Canada Research Chairs announced from Queen’s Health Sciences

News & Announcements | 14 Nov 2024

Researchers from Queen’s Health Sciences (QHS) are exploring new frontiers with the promise of global impact. From developing novel cancer therapies and revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease to global health equity, eight researchers have been recognized for their leadership in solving some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

As part of today’s announcement on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, 224 Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) have been announced or renewed across the country. A record number of 16 Queen’s researchers have been awarded CRCs in this latest round, bringing the university's total to 41 researchers, including two Canada Excellence Research Chairs, pursing their leading research at the university.

Learn more about the new and renewed CRCs from QHS:

Tier 1 Chairs

Lisa M. Butler – Global Health Equity: Dr. Butler (Public Health Sciences) seeks to tackle global inequalities in maternal, newborn, and adolescent healthcare access and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries through the development of pragmatic, scalable, and sustainable interventions that improve access to and delivery of quality care in clinic and community settings.

Fernanda De Felice – Brain Resilience: Leading a groundbreaking research program aimed at revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. De Felice (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences; Psychiatry) utilizes innovative techniques to detect disease-specific nanoparticles in blood samples to combat neurodegenerative disorders and improve outcomes for brain health.

Kerstin de Wit – Emergency Venous Thromboembolism: Dr. de Wit (Emergency Medicine) is at the head of a transformative research program aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in emergency departments to streamline clinical practices, enhance patient outcomes, and improve the overall efficiency of emergency care contributing to reduced department wait times.

Lynne-Marie Postovit – Translational Cancer Research: Dr. Postovit (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell plasticity, the ability of a cell to alter its phenotype in response to microenvironmental cues, and resistance to therapy to translate these discoveries into innovative therapies and biomarkers for personalized medicine.

Parvin Mousavi – Medical Informatics: Dr. Mousavi (Computing; Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) is integrating computing science and engineering to translate cutting-edge AI advancements into practical applications that improve disease diagnosis, medical interventions, and personalized treatments, envisioning machine learning solutions tailored for the unique demands of healthcare.

Tier 2 Chairs

Heather Aldersey – Disability-Inclusive Development: Dr. Aldersey’s (Rehabilitation Therapy) research integrates participatory action approaches to enable culturally relevant and community-driven support systems that enhance quality of life for people with disabilities and their families globally. Her work focuses on identifying and addressing the needs of families affected by disability, especially in low- and middle-income countries. (Renewed Chair)

Chantelle Capicciotti – Chemical Biology: Dr. Capicciotti (Chemistry; Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) is at the forefront of glycan research—the complex carbohydrates coating all cells—to uncover the efficient synthesis methods and tools for studying their interactions with protein that are essential to answering fundamental questions in cellular biology and developing more effective medicines to treat disease.

Maria Ospina – Life-Course Health Development: Investigating the developmental origins of health disparities, Dr. Ospina (Public Health Sciences) utilizes a multidisciplinary approach that integrates life-course epidemiology, geographic information systems, and mixed-methods research to highlight the critical importance of early life interventions in fostering lifelong health and wellbeing.

Founded in 2000, the CRC program is part of a national strategy to attract and retain leading and promising minds with the aim to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development. Tier 1 Chairs are recognized by their peers as world leaders in their respective fields and hold a seven-year term receiving $1.4 million in funding. Tier 2 Chairs are recognized as emerging leaders in their research areas and hold a five-year term receiving $500,000 in support. Of the 16 Queen’s researchers awarded Chairs, nine have been named Tier 1 and seven have been named Tier 2.

“This is an exciting moment for Queen’s and we are very proud to have 16 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs advancing knowledge in their respective fields,” says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research). “The CRC program has a unique multiplier effect – helping to attract new trainees, resources, and funding opportunities. I look forward to seeing the how the CRC enhances the research programs of these leaders at Queen's and across Canada.”

The original version of this announcement appeared on The Gazette.

To learn more about Queen’s 41 Canada Research Chairs and their leading research programs across diverse disciplines, visit the Research@Queen’s website.

Canada Research Chairs announced from Queen’s Health Sciences

Tier 1 Chairs

Tier 2 Chairs

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