Nicole Rosen, Canada Research Chair in Language Interactions in the Department of Linguistics studies Canada’s vast linguistic diversity and works with organizations such as the Conseil jeunesse provincial (provincial couth council) of Manitoba and the BC Métis Federation to address the language rights of groups such as recent immigrants and First Nations, Métis and Inuit children. She also focuses on Manitoba’s diverse population to spark innovation in the study of past and present interactions among official; heritage; and First Nations, Métis and Inuit languages.

“What interests me most is understanding the interactions between people and languages that are in close proximity to each other,” she says. “My research aims to discover what language tells us about the interactions between people, but also how language changes as a result of these interactions. This relationship goes both ways.” Rosen says this could include vocabulary, expressions, pronunciations and overall sounds producing distinctive accents that coexist harmoniously. 

Rosen highlights bird species that borrow sounds from surrounding birds, singing differently depending on their location, like a dialect. “We never say that birds sing badly or that they should express themselves differently. It should be the same for the diversity of accents. It is so lovely to hear these differences that reflect the mosaic of people,” she concludes.

To read the full research profile, please follow the link to the Government of Canada.

United States President Donald Trump has recently been commenting on accents while meeting foreign leaders and taking questions from foreign journalists. Trump praised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “beautiful” accent, saying he would have been president 20 years ago if he’d had that accent.

He didn’t answer an Afghan journalist’s question, saying her accent was “beautiful” but that he didn’t understand it, and he completely dismissed the question of a journalist from India during a joint news conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he didn’t understand his accent before abruptly moving on.

Read the full story here. 

The associate professor of human anatomy and cell science in the Max Rady College of Medicine is a leading expert in brain imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation in the areas of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. 

“I’m humbled and I really appreciate that I was selected as a Canada Research Chair,” said Ko, who has been a faculty member at UM for the past decade. “Now there’s a lot of work to do.”  

The cutting-edge work he has planned includes the development of artificial intelligence (AI) programs to help in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of several brain disorders. The aim of the AI programs are to revolutionize how non-invasive brain stimulation techniques are used in clinical practice, Ko said.  

“Neuroimaging is facing a new era,” he said. “It typically refers to PET and MRI scans. That’s the more traditional approach. Now with AI, and a subset called machine learning, these technologies are advancing the field of neuroimaging farther so it’s more quantifiable, more accurate and more objective.”  

One study Ko has planned includes using neuroimaging techniques to look at brain metabolism. He said that some patients don’t show signs of dementia, but if they are tested, they display some abnormalities.  

Ko said that now with the help of neuroimaging and machine learning, the technology can show how the brain network is different in people who will progress with dementia versus those who don’t. 

“My hypothesis is that the patient who does not progress to dementia has some natural mechanism that makes them slow in the disease progression,” Ko said.   

“With neuroimaging and machine learning we can identify which of the brain regions have low metabolism or the brain network is not active. Then we can stimulate it with electricity to boost that brain region’s function. We do that, for example, every day for four weeks and see if that will slow down the disease progression.” 

As a Canada Research Chair, Ko will be building on a study he’s currently conducting with Dr. Tony Szturm, professor of physical therapy at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. As part of the study, patients with Parkinson’s disease walk on a treadmill while playing a computer game. 

“It’s a challenging task even for healthy individuals, but with practice they get better,” Ko said. “The study shows that this type of training with distractors present can improve walking for Parkinson’s patients. It can even prevent falls.” 

For the next step in the study, Ko will use neuroimaging to find the hotspot in the brain where this reorganization is taking place, so they can boost the effects with non-invasive brain stimulation.  

Ko was born and raised in South Korea. While he was an electrical and computer engineering student at Hanyang University in Seoul, he saw the film The Matrix and became interested in studying the brain. He took a course in neurobiology in his fourth year and found it fascinating. 

“All the circuitry I learned in electrical engineering is already in the brain,” Ko said. “I thought, ‘wow, that’s amazing and the way the neurons communicate is almost digital.’”  

That triggered his interest in learning more about neuroscience and biomedical engineering, so he enrolled in a PhD program in neuroscience at McGill University, graduating in 2009. 

Ko went on to complete postdoctoral fellowships in neuroimaging at the University of Toronto and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in New York.  

 View the full list of UM Canada Research Chairs.  

The CRC program recognizes world-class researchers to reinforce academic research and training excellence in Canada and attract top talent. Chair-holders are focused on engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. UM has a total allocation of 50 CRCs.

“Today is an exciting day as we welcome the latest cohort of CRC’s to UM,” said Mario Pinto, Vice-President (Research and International). “These scholars are advancing critical research and innovation to provide solutions to society’s most critical challenges. Their contributions will leave a lasting impact in our communities and around the world.”

These appointments align with UM’s expertise in priority research areas identified in Change Through Research: Strategic Research Plan 2024-29 including Health and Well-Being and Foundations.

New Canada Research Chairs

Mina Nouredanesh

Mina Nouredanesh

CRC in AI for Complex Health Data

Nouredanesh is using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop personalized tools to understand and treat age-related conditions and improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers.

Learn more about Dr. Nouredanesh.

Ji Hyun Ko

Ji Hyun Ko

CRC in Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation

Ko is developing cutting-edge AI programs to help in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of several brain disorders. The aim of the AI programs is to revolutionize how non-invasive brain stimulation techniques are used in clinical practice.   

Learn more about Dr. Ko.

Amani Hamad

Amani Hamad

CRC in Population Data Science and Data Curation 

Hamad is studying the multi-generational occurrences of mental illnesses and other chronic conditions. Her research focuses on analyzing administrative health-care data to construct family health histories for the Manitoba population and the intergenerational transfer of mental illness. 

Learn more about Dr. Hamad.

Jorg Stetefeld

Canada Research Chair renewal

Jorg Stetefeld

CRC in Structural Biology and Biophysics

Learn more about Dr. Stetefeld,

The growing number of older adults will result in increased complex age-related conditions (CACs), including injuries from falls and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and dementia, putting significant pressure on the Canadian health-care system.

To help address these challenges, Dr. Mina Nouredanesh, assistant professor of community health sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, has been appointed a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in artificial intelligence (AI) for complex health data.

This prestigious appointment recognizes Nouredanesh’s pioneering research to develop innovative solutions for age-related conditions and alleviate stress on populations, caregivers and the health-care system. She brings a multidisciplinary lens to this research, owing to her extensive experience in engineering, machine learning and health data analysis.

“My goal is to design innovative, AI-powered personalized tools to help understand and treat the many factors that contribute to CACs and improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers,” said Nouredanesh.

Despite many technological advancements in recent years, knowledge gaps persist, including a lack of precise tools to proactively assess individual-level risks associated with CACs. Every case is unique due to the complexity of symptoms or injury experienced by older adults.  

“There are no effective cures to many CACs, so identifying early signs, well in advance of their onset, or detecting factors that trigger them in those already affected, is crucial for developing targeted interventions to delay their progression and mitigate impact,” says Nouredanesh. “One-size-fits-all prevention and rehabilitation strategies often fall short because each individual may experience a specific interplay between various risk factors that contribute to the development of these adverse conditions,” she adds.

Nouredanesh will address the complex nature of CACs by looking at multiple types of information, bringing together physical, genetic, psychological, socioeconomic, behavioural and environmental data from a variety of sources. Her work will address critical questions, such as:

• What factors are sensitive to early signs of a CAC in an individual?
• What contexts in everyday scenarios trigger a CAC in a symptomatic individual?
• How to intervene?

To answer these questions, Nouredanesh will use questionnaires, in-lab data such as blood tests and medical imaging, and free-living data collected by wearable sensors — such as smart watches — that older adults can wear in their everyday environments.

Nouredanesh will use AI to expand personalized medicine and improve diagnostic, prognostic and treatment methods. While AI has shown promise in addressing health problems, she says, it is in the early stages of development when it comes to predicting and managing CACs, such as falling. 

The scientist hopes that this work will assist in the diagnosis and management of age-related conditions and will help to improve functioning in older adults, enhancing their independence. Ultimately, she says, personalized assistive technologies could reduce health-system burdens and contribute significantly to older adults’ quality of life.

On Tuesday, the university announced the latest US$12.5-million grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had brought in more than $450 million in research dollars since the foundation’s first grant to it 22 years ago.

“We’ve had a lot of different projects with the Gates Foundation,” said Dr. James Blanchard, director of the Institute for Global Public Health and the Canada Research Chair in epidemiology and global health.

To read the full article, it can be found here on the Winnipeg Free Press site.

What you should know about Feiyue Wang and his research:

• As Tier-1 Canada Research Chair in Arctic Environmental Chemistry, he looks at current and emerging contaminants in the Arctic and global environments and how they interact with climate change.
• Wang is a researcher at the Centre for Earth Observation Science and leads the Churchill Marine Observatory and Sea-Ice Environmental Research Facility.
• Building upon his pioneering research on mercury in sea ice, his research team is studying how oil spills and other emerging contaminants associated with Arctic development can affect the Arctic ecosystem and human health. Ultimately, his research will provide critical knowledge and tools to improve policies and practices for sustainable development in the Arctic.

Recent honours and honourable mentions:

• Holds an Honorary Professorship at Aarhus University (Denmark)
• Serves as a national expert for Canada on mercury assessment for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program and the United Nations Environment Program
• In 2021, The Chemical Institute of Canada recognized him with the Dima Award for distinguished contributions to research and developments in the field of environmental chemistry or environmental chemical engineering
• Winnipeg Free Press: U of M receives research awards

Must-read or Must-see:

Conversation Canada: How we solved an Arctic mercury mystery 

UM Knowledge Exchange-Now You Sea Ice

What’s next:

• The Grand Opening of the Churchill Marine Observatory (summer 2024)
• A new major research initiative, “Reimagining Arctic and Central Canada Accessibility through Hudson Bay (REACH)”

UM Faces & Spaces is a monthly feature showcasing the people and places across UM that are transforming the student experience, advancing innovation in research, driving change and creating a lasting impact here in Manitoba and globally. For more stories go to our YouTube playlist.

Watch the interview

UM has an allocation of 50 CRCs funded by the Government of Canada in the areas of natural sciences and engineering, health sciences, and social sciences and humanities.

CRCs are frequently recognized for their leadership in wide-ranging fields, such as, early childhood health and nutrition and access to clean and safe drinking water.

“These symposia provide a thought-provoking look into the groundbreaking research taking place every day at UM,” says Mario Pinto, Vice-President (Research and International). “Through dialogue across disciplines and diverse perspectives, we can spark new and exciting collaborations between researchers, students, and the wider community. I hope that everyone will join us in-person or online.”

RSVP by April 20 to join the fourth CRC Symposium
Monday April 24, 2023 at 2pm
Theatre A/Joe Doupe Centre, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus
This is a hybrid event, with both in-person and online options to attend. All are welcome.

Presenters at the upcoming April 24 Symposium will include:
Lisa Lix, Tier 1 Chair in Methods for Electronic Health Data Quality, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences)
John Ataguba, Tier 2 Chair in Health Economics, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences)
Nicole Wilson, Tier 2 Chair in Arctic Environmental Change and Governance, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources (Environment & Geography)
Lorrie Kirshenbaum, Tier 1 Chair in Molecular Cardiology, Max Rady College of Medicine (Physiology)
Meghan Azad, Tier 1 Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease, Max Rady College of Medicine (Pediatrics & Child Health)
Kristine Cowley, Tier 2 Chair in Function and Health after Spinal Cord Injury, Max Rady College of Medicine (Physiology & Pathophysiology)

Future CRC Symposia will take place:
Tuesday May 16, 2023 at 9am – Multi-Purpose Room 2nd Floor, UMSU University Centre, Fort Garry Campus
Monday June 19, 2023 at 2pm – Theatre B&C/Brodie Atrium, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus

On February 27 , 2023, the Vice-President (Research and International) Office will host a CRC Symposium at Bannatyne campus. This second symposium in the series will feature presentations by seven CRCs. Symposia are open to all members of the UM community.

“The inaugural CRC Symposium, held earlier this month, was a thought-provoking beginning for our community to learn and engage in the groundbreaking research at UM,” says Mario Pinto, Vice-President (Research and International). “The full impact of our research can best be realized together, through a diversity of perspectives and disciplines, and these symposia are an opportunity to spark new and exciting collaborations between UM researchers and students and the wider community.”

RSVP by February 23 to join the second CRC Symposium
Monday February 27, 2023 at 2pm
Theatre A/Joe Doupe Centre, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus

This is a hybrid event, with both in-person and online options to attend. All are welcome.

Presenters at the upcoming February 2 Symposium will include:

• Tracie Afifi, Tier 1 Chair in Childhood Adversity and Resilience, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences & Psychiatry), director, Childhood Adversity and Resilience Research Team
• Robert Lorway, Tier 2 Chair in Global Intervention Politics and Social Transformation, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences), associate director, UM Institute for Global Public Health
• Janilyn Arsenio, Tier 2 Chair in Systems Biology of Chronic Inflammation, Max Rady College of Medicine (Internal Medicine)
• Puyan Mojabi, Tier 2 Chair in Electromagnetic Inversion for Characterization and Design, Price Faculty of Engineering (Electrical & Computer Engineering)
• Annette Desmarais, Tier 2 Chair in Human Rights, Social Justice and Food Sovereignty, Faculty of Arts, (Sociology & Criminology)
• Zulma Rueda, Tier 2 Chair in Program Sciences & Global Public Health, Max Rady College of Medicine (Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases)
• Kathryn Sibley, Tier 2 Chair in Integrated Knowledge Translation in Rehabilitation Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine (Community Health Sciences)

Future CRC Symposia will take place:

Tuesday March 28, 2023 at 9am – Marshall McLuhan Hall, UMSU University Centre, Fort Garry Campus
Monday April 24, 2023 at 2pm – Theatre A/Joe Doupe Centre, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus
Tuesday May 16, 2023 at 9am – Multi-Purpose Room 2nd Floor, UMSU University Centre, Fort Garry Campus
Monday June 19, 2023 at 2pm – Theatre B&C/Brodie Atrium, Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus