“These 10 cutting-edge projects highlight the impressive diversity of health research at UM,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

“Some are lab studies that will advance knowledge of conditions like heart disease and cancer. Two projects focus on Indigenous health. Three studies are randomized controlled trials to be conducted at hospitals, with the potential to influence treatment protocols in the areas of kidney transplant rejection, pneumonia and stroke.”      

Dr. Christine Kelly, an associate professor in the College of Community and Global Health with expertise in home care and the care workforce, received nearly $1 million for a four-year study.

She and her team aim to learn more about the lives of health-care aides (HCAs) in Manitoba. The goal is to uncover why so many leave the field, and what can be done to recruit, support and retain these employees who do essential work in home-care programs and personal care homes.

“Research shows that as many as 40 per cent of recently graduated HCAs will leave their job within the first year of employment,” Kelly said. “The period during and immediately following training is a key time for understanding what is happening with these workers, who are mostly women and are often new Canadians.”

All five public colleges that train HCAs in Manitoba – RRC Polytech, Assiniboine Community College, Université de Saint-Boniface, Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology and University College of the North – will be involved in the provincewide study, titled “Care workers of tomorrow: Health-care aide experiences and education-to-work pathways to support retention and workforce planning.”

The project will follow HCAs from the start of their training and into their first year of employment, documenting why they stay at or leave their jobs. Based on the findings, Kelly’s team will make recommendations for educational institutions, policy-makers and employers.

Here are the other UM recipients of CIHR grants in the Spring 2025 round of funding: 

Dr. Michael Czubryt, professor of physiology and pathophysiology; executive director of research, St. Boniface Hospital

Grant: $1,149,414 (five years)

Czubryt will investigate how a protein, scleraxis, controls the conversion of heart cells called fibroblasts into myofibroblasts – a process that drives cardiac fibrosis, or stiffening of the heart, in cardiac disease. With greater insight into the role played by this protein, Czubryt’s team aims to help identify new targets for anti-fibrosis drug development.

Dr. Julie Ho, professor of internal medicine

Grant: $2,757,826 (five years)

Ho’s team will lead an international, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial to define the optimal steroid therapy for T-cell mediated rejection (TCMR) of kidneys after transplant. This trial aims to resolve the longstanding question, “What is the minimally acceptable, safe and effective steroid dose for the treatment of acute TCMR in kidney and simultaneous kidney pancreas transplant recipients?”

Dr. Jennifer Kornelsen, associate professor of radiology

Grant: $623,476 (five years)

Seeking to understand depression and anxiety in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Kornelsen will use magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the brain and spinal cord activity of patients who have IBD with depression/anxiety; those who have IBD without those conditions; and healthy people. The study will also test how the spinal cord carries information between the brain and the gut in IBD.

Dr. Sylvain Lother, assistant professor of internal medicine

Grant: $180,000 (three years)

Lother is leading a pilot randomized controlled trial of 120 patients across Canada in preparation for a much larger trial involving thousands of patients with community-acquired pneumonia. The goal is to establish whether one antibiotic strategy is better than others for certain groups of patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Dr. Jonathan McGavock, professor of pediatrics and child health

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

McGavock’s project continues his research on how urban trails in Canadian cities rarely reach or serve the needs of urban-dwelling Indigenous people. This study will provide evidence-based policy and practice recommendations co-created with First Nations families and Elders/Knowledge Keepers for how to implement urban trails in an equitable way for First Nations people.

Dr. Kirk McManus, professor of biochemistry and medical genetics

Grant: $1,208,700 (five years)

McManus’s project will use cutting-edge techniques to study the expression of a gene, SKP2, that appears to play a role in the development of tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma, the most common and lethal form of ovarian cancer. The team hopes to gain knowledge that will lead to new therapeutic options for people with this cancer.

Dr. Claudio Rigatto, professor of internal medicine

Grant: $765,000 (three years)

Rigatto’s team will develop a small, easy-to-use, low-cost test for rapid, accurate assessment of kidney function in settings such as clinics, pharmacies, schools, and potentially homes. The test will use a new method for measuring kidney function, called cystatin C. The team aims to make kidney testing as widely available as possible to improve access to chronic kidney disease diagnosis.

Dr. Leslie E. Roos, associate professor of psychology

Grant: $489,600 (three years)

Roos’s team has developed an app-based mental health and parenting support program called BEAM (Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Wellbeing). In this project, the team is working with Indigenous researchers, Elders, community members and organizations to build, test and evaluate a cultural adaptation of BEAM that meets the expressed needs of Indigenous families.  

Dr. Nishita Singh, assistant professor of internal medicine; Heart & Stroke & Research Manitoba Chair in Clinical Stroke Research

Grant: $768,826 (three years)

Singh’s study aims to determine whether it’s safe for patients who take blood thinners called direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to receive a clot-busting medication (tenecteplase) when they are having an ischemic stroke. Currently, guidelines say patients who are on DOACs should not be given clot-busting medication. This randomized controlled trial will test different doses of tenecteplase.

“Congratulations to the successful applicants in the Fall 2020 round of funding. This is an impressive showing by UM investigators,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-dean research of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. 

“Some of these projects focus on improving the lives of people with conditions such as kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and mental health disorders. Others are lab studies that will advance knowledge about illnesses such as Ebola, leukemia, HIV and metabolic diseases.

“Our researchers are also analyzing data to reveal new evidence about interlinked social and health factors in Manitobans’ lives. And they’re studying areas such as Indigenous-led wellness programs and children’s rehabilitation knowledge sharing in order to identify and build on strengths.”

UM Today recently reported on two of the funded projects, which relate to COVID-19: a randomized trial of a home monitoring platform for patients with chronic kidney disease, led by Dr. Claudio Rigatto, and a study of the lived experiences of families with children who are immunocompromised, led by Dr. Roberta Woodgate.  

Here’s a look at the other projects:

Dr. Clara Bohm, associate professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $439,874

Bohm’s team will conduct a randomized trial to assess whether stationary cycling during kidney dialysis treatments reduces heart “stunning” (poor pumping, which can cause heart damage) and improves symptoms such as fatigue. The trial involves participants in Canada, the U.S. and Australia.

Dr. Shay-Lee Bolton, assistant professor, psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000

Bolton will evaluate whether a psychotherapy and mindfulness program that is delivered virtually helps public safety personnel, such as police officers and firefighters, cope with stress, maintain mental wellness and remain resilient.

Dr. Dan Chateau, assistant professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; research scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP)

Dr. Marni Brownell, professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; associate director, research, and senior research scientist, MCHP; researcher, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

Grant: $432,226

Chateau’s team will use health data to investigate the effects of prescription opioid and psychotropic medication use during pregnancy, looking at patterns of prescription opioid use, short-term effects on children exposed in the womb, and longer-term outcomes for these children.

Dr. David Collister, assistant professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000

Collister’s project is a trial comparing oral and topical nabilone (a synthetic form of cannabis) to placebos to determine whether nabilone is safe and effective at reducing itching in patients who are on dialysis for kidney disease.

Dr. Shyamala Dakshinamurti, professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $784,125

This study looks at newborn pulmonary hypertension, which prevents some babies from getting enough bloodflow to their lungs. By focusing on a system of signals in the body called the adenylyl cyclase pathway, Dakshinamurti aims to help these infants’ lungs relax and hearts pump strongly.

Dr. Allison Dart, associate professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Dr. Brandy Wicklow, associate professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $1,300,500

Dart and Wicklow will study biopsychosocial risk factors for worsening kidney disease in children and teens with Type 2 diabetes. They will also test a skills-based mental health program to help Indigenous youth with Type 2 diabetes manage their emotions and their disease.

Dr. Andrew Hatala, associate professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Dr. Sabina Ijaz, family physician; Giigewigamig health advisor

Elder Dave Courchene, founder, Turtle Lodge

Grant: $1,748,025

This team will conduct an Indigenous-led study of the Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation as a model of Indigenous education, wellness and flourishing. The objectives include developing a framework for stronger relationships between Indigenous Knowledge Holders and biomedical practitioners.

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, assistant professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in molecular pathogenesis of emerging and re-emerging viruses; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $726,750

Kindrachuk’s project focuses on the fact that some men who have recovered from Ebola continue to carry the virus in their reproductive tracts. The study will investigate how the virus persists in the testes and is sexually transmitted. It will also look at Ebola’s long-term effects on reproductive health.

Dr. Ted Lakowski, associate professor, College of Pharmacy

Grant: $699,975

Lakowski’s study aims to develop new cancer therapies that target the specific genes involved in a type of leukemia. These treatments are expected to be more effective and cause fewer side effects than current therapies. The strategy could lead to gene-specific treatments for other cancers.

Dr. Lyle McKinnon, assistant professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000

McKinnon will study the role of regulatory T cells, a type of immune cell, in controlling female genital inflammation. Because this inflammation puts women at higher risk of HIV infection, the study is relevant to finding better prevention strategies for women who are at risk of HIV exposure.

Dr. Suresh Mishra, professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000

Mishra will focus on prohibitin, a protein that plays an important role in sex differences in fat and immune cells. Using mouse models, he will investigate why men and women display differences in susceptibility and resistance to metabolic and immune diseases.

Dr. Rae Spiwak, assistant professor, surgery, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $60,000

Spiwak will use Manitoba data to investigate what social factors place children at greater risk for physical injury. The study will look at a cohort of children who were hospitalized for traumatic physical injury and compare them with uninjured children, examining factors such as parental socioeconomic status and education.

Dr. Elizabeth Wall-Wieler, assistant professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; research scientist, MCHP; Canada Research Chair in population data analytics and data curation

Dr. Marilyn Bennett, assistant professor, Faculty of Social Work

Dr. Marni Brownell, professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; associate director, research, and senior research scientist, MCHP; researcher, CHRIM

Dr. Marcelo Urquia, associate professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; research scientist, MCHP; Canada Research Chair in applied population health

Grant: $393,976

Wall-Wieler’s team will analyze Manitoba data to determine whether parents with specific health conditions are more likely to have a child taken into care, and how having a child taken into care affects parents’ health. The study will compare First Nations, Métis and all other Manitoban parents.  

Dr. Jun-Feng Wang, associate professor, pharmacology and therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $623,475

Wang will investigate the role of a protein, Txnip, in chronic stress-induced neuronal dysfunction. The research will use an animal model for depression, aiming to determine if inhibiting Txnip could be used in treating human depression.

Dr. Brandy Wicklow, associate professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000

Wicklow will examine beta cell and kidney function in First Nations children whose mothers were diagnosed as children with Type 2 diabetes. The offspring will be studied in early childhood and compared with children not exposed to Type 2 diabetes in the womb. The results will contribute to strategies for early intervention.  

Dr. Kristy Wittmeier, assistant professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000

Wittmeier’s team will study how knowledge about research and treatments is shared via networks between researchers, therapists and families of children with development or rehabilitation needs. The goal is to identify strengths and gaps in these knowledge-sharing networks and make recommendations to improve them.

Dr. Roberta Woodgate, distinguished professor, College of Nursing; Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $761,176

Woodgate’s study will involve young immigrants and refugees in co-designing culturally sensitive mental health supports for youth like themselves. Parents and community-based organizations will also participate. The researchers will develop a digital mental health self-management prototype.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Health, announced an investment of approximately $25.2 million in 52 research projects through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to further improve our understanding of COVID-19 and tackle persistent evidence gaps linked to this disease.

Two of these projects are led by University of Manitoba researchers at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: Dr. Claudio Rigatto and Distinguished Professor Dr. Roberta Woodgate. Rigatto will be testing whether a new home monitoring technology can improve care in `patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Woodgate will be investigating the impacts of families of children who are immunocompromised.

Dr. Claudio Rigatto

Rigatto, associate professor of medicine, department of internal medicine, is receiving $562,275 for the study titled: ‘A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a chronic kidney disease (CKD) specific telemonitoring platform to minimize adverse outcomes in high risk CKD patients.’ The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way patients with CKD are cared for in Canada. Since CKD patients are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, they are being cared for via virtual visits, with telephone or video conference calls. While this helps prevent spread of the virus it makes taking care of kidney problems more difficult.

“CKD patients need careful monitoring of kidney function, blood pressure and weight; of how they feel; and they need education about their kidney disease, diet, and choices for dialysis or kidney transplant,” said Rigatto. “Simple phone or video calls is not enough for proper care. Additional home monitoring is needed to improve virtual care for CKD patients. We developed a home monitoring kit called VIEWER which is designed for CKD patients and includes an iPad, a blood pressure monitor, a weigh scale, a finger-tip oxygen monitor, and a motion tracker (like a FitBit). All of these devices talk wirelessly (by Bluetooth) to the iPad. The VIEWER app guides patients through a daily home assessment.”

The app helps patients do a symptom questionnaire once a week to monitor how they are feeling. Patients can view their information, and can text, call, or video the health team through the iPad. The health care team reviews the information to help assess changes and to guide treatments. The trial will test if VIEWER improves care, by asking patient volunteers with low kidney function (<15%) to take part. Half the patient volunteers will use VIEWER for 6 months, and half will continue with their usual care in the clinic. A computer will randomly choose which patients are assigned to each group.

“We think VIEWER will reduce how often patients visit the emergency room, are admitted to hospital, or need emergency dialysis,” says Rigatto. “If the trial results are positive, we will work to make VIEWER available to more people with CKD.”

Distinguished Professor Dr. Roberta Woodgate

Woodgate, Distinguished Professor at the College of Nursing and Canada Research Chair in Child and Family Engagement in Health Research and Healthcare, is receiving $358,594 for the study titled: ‘Making Visible the Life Stories of Families of Children who are Immunocompromised (IC) during COVID-19.’ The study involves the significant number of children worldwide who are IC and extremely vulnerable to illnesses and infections.

“This means that any time IC children or their family members leave their home, the child’s life is in jeopardy,” says Woodgate. “Families of IC children encounter many challenges and inequities, such as financial difficulties, poorer physical and psychological health, social isolation and marginalization. In spite of the large number of IC children, we have little understanding of what it is like to be a family of an IC child. Moreover, we have limited understanding of these families’ experiences during the current COVID-19 crisis from the emergence of the virus, to the various peaks and waves, to the new and changing circumstances in which they find themselves trying to adjust as part of their everyday lives.”

The goal of this 4-year study is to understand and document the lived experience of families of IC children during COVID-19. Children under the age of 18 who are IC (primary or secondary) and their families (including parents, caregivers, siblings) across Canada will be invited to take part in the study. Multiple data sources are planned to include individual and family interviews (conducted in English and French), and digital story-telling. Short-term, the study will result in advanced knowledge on the experiences of families of IC children during COVID-19 including insights into their well-being has been affected by the pandemic.

Woodgate noted that, “Recommendations to improve healthcare and social supports and services that improve their well-being for future waves of the pandemic and/or crises will be identified. Long-term, the work emerging from this program will be used to inform patient-oriented service delivery and outcomes nationwide, with implications for children who are IC and their families residing in other contexts, important for future pandemics and other public health crises.”

This latest funding builds on previous investments from CIHR and complements a recently launched competition to further address persistent research gaps in our knowledge and emerging priorities related to COVID-19.