20 U of T researchers awarded new or renewed Canada Research Chairs

Twenty faculty members from the University of Toronto — including seven at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine — have been awarded Canada Research Chairs in support of their research, in areas ranging from LGBTQ2S+ youth mental health to quantum photonic technologies and sustainable suburban housing.

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Research Chair positions are designed to reinforce academic research and training excellence with a view to improving depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening Canada’s international competitiveness and helping train the next generation of highly skilled people.

“I would like to congratulate all the University of Toronto scholars who have newly been appointed Canada Research Chairs or had their positions renewed in this latest cohort,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From cognitive neurobiology to household finance and urban environmental science, these researchers are furthering knowledge and spurring innovation in areas of critical importance.”

The Canada Research Chairs program also collaborates with the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support institutions through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund. Ten projects led by researchers at U of T and partner hospitals received support from the fund this week.

The latest cycle of Canada Research Chair appointees from U of T includes eight new and 12 renewed positions:

New Canada Research Chairs

Alex Abramovich at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness and Mental Health

Claire Célérier in the Rotman School of Management – Tier 2 in Household Finance

Natalie Coburn at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Cancer Outcomes

Li Qian in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Quantum Photonic Technologies

Alison McGuigan in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Tissue Engineering and Disease Modelling

Zahra Shakeri Hossein Abad in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Health Informatics and Precision (Public) Health

Mina Tadrous in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Tier 2 in Real-World Evidence and Pharmaceutical Policy

Marianne Touchie in the department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Sustainable Urban Housing

Renewed Canada Research Chairs

Rachel Barney in the departments of classics and philosophy at the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Ancient Philosophy

Marie-Josée Fortin in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Spatial Ecology

Paul Frankland at the SickKids Research Institute, the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and the department of physiology and Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Cognitive Neurobiology

Anne-Claude Gingras at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health and the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Functional Proteomics

Tara Gomes at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Tier 2 in Drug Policy and Substance Use

Daniel Grace in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Sexual and Gender Minority Health

Marc Johnson in the department of biology at U of T Mississauga – Tier 2 in Urban Environmental Science

Sheena Josselyn at the SickKids Research Institute, the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the department of physiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Memory Function and Dysfunction

Carmen Logie at Women's College Research Institute and the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work – Tier 2 in Global Health Equity & Social Justice with Marginalized Populations

Ito Peng in the department of sociology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Global Social Policy

Navindra Persaud at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Health Justice

Martine Puts in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing – Tier 2 in Care of Frail Older Adults

Read the Government of Canada announcement