Four new or renewed Canada Research Chairs awarded to SickKids scientists

The Government of Canada recently announced 179 Canada Research Chairs (CRC) who have been awarded or renewed across the country. Among those announced include four scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), whose research spans implementation science to gastrointestinal disease and immune surveillance.

The CRC program recognizes established and emerging research leaders at Canadian universities. Tier 1 Chairs are recognized as world leaders in their fields and receive $1.4 million over seven years, while Tier 2 Chairs are emerging leaders who receive $500,000 over five years.

SickKids scientists currently hold 35 Canada Research Chairs, including 22 Tier 1 Chairs and 13 Tier 2 chairs. Read more about Canada Research Chairs at SickKids.

Dr. Melanie Barwick

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Implementation Science and Practice (new)

Dr. Melanie Barwick, Senior Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences program and Scientific Director of Knowledge Translation Program at the SickKids Learning Institute, aims to improve the implementation of evidence into practice and to broaden the reach of evidence more generally to support decision-making, policy, knowledge and awareness.

Her research program explores empirically supported approaches, measures and tools to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based practices across various contexts, including health, mental health and global health. 

Dr. Nicola Jones

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases (new)

Dr. Nicola Jones, Senior Scientist in the Cell & Systems Biology program and Staff Physician in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, focuses on understanding the mechanisms responsible for gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases with the aim of developing novel therapies.

The Jones Lab investigates several conditions including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which infects 50 per cent of the world’s population and can lead to peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The position will support Jones as she trains the next generation of researchers in gastrointestinal and liver disease.

Dr. Spencer Freeman

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Immune Surveillance (renewed)

Dr. Spencer Freeman, Interim Program Head and Scientist in the Cell & Systems Biology program, is working to understand cellular and subcellular mechanisms that underlie immune surveillance and immune responses, including inflammation.

The immune system protects the body from infection, orchestrates wound healing and eliminates cancer, but some pathogens and tumours can avoid detection. By taking a systems approach, the Freeman Lab is uncovering fundamental mechanisms that contribute to a wide segment of diseases with underlying immune drivers.

Dr. Linda Hiraki

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Genetics of Rare Systemic Inflammatory Diseases (renewed)

Dr. Linda Hiraki, Clinician-Scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program and Staff Physician in the Division of Rheumatology, is focused on understanding the genetics and epidemiology of rare systemic inflammatory diseases. These include systemic lupus erythematosus, neonatal lupus erythematosus and diseases of immune and inflammatory dysregulation.

The Hiraki Lab is coordinating a large, international cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients followed prospectively over years of disease to understand the genetics of lupus, its many manifestations, the disease course and related outcomes.