Health research funder invests $3.3 million in scientists

June 3, 2011

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has awarded nine scientists at Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) operating grants totaling $3.3 million through its September 2010 funding competition. 

Dr. Robert Jankov, a senior scientist in clinical integrative biology, will receive $665,853 over five years for his study on Rho-kinase inhibitors for chronic pulmonary hypertension. Jankov will build on research that shows Rho-kinase inhibitor drugs can reverse severe chronic pulmonary hypertension in young animals, and to explore the mechanisms behind heart failure caused by the disease. 

Dr. Jean-Philippe Pignol, an imaging scientist, will receive $130,322 over three years to follow up on results from his Canadian multicentre clinical trial on intensity-modulated radiation therapy for breast cancer-a technique that reduces radiation burns on the skin. Pignol will examine the long-term effects of using this therapy on women who participated in the trial. 

Dr. Burton Yang, a senior scientist in molecular and cellular biology (MCB), was awarded $419,755 over five years to study the role of a specific microRNA in tissue regeneration and blood formation. This research could lead to the development of new treatments for vascular diseases.

These SRI researchers also received CIHR support:

  • Dr. Yaacov Ben-David, asenior scientist in MCB: $696,385 over five years for his work on identifying genes associated with leukemia development.
  • Dr. Jonathan Rast, a senior scientist in MCB: $100,000 in one-year bridge funding for his project on gene regulatory networks and human immunity.
  • Dr. Bradley Strauss, a senior scientist in MCB, and chief of the Schulich Heart Program: $100,000 over one year for his study on microvascular injury in an acute heart attack.
  • Dr. Jack Tu, a senior scientist in clinical epidemiology: $995,919 over four years for his research on measuring and improving the quality of care for heart attack patients (see page five for feature story).
  • Dr. Richard Wells, a scientist in MCB: $100,000 in one-year bridge funding for research on treating acute myelogenous leukemia with a new drug called EAR-2.
  • Dr. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker, interim director of MCB: $100,000 in one-year bridge funding for his work on the characterization and lineage of progenitor thymocytes.
  • The agency received 2,338 applications in the competition, and approved 501 of these, for a 21% funding rate.

More Funding From CIHR ...
In addition to the operating grants, the agency also awarded grants to the following SRI scientists through other competitions.

  • Dr. Rajiv Chopra, an imaging scientist, will receive a one-year proof-of-principle grant worth $153,344 to develop and evaluate endorectal magnetic resonance elastography for prostate cancer detection.
  • Dr. Gregory Czarnota, an imaging scientist and interim director of the Odette Cancer Research Program, was awarded a one-year meetings, planning and dissemination grant for cancer research worth $15,250 towards an international symposium on quantitative ultrasound methods to detect cancer cell death.
  • Dr. Damon Scales, a scientist in clinical epidemiology, will receive an operating grant from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, in partnership with the CIHR. Scales will use the grant, worth $193,120 over two years, to study the premature termination of resuscitation in patients who survive cardiac arrest.