. Jasmin has been awarded the Docteur Honoris Causa in recognition for his outstanding academic leadership, innovative research contributions and dedicated partnership development.

This award was created in recognition of research excellence and is offered to an established investigator working on an aspect of cardiovascular research in Canada. Dr. Ruth McPherson, MD, PhD, is Director of the Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, Atherogenomics Laboratory and the Lipid Clinic and a member of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She is also a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa. Dr. McPherson co-leads the Ottawa region strategic research Innovation Cluster on Vascular Inflammation and Metabolism.  Dr. McPherson is a leader in cardiovascular genetics, having led the discovery of the 9p21 genetic risk factor for heart disease in 2007. Her research is centred on the discovery and functional analysis of genetic variants linked to cardiovascular disease and its metabolic precedents, including lipid traits and obesity.

The rank of Distinguished University Professor is awarded in recognition of outstanding scholarly achievements at the University of Ottawa and preeminence in their own field of research.  Dr. Manuel’s research combines his interests in public health, health care systems and primary care. He collaborates to tackle question such as, how long will Canadian's live and what are the most effective strategies to improve our communities health and reduce inequities. Over the past 25 years, he has answered these questions by developing Canada’s strength in big health data and by building advanced predictive health models. His exceptional work at University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital reflects the outstanding research opportunities with Canada’s largest academic hospital combined with federal agencies and their expertise collecting and using the nation’s health data. 

This award honours researchers who have been successful and innovative in promoting the use of research outside of academia.  Dr. Kulkarni’s recent research has focused on identifying areas in and around Ottawa that are at greater risk for Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and using this information to inform local public policy to develop current assessment and clinical management of exposure.  Based on tick surveillance and lab analyses, Dr. Kulkarni and her team have developed Lyme disease risk maps across the city, and are working with partners such as Ottawa Public Health and the National Capital Commission to inform the public and work towards reducing tick densities on recreational trails.

This award from the College of Family Physicians of Canada recognizes a family medicine researcher who has made original contributions to research and has been a pivotal force in the definition, development, and dissemination of concepts that are central to the discipline of family medicine in Canada. This is a program of the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine, through the generosity of its donors.​ Dr. Clare Liddy is a family physician and Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at uOttawa.  With her colleague Dr. Erin Keely, Dr. Liddy developed the Champlain Base^TM eConsult service, a secure online application that connects primary care providers with specialists.  This innovative service allors providers to received prompt advice on behalf of their patients using a technology already available in the region. eConsult has proven to be a success across various healthcare improvement measures including population health, patient experience, provider satisfaction and cost savings.

This prestigious award, sponsored by the University of British Columbia, recognizes a Canadian physician or scientist who makes outstanding contributions to the treatment, amelioration, or cure of heart disorders.  Dr. Ruth McPherson, MD, PhD, is Director of the Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, Atherogenomics Laboratory and the Lipid Clinic and a member of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She is also a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa. Dr. McPherson co-leads the Ottawa region strategic research Innovation Cluster on Vascular Inflammation and Metabolism.  Dr. McPherson is a leader in cardiovascular genetics, having led the discovery of the 9p21 genetic risk factor for heart disease in 2007. Her research is centred on the discovery and functional analysis of genetic variants linked to cardiovascular disease and its metabolic precedents, including lipid traits and obesity.

This prize, sponsored by CIHR and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, recognizes outstanding researchers within the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health scientific research community.  Dr. Beanlands is Vered Chair and Chief of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Ottawa Hospital and Professor in the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He is a Tier 1 uOttawa Chair in Cardiovascular Imaging Research. He is an international leader in cardiovascular imaging and founding Director of the National Cardiac PET Centre – the only PET facility in Canada dedicated to cardiovascular disease. His research on cardiac metabolism, flow, cellular and neurohormonal function has led to pioneering translational work that has impacted understanding and the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, application in patient care, health policy and guidelines.

The University of Ottawa established this annual prize to recognize educators of exceptional quality, driven by their passion to advance and share knowledge.  Dr. Jean-François Couture is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology. His pioneering work has provided key insights into how epigenetic processes are central to every aspect of cell biology, with focuses on understanding the mechanisms that cause leukemia. Additionally, Dr. Couture is an outstanding educator and mentor, balancing a full teaching load and a multidisciplinary laboratory training for his students.  He also played a critical role in the development of the Faculty’s new Translational and Molecular Medicine (TMM) program as its first director.

Dr. Pakhalé is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and the School of Epidemiology and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine, a Scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and a Staff Respirologist at The Ottawa Hospital. The SNOW Woman of the Year Award was given to Dr. Pakhale in recognition of her patient engagement model, The Ottawa Citizen Engagement and Action Model (OCEAM), which was designed and operationalized at the Bridge Engagement Centre – a community-based research center she leads in downtown Ottawa. Dr. Pakhale’s research interests include health equity and marginalized populations, Indigenous People’s health and wellbeing as well as Tobacco Dependence Management.

The ESGCT seeks to honour impactful, significant and lasting contributions to the field of gene and cell therapy. This award recognizes outstanding contribution to, and participation in, public and patient stakeholder engagement. Dr. John Bell is a Senior Scientist in the Cancer Therapeutics Program of OHRI and Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology.  Dr. Bell is also the Scientific Director of BioCanRx, a Network Centre of Excellence, through which he is recognized for his outstanding work towards engaging patients, establishing dialogue and generating learning.  He is committed to engaging research and patient partners in all aspects of the research process and supporting researcher-patient collaborations.

This award recognizes a member of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) who, as a mentor, has had significant impact on the trainees within SSR, consistently demonstrating a measure of support and guidance that far exceeds the basic responsibilities required of an academic advisor.  Dr. Vanderhyden is a Senior Scientist in the Cancer Therapeutics Program at OHRI and a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.  She has mentored over 120 trainees and oversees two science outreach programs: Let’s Talk Science and Science Travels.  This award recognizes her profound impact on the next generation of reproduction biology researchers.

This award presented by the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario is given to one individual who consistently advocates on behalf of residents and resident issues, within their role as an administrator, program coordinator, teacher or clinician. Dr. Thurgur is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and the Program Director of the University of Ottawa Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RSPSC) Emergency Residency Program.

This award presented by the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario acknowledges the essential role that good clinical teachers play in the training of physicians and highlight the qualities that make an excellent teacher: patient care, quality of bedside teaching and interest in the trainees’ personal development and well-being.  Dr. Grynspan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and an Investigator with the CHEO Research Institute.

This award was created to emphasize, reinforce and enhance the important of humanistic qualities among medical students and faculty. Dr. Turnbull is Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and the Health Equity Clinical Lead for Health Quality Ontario. He focused much of his early academic attention on issues in medical education, and his caring and compassionate approach to teaching and mentorship has been recognized time and again. In recent years, Dr. Turnbull has turned his attention to the health needs of vulnerable populations, including the homeless in Ottawa. As Medical Director of the Inner City Health Project, he is dedicated to meeting the medical, dental and social needs of those most vulnerable.

The Order of Canada is how our country honours people who make extraordinary contributions to the nation.  Dr. Robert Korneluk is the first CHEO researcher to be appointed to the Order of Canada. With almost 40 years of science under his belt, Faculty of Medicine professor and CHEO Research Institute Senior Scientist Robert Korneluk has helped propel immunotherapy into one of the biggest buzzwords in medicine. In 1995, Dr. Korneluk and his team discovered a family of genes called Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAPs) that control cell death. This ground-breaking discovery has been the basis of breakthroughs worldwide in cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration and more. It’s also the basis of his current work exploring how to enhance the immune system’s own natural response to cancers.

The Partners in Research National Awards recognize exemplary and impactful outreach education efforts and research promotion/communication leadership by Canadian researchers, benefitting Canadian elementary and secondary school students and/or the general Canadian public. Dr. Wilson is a specialist in General Internal Medicine at The Ottawa Hospital, whose work focuses on public health innovation including blood safety, immunization and newborn screening. His overall vision is to bring data to patients, clinicians and the public through the use of digital technologies.

The Order of Ottawa recognizes exceptional residents who have made a significant contribution in a professional capacity in many areas of city life, including arts and culture, business, community service, education, public service, labour, communications and media, science, medicine, sports and entertainment, or other fields that benefit the residents of Ottawa. Dr. Marc Ruel is a pioneer in the field of heart surgery, where he has distinguished himself as a top surgeon, researcher, educator, and administrator.  Dr. Ruel is a professor in the University of Ottawa’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and in the Department of Surgery, where he is also the Head of the Division of Cardiac Surgery. He is the Michael Pitfield Chair in Cardiac Surgery and Chair in Cardiac Surgery Research, and the Surgical Director of the heart transplantation program at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.  He is also the President-Elect of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Canada’s most prestigious cardiovascular organization.

This year's CIHR Barer-Flood Prize for Health Services and Policy Research has been awarded to uOttawa and OHRI's Dr Jeremy Grimshaw! This prestigious award honours exceptional researchers in the area of health services and policy research whose body of work has had a demonstrated impact on health services and policy research, policy and/or care delivery. Dr Grimshaw is a Senior Scientist, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, a Full Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa and the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Health Knowledge Transfer and Uptake. Dr Grimshaw's innovative research is focused on improving the adoption of evidence-based research by healthcare professionals and systems to improve overall quality of care. Dr Grimshaw is one of the world's top knowledge transfer (KT) scientists and his transformative influence in the rapidly emerging field of knowledge translation and implementation (KTI) can be seen in several key research areas. Heralded for his championing efforts to bridge the gap between research and clinical care, Dr Grimshaw has made enormous contributions to methods and theories of knowledge translation and supports evidence-based reform across Canada and the World.

On October 10, Médecins francophones du Canada presented the award Prix de l'ambassadeur du français en médecine Jacques-Boulay to Dr. Lyne Pitre, a Family Physician and Director of Medical Education at l’Hôpital Montfort.  Created in honour of Dr. Jacques Boulay, an ardent defender of the quality of medical French on the Quebec and French-Canadian scenes during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, this award highlights the role played by Dr. Lyne Pitre in the defence of French and her ongoing commitment to the quality of French in medicine.

Fellows of the RSC are distinguished men and women from all branches of learning who have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life. Dr. Pierre Blier is a full professor at the University of Ottawa, Department of Psychiatry and Cellular/Molecular Medicine, and the recipient of the Endowed Chair in Mood Disorders Research at The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR), affiliated with the University of Ottawa.  As a world-renowned scientist, Dr. Blier’s ground-breaking research focuses on implementing rapid-acting antidepressant strategies, including low-dose ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. He was the first researcher in Canada to begin investigating this new and promising approach to treating depression. He is also one of the ten members of the international task force for devising and implementing a novel neuroscience-based nomenclature for psychotropic medications. Dr. Blier continues to see patients with mood and anxiety disorders on a daily basis.

The George Lyman Duff Memorial Lecture was established in 1956 by the Society for the Study of Arteriosclerosis in memory of Dr. Duff, a founding member and past president of the society. Dr. Duff was one of Canada’s most distinguished pathologists and medical educators. Ruth McPherson, MD, PhD, is Director of the Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre, Atherogenomics Laboratory and the Lipid Clinic and a member of the Division of Cardiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She is also a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa. Dr. McPherson co-leads the Ottawa region strategic research Innovation Cluster on Vascular Inflammation and Metabolism.  Dr. McPherson is a leader in cardiovascular genetics, having led the discovery of the 9p21 genetic risk factor for heart disease in 2007. Her research is centred on the discovery and functional analysis of genetic variants linked to cardiovascular disease and its metabolic precedents, including lipid traits and obesity. Dr. McPherson is the first Canadian to receive this award.

This award recognizes an OHRI scientist who is the senior author on a stellar publication that is backed by an excellent publication record. Dr. Bill Stanford, a Senior Scientist at the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, a Full Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa and holder of a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Integrative Stem Cell Biology, has been awarded the Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award for his groundbreaking research on stem cells and leukemia, including an upcoming paper with major clinical implications. The focus of Dr. Stanford’s laboratory is to understand and manipulate the behavior of pluripotent and somatic stem cells to understand mechanisms of human disease and develop novel therapeutics. Their research utilizes systems biology to tease apart cell behavior and pathophysiology.

The CSMB New Investigator Award is an annual award established by the Society to recognize meritorious research in biochemistry, molecular or cellular biology or genetics in Canada. Dr. Katey Rayner is Principal Investigator at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Director of the Cardiometabolic microRNA Laboratory. She is an internationally recognized leader in the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving cardiovascular disease, and her research program focuses on how microRNAs control multiple aspects of the risk factors that drive both atherosclerosis and obesity, namely inflammation dysregulated energy metabolism, and how microRNAs may be used as therapeutics in the future to treat these cardiometabolic diseases.  Her work has identified novel microRNA- and inflammatory-based mechanisms that contribute to atherosclerosis and obesity. Her work has important translational implications in the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostic tests to identify at-risk individuals.

The Alice Wilson Awards recognize the most outstanding post-doctoral student from among scholarship recipients of each of Canada’s three granting councils. Mahsa Jessri is a CIHR Banting postdoctoral Fellow at the Clinical Epidemiology program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Toronto and is trained as a public health nutritionist/dietitian. Dr. Jessri’s research has advanced the knowledge in the area of chronic disease and nutritional epidemiology, providing a robust foundation for informing nutritional policies and guidelines for promoting health at the population level.

The College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists is Canada’s first national system of multidisciplinary recognition for the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership. It comprises a fourth entity (along with the current three Academies) within the Royal Society of Canada.  Dr. Langlois’s Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Intrinsic Immunity studies the collection of continuously active mechanisms that protect a host from viral pathogens. Their research interest in the area is threefold: 1) to study the unintended consequences of viral DNA mutagenesis by APOBEC3 proteins; 2) to study how APOBEC3 work and interact with host proteins and nucleic acids; and 3)to develop new technological approaches called Flow Virometry, that enable single particle analysis of viruses.

In honour of the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Government of the Province of Ontario has established a fund to provide annually up to five prizes to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their career who are continuing to post-doctoral studies or have recently started a faculty appointment at an Ontario university. The main objective of the Lavallée-Adam Lab is to develop computational methods that will lead to a better understanding of cellular mechanisms and diseases processes. These approaches will push the boundary of proteomics applications in systems biology and clinical research. Most importantly, they will provide high quality biomarker signatures and will allow the discovery of novel drug targets for complex disease processes. Dr. Lavallée-Adam’s lab seeks to continuously adapt its computational research to emerging proteomics technologies and to produce innovative algorithms in order to generate novel high impact biomedical discoveries.  Dr. Lavallée-Adam’s research yielded, among other things, software packages for the discovery and confidence assessment of protein-protein interactions and the analysis of the networks formed by these interactions. He also developed algorithms for the analysis of quantitative proteomics data obtained in different experimental conditions and the identification of intact proteins and large polypeptides using mass spectrometry. Finally, his lab’s most recent work aims to develop computational tools for the prediction of drug targets and off-target effects using large-scale mass spectrometry.

As one of the U.S.A.’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers, the Academy convenes leaders from the academic, business, and government sectors to address critical challenges facing our global society. Dr. Nemer’s research interests focus on the molecular mechanisms of heart development and function, particularly in relation to heart failure and congenital heart diseases. She is renowned, among other things, for her pioneering work on the regulation of natriuretic heart hormones and the identification of several genes essential for heart development.

The May Cohen Equity, Diversity, and Gender Award recognizes outstanding effort or achievement in improving the gender-equity environment and diversity in academic medicine in Canada. Dr. Darlene Kitty has been presented with this award for her academic leadership in diversity in the recruitment, admission and support of Indigenous students in becoming physicians. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, she teaches and develops Indigenous health curricula including academic activities in Indigenous health and several specialty programs.

This award is presented to an exemplary neuromuscular clinician or researcher who has made a significant contribution to neuromuscular research, the advancement of care of people with neuromuscular disorders, or to Muscular Dystrophy Canada in the past year in the areas of public awareness, services and/or fundraising. An internationally renowned thought leader in regenerative medicine, stem cell biology and molecular genetics, Dr. Rudnicki’s groundbreaking research has provided seminal insights into the mechanisms that govern stem cell function, and translated these discoveries towards clinical application. His paradigm-shifting discovery of muscle stem cells transformed our understanding of muscle development and opened the door to new therapeutic strategies to treat neuromuscular disease. His research has fueled the development of novel molecular and stem cell-based approaches for the treatment of muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Rudnicki’s contributions stand out in a heavily researched field for their clarity and impact on satellite cell function and the wider field of stem cell biology.

The Canada Gairdner Wightman Award recognizes a Canadian health researcher whose career demonstrates extraordinary leadership paired with exceptional science. Throughout his prolific career, Dr. Hakim has been an innovative force for change which has helped take stroke from a dismal condition, to a condition that is preventable, treatable and repairable, bringing hope to stroke survivors and their families. Dr. Hakim is, without a doubt, one of Canada’s most distinguished research pioneers whose legacy will have a profound impact on stroke research and health care. One of Dr. Hakim’s most distinguished accomplishments is the creation, in 2000, of the Canadian Stroke Network (CSN), an initiative funded by the Networks of Centres of Excellence program, with a goal of improving stroke patient care on a national scale. Over a period of 15 years, Dr. Hakim’s CSN not only produced world-class research which led to the development of care guidelines and standards, but it was also remarkably successful at raising public awareness about the potentially debilitating disease. Under Dr. Hakim’s leadership, the CSN unquestionably contributed to reducing stroke mortality and improving stroke recovery.

The Medal of Honour has been awarded to remarkable individuals whose research or contributions to public policies supportive of research and development in Canada have achieved international recognition. All recipients have made pivotal contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the health sciences and/or the improvement of therapeutics healthcare. Dr. Stiell's research group facilitates practice changing research for both pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency medicine settings. As a part of the Emergency Medicine Research Group led by Dr. Stiell, his research projects are conducted within the most active and productive emergency medicine research program in Canada. Dr. Stiell's current research focus has been on developing clinical decision rules and on clinical trials involving acutely ill patients treated by pre-hospital services and emergency departments. Past research includes internationally recognized clinical decision rules, and a focus on pre-hospital care for cardiac arrest and trauma victims.

The CSMB Arthur Wynne Gold Medal is presented by the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) to an individual who has made a major contribution to biochemistry, molecular and cell biology in Canada over their career. The recipient of this life-time achievement award typically has attained an international profile in research, has played a major role in the development and promotion of the discipline in Canada, and has a long-standing record of service to the academic community.  Dr. Nemer’s research interests focus on the molecular mechanisms of heart development and function, particularly in relation to heart failure and congenital heart diseases. She is renowned, among other things, for her pioneering work on the regulation of natriuretic heart hormones and the identification of several genes essential for heart development.

The Early Researcher Awards are awarded to leading researchers in all disciplines to fund a research team for a period of five years. Dr. Benoit is leading an independent research program focused on cancer, stem cell biology, epigenetics, and drug discovery. His group is working to gain a better understanding of fundamental epigenetic phenomenon governing stem cell identity in the human intestinal epithelium and colorectal tumors. One of the main goals of his laboratory at uOttawa is to develop novel, anticancer agents targeting key epigenetic features of colorectal cancer stem cells. Moreover, they aim to tackle the barrier of knowledge regarding the physiological role of chromatin organization in human intestinal stem cell identity and dynamic plasticity.

The Early Researcher Awards are awarded to leading researchers in all disciplines to fund a research team for a period of five years. Dr. Chan’s research program combines leading edge techniques in molecular biology, genetics, and bioinformatics to elucidate the mutation signatures created by high-priority known or suspected carcinogens identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization.  With a better understanding of the origin of mutations, it will be possible to devise better cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.