Three Sunnybrook scientists awarded Canada Research Chairs
Three Sunnybrook scientists have been recognized with Canada’s highest research honour, a Canada Research Chair (CRC). Dr. Greg Stanisz, a senior scientist in Physical Sciences and the Odette Cancer Research Program; Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera, a senior scientist in Evaluative Clinical Sciences and the Schulich Heart Research Program; and Dr. Hannah Wunsch, a senior scientist in Evaluative Clinical Sciences and the Tory Trauma Research Program, were announced as chairholders on December 16, 2020.
“Congratulations to Sunnybrook’s latest Canada Research Chairs," says Dr. Kullervo Hynynen, Vice-President of Research and Innovation at Sunnybrook. “It’s a wonderful achievement for these researchers to be recognized as leaders in their fields. I look forward to their discoveries and the impact they will have on health care.”
This round of CRC funding includes both Tier 1 and Tier 2 chairholders. Tier 1 CRCs are awarded to world leaders in their field for a seven-year term. They are worth $200,000 and renewable once. Tier 2 CRCs, worth $100,000 annually, are awarded to exceptional emerging researchers for a five-year term.
Dr. Greg Stanisz, who is also a professor in the department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto (U of T), received a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Cancer Imaging. “It’s an honour to be recognized as a leading researcher in the field of cancer imaging by the Canada Research Chair program,” says Dr. Stanisz, whose work is focused on developing quantitative MRI methods to improve specificity and sensitivity for characterizing tissue pathology. “This recognition will allow us to continue on the path of discovering new useful clinical tools and will solidify our group’s status as one of the pioneers of quantitative MRI methods.”
Joining Dr. Stanisz as a chairholder is Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera, who is also Chief of the Schulich Heart Program and an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at U of T. He was recognized with a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Structural Heart Disease Policy and Outcomes. Dr. Wijeysundera’s research focuses on health technology assessments and economic evaluations in the area of cardiology and structural heart disease in order to inform health policies that provide equitable, effective and sustainable health care to Canadians. The funding provided by CRC will open up new opportunities for Dr. Wijeysundera and his team. “My success to date has been the result of the infrastructure and support afforded by the Schulich Heart Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute and the University of Toronto,” says Dr. Wijeysundera. “With this award, my priority will be to continue to build capacity for cardiovascular health service researchers.”
Dr. Hannah Wunsch, who is also a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine at U of T, was awarded a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Critical Care Organization and Outcomes. “It is incredible to be recognized in this way,” says Dr. Wunsch. “So many brilliant scientists hold or have held Canada Research Chairs and it is such an honour to be included in that group.”
As a critical care physician, Dr. Wunsch spends a lot of time thinking about how the organization and delivery of care impacts patient outcomes. Her research is currently focused on how ICUs are staffed and whether those staffing choices impact patient care and outcomes. She’s also investigating how choices of medications, such as vasopressors and opioids impact patients. Dr. Wunsch explains both questions have become even more important in the face of COVID-19. “The virus has placed immense pressure on the delivery of care in ICUs worldwide, making these types of questions critical to answer. This Chair is so important to support the work to address these questions and ensure continuity of support for the amazing research staff I work with,” says Dr. Wunsch.
At SRI, Drs. Wunsch, Wijeysundera and Stanisz join existing Tier 1 chairs Dr. David Andrews, Dr. Isabelle Aubert, Dr. JoAnne McLaurin, Dr. Donald Redelmeier, Dr. Bojana Stefanovic, Dr. Graham Wright, and Tier 2 chair Dr. Meaghan O’Reilly. Congratulations to the latest chairholders!
