Reflecting on 2024

The end of the year allows us to reflect on all our institute accomplished this year. Many researchers and their labs have made incredible advances in new knowledge creation through new collaborations and research projects formed in each of their respective areas of expertise.

We’re proud to share a brief collection of achievements that have been accomplished by our members and trainees, which include notable awards and grant funding within our community and throughout CHRIM.

  • The launch of a new research theme, Research Into the Enhancement of Acute Care for Children’s Health, REACH, was announced and will be led by CHRIM researchers Drs. Lisa Knisley and Alex Aregbesola.
  • The launch of PROMISE: Pediatric Research in Oncology in Manitoba: Innovation, Science and Excellence.
  • This spring, after over 13 years of leadership, Dr. Terry Klassen transitioned from CEO and Scientific Director to the Provincial Department Head of Pediatrics in Saskatchewan. This change led to Nichola Wigle being appointed as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the interim.
  • CHRIM was thrilled to participate in the return of the Teddy Bears’ Picnic and hosted the “I Want to Be a Scientist” tent, which saw over 700 children and families discover the exciting world of science!
  • Child Health Research Days (CHRD) celebrated its 20th year this past October! This milestone event focused on the “Then + Now” of research and showcased the many past and present achievements of CHRIM, our incredible researchers, and all the trainees who’ve been part of our community over the past two decades.

Awards & Achievements:

  • Dr. Mohamed El Azrak received the Dr. Keith Titley Pediatric Dental Graduate Training Scholarship, awarded by the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
  • Dr. Kelly Russell and team received a Special Commendation from the 2024 IHDCYH Talks Video Competition for their Heads up! Becoming Concussion Smart video.
  • Dr. Peter Thompson, CHRIM researcher was awarded the Allen Rouse Basic Science Career Development Research Award. Read more via MMSF.
  • Dr. Ayesha Saleem received a Research Manitoba Innovation Proof of Concept Grant. Funding will support a project looking at the feasibility of using extracellular vesicles as diagnostic biomarkers for mitochondrial disorders during prenatal and postnatal stages.
  •  Drs. Galen Wright, Robert Beattie, Paul Marcogliese, and Richard LeDuc, received funding from the Winnipeg Foundation to pursue leading-edge research in the areas of heart disease and Huntington’s disease.
  • Biology of Breathing member Saeid Maghsoudi received the Canadian Lung Association’s Inspiration Award. Saeid was able to travel to the Canadian Respiratory Conference with support from CHRIM’s Travel Grant program.
  • Dr. Meghan Azad was awarded the prestigious Gairdner Award for her groundbreaking research in breastfeeding. Read more.
  • Dr. Robert Schroth became one of the incredible researchers to receive the CIHR-Applied Public Health Chair. You can learn more about the 2024 Applied Public Health Chairs here.  Dr. Schroth was awarded $1,150,000 for six years for his project “Public Health Approaches to Improve Access to Oral Health Care and Oral Health Status for Young Children in Canada”.
  • Dr. Leslie Roos received the 2023 Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award! The award recognizes Dr. Roos’ innovative work developing family-centered mental health interventions.
  • Dr. Estelle Simons was named to the Order of Canada! Dr. Simons has had a profound global impact on mitigating the effects of allergic reactions and diseases, notably among children.
  • Dr. Deanna Santer was awarded a 2023 Rosalind Franklin Society Award in Science. This award recognizes the best paper by a woman senior author or under-represented minority in science in each of the publisher’s more than 100 peer-reviewed journals.
  • Drs. Robert Beattie and Paul Marcogliese received $100,000 to advance their groundbreaking research in brain health. This funding comes from Brain Canada’s Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program.
  • Dr. Marni Brownell was awarded a $2.5 million SSHRC Partnership Grant for the SPECTRUM Partnership. SPECTRUM brings together community, academia and government to address complex social policy challenges through research and evaluation.
  • Nolan De Leon won the Falling Walls competition. Nolan will be heading to Berlin, Germany to compete in the global Falling Walls competition finale Nov. 7 to 9 with their presentation, Breaking the Wall of Prenatal Diagnostics.
  •  Dr. Olubukola Olamide Olatosi received an award in the 2024-25 Canadian Association for Dental Research-Network for Canadian-Network for Canadian Oral Health and Research Student Research Award competition.
  • CHRIM researchers Drs. Nathan Nickel and Garry Shen received over $1 million in CIHR funding to support breastfeeding initiatives. The funding will enhance maternal health and improve care in underrepresented communities.
  • Dr. Andrew Halayko and Dr. Neeloffer Mookherjee of the Biology of Breathing theme (BoB) were awarded 2.4 million from the Canada Foundation of Innovation (CFI) through the CFI Fund. Read more.
  • CHRIM investigators Nathan Nickel, Emily Brownell, Garry Shen, Meghan Azad, and Brandy Wicklow all received an operating grant through the National Women’s Health Research Initiative: Innovation fund.
  • Dr. Neeloffer Mookherjee has been named by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2024, recognized for leadership, vision, determination, passion and mentorship of others. 

Through our collective efforts, we’re committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families. Our goals as an institute are based on the impact that we can have on the lives of children. We look forward to continuing our mission in the years to come and strive to make a lasting influence!

Stay in the loop with CHRIM events and announcements through our events calendar and social media platforms.