Sunnybrook researchers awarded over $3M in CIHR Spring 2024 Project Grants Competition

Researchers at Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) have been awarded over $3M in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Spring 2024 Project Grants competition. Six projects (13 per cent of SRI projects) were funded in the round. The purpose of the CIHR Project Grant Program is to “capture ideas with the greatest potential to advance health-related fundamental or applied knowledge, health research, health care, health systems, and/or health outcomes.” In total, the Spring competition approved 373 grants nationally, for a total investment of $325M.

Congratulations to Dr. Jean Gariépy, senior scientist in Physical Sciences and the Odette Cancer Research Program, whose research proposals have been ranked #1 by the CIHR Pharmaceutical Sciences Panel twice in a row. Two consecutive top CIHR rankings represents a rare and impressive achievement.

Dr. Wilder Scott, scientist in Biological Sciences and the Holland Bone and Joint Research Program, and Dr. Greg Stanisz, senior scientist in the Physical Sciences and Odette Cancer Research Program, also achieved a #1 ranking by their respective committees. 

Congratulations to all of the awarded SRI-led projects:

Project: Development and function of IL-17 producing gamma delta T cells
Principal investigator: Dr. Michele Anderson
Funding: $100,000 over 1 year

Project: Development of Sepsis-countering Biologics
Principal investigator: Dr. Jean Gariépy
Funding: $696, 152 over 4 years

Project: Neuroplasticity-dependent fear learning and anxiolytic mechanisms of Deep Brain Stimulation
Principal investigator: Dr. Clement Hamani
Funding: $1,266,076 over 5 years

Project: Delineating the function of adult Mesenchymal Progenitor cells in tendon regeneration and renewal
Principal investigator: Dr. Wilder Scott
Funding: $967,726 over 5 years

Project: Combining Advanced Metabolic MRI with Genomics to Refine the Treatment Paradigm for Grade 2/3 IDH-wildtype Astrocytoma ("Molecular Glioblastoma")
Principal investigator: Dr. Greg Stanisz
Other principal investigator(s): Dr. Arjun Sahgal, Dr. Mary Jane Lim-Fat, Dr. Deepak Dinakaran
Sunnybrook co-investigator(s): Dr. Nir Lipsman, Dr. Jay Detsky
Funding: $787,950 over 5 years

Project: Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Spinal Metastases: Quantifying the Impact on Musculoskeletal Health 
Principal investigator: Dr. Cari Whyne 
Other principal investigator(s): Dr. Michael Hardisty, Dr. Arjun Sahgal
Funding: $100,000 over 1 year