VCHRI recipients of CIHR project grants continue to advance health research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced the results of its Spring 2025 project grant competition. Congratulations to all the VCHRI researchers who were awarded project and priority announcement grants. 

Project Grants

People with prediabetes and mild diabetes: Management and outcomes (PPreMild DM study)
Principal investigator: Dr. Anshula Ambasta

The role of the ZDHHC8 enzyme in neuronal connectivity, function and behavior
Principal investigator: Dr. Shernaz Bamji

The association between cannabis and motor vehicle collisions - looking beyond THC
Principal investigator: Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher

Structure-based design of small molecule inhibitors of the transsulfuration pathway in Ewing sarcoma
Principal investigator: Dr. Artem Cherkasov

Therapeutic antibodies targeting oncofetal glycosaminoglycans in prostate cancer
Principal investigator: Dr. Mads Daugaard

Real-world validation of machine learning algorithms for a wearable cardiac arrest detection system
Principal investigators: Dr. Brian Grunau, Dr. Calvin Kuo, Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, Dr. Babak Shadgan

Evaluating the impacts of overdose prevention interventions among people who use opioids in Vancouver, BC amidst the evolving unregulated drug supply
Principal investigators: Dr. Kanna Hayashi, Cheyenne Johnson 

Targeting Scn9a Na+ channels for beta cell survival and disease modification in type 1 diabetes
Principal investigator: Dr. James Johnson 

Establishment of a novel multi-parametric assessment protocol for identification of distinctive pathological pathways in age-related macular degeneration
Principal investigators: Dr. Myeong Jin Ju, Dr. Joanne Matsubara

Targeting epigenetic phenotypic switching to overcome prostate cancer treatment resistance
Principal investigator: Dr. Christopher Ong

Hematopoietic stem cell aging
Principal investigator: Dr. Aly Karsan

Molecular drivers of androgen receptor activity in castrate resistant prostate cancer
Principal investigator: Dr. Nathan Lack

Healthy heart, healthy brain: Aerobic exercise to promote brain health in perimenopause
Principal investigators: Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Dr. Linda Li

Stimulated raman histology for real-time identification and risk stratification of prostate cancer
Principal investigator: Dr. Miles Mannas

Substance use, work and well-being in trades and construction
Principal investigator: Dr. Lindsey Richardson

Better outcomes in babies with bacterial meningitis, a randomized controlled trial: BOBBie
Principal investigator: Dr. Manish Sadarangani

Exploring the 1-year natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke: The ENHANCE Study
Principal investigator: Dr. Brodie Sakakibara

Common precursor cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: characterization, evolutionary trajectories and clinical applications
Principal investigator: Dr. David Scott

Brain-based prediction of the dying duration in humans after withdrawal of life sustaining measures to inform donation after circulatory death
Principal investigator: Dr. Mypinder Sekhon

Early warning signs of immune-mediated chronic diseases: A comparative study of the prodromal phase in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (ProMS-ID)
Principal investigator: Dr. Helen Tremlett

Biomechanical and imaging assessments of hip microinstability
Principal investigator: Dr. David Wilson

Navigating Sexual Pain and the Pelvic Examination in Endometriosis
Principal investigator: Dr. Paul Yong

Read the full list of project grant recipients

Priority Announcement Grants

Transcriptional programs of synaptic function
Priority Announcement: Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
Principal Investigator: Dr. Douglas Allan 

A platform for developing rationally guided, broadly neutralizing antibodies for future pandemics, using SARS-CoV-2 as a model
Priority Announcement: Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies Research
Principal Investigator: Dr. Steven Plotkin 

Harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to investigate sex and gender differences in diabetic retinopathy
Priority Announcement: Sex/Gender in Health Research — Advancing intersectionality in sex and gender science
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ipek Oruc

Healthy heart, healthy brain: Aerobic exercise to promote brain health in perimenopause
Priority Announcement: Award of Excellence in Research in Aging
Principal Investigator: Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose

Read the full list of priority announcement grant recipients