DOM CIHR & FRQS At a Glance

CIHR Operating Grants (Full-Time DOM Members Fall 2024)
$14.5M+ in CIHR funding
34% of FMHS CIHR funding
29% of McGill CIHR funding

Fall 2024

In the Fall 2024 CIHR funding round, the Department of Medicine (DOM) secured over $14.5 million, accounting for 34% of the Faculty's total CIHR funding and 29% of McGill’s total CIHR funding. This includes more than $12 million awarded to DOM researchers at the RI-MUHC, representing 70% of the RI-MUHC’s total CIHR funding, and over $2.4 million awarded to DOM researchers at the LDI, making up 43% of the LDI’s total CIHR funding. These results reflect a slight increase compared to the previous round.

Congratulations to the following McGill Department of Medicine project grant awardees for their successful Fall 2024 CIHR applications!

Project Grant Awardees (listed in alphabetical order by PI):

Dr. Matthew Cheng A Randomized Controlled Trial of Oral Antimicrobial Therapy for Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: The Early Oral Switch Domain in the Staphylococcus aureus Network Adaptive Trial (EOS-SNAP) 

Dr. Inés Colmegna Investigating the anti-fibrotic effects of human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells 

Dr. Stella S. Daskalopoulou Clinical Investigation – A: Reproduction, Maternal, Child and Youth Health 2 

Dr. Gustavo Duque Investigating the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Role of the Kynurenine Pathway in Osteosarcopenia 

Dr. Christina Greenaway Getting to hepatitis B elimination in Canada: Where are the gaps and how best to fill them?

Dr. Sabah Hussain Regulation of skeletal muscle and peroxisomal homeostasis by Depp1 protein 

Dr. Bertrand Jean-Claude Engineering metabolically stable molecules toward tandem targeting of EGFR, its variant EGFRvIII and DNA for killing stem cells and preventing recurrence in the treatment of glioblastom multiforme (GBM) 

Dr. Todd C. Lee An international platform for finding the optimal therapies for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia:  The PCP Platform 

Dr. Ivan Litvinov Co-creating and implementing integrated dermatology care and augmenting skin research in Quebec northern Indigenous communities 

Dr. Basil Petrof  The role of trained macrophages in dystrophic diaphragm pathology 

Dr. Louise Pilote Role of Sex and Gender on Hypertension-mediated Multi-organ Damage 

Dr. Stéphane Richard Epigenetic modulation to enhance CD8+ T cells for improved antitumour activity 

Dr. Abhinav Sharma Delivering Evidence-Based Care Using Artificial Intelligence to Patients with Diabetes and CardioVascular Comorbidities: From Proof of Concept to Multi-Centre Expansion (DECIDE-CV-2) 

Dr. Rhian Touyz Rho kinase as a novel therapeutic target in small vessel disease and vascular dementia – insights from a Notch3 disease

Dr. Oriana Hoi Yun Yu The association between levothyroxine treatment and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among people with subclinical hypothyroidism

Priority Announcement Grant Awardees (listed in alphabetical order by PI):

Dr. Claire Godard-Sebillotte Améliorer l’équité en première ligne pour les personnes avec troubles neurocognitifs majeurs: Une étude à méthodes mixtes axée sur le patient

Dr. Thomas Mavrakanas Effect of Canagliflozin on Peritoneal Function and Fibrosis in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis: a proof-of-concept randomized crossover clinical trial (CAN-PD trial)

Dr. Shaifali Sandal Disaster risk reduction and management in kidney care to foster health system resilience

Dr. Giada Sebastiani ELITE-2D: Enhancing Liver Health for People with Type 2 Diabetes through Patient-Centred Strategies

Related: CIHR Fall 2024 results (CIHR website)

Spring 2024

The Department of Medicine had the highest share of awards within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (31.6%) and submitted the most applications within the FMHS (accounting for 26% of all applications). In this round, the Department of Medicine garnered over $10 million in CIHR funding, representing 25% of McGill’s total CIHR funding for Spring 2024.

Congratulations to the following McGill Department of Medicine project grant awardees for their successful Spring 2024 CIHR applications!

Dr. Faiz Ahmad Khan - Utirtisiniq Puvallutulirinirmut arqutigitsugu Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: Nuisivalialuni Nunavimmiut arqirutisaginnik puvalluniup ammalu namasiangitunut anniasiuriujut Nunavimmi Decolonizing TB Healthcare Through Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit: developing Nunavimmiut-led solutions to the continuing crises of TB and inadequate healthcare in Nunavik

Dr. Andrea Benedetti - Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Informing Future Public Health Crises, and Building a Global Evidence Base for Mental Health Research: A Systematic Review of COVID-19-related Mental HealthDr. Andrea Benedetti - Recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Informing Future Public Health Crises, and Building a Global Evidence Base for Mental Health Research: A Systematic Review of COVID-19-related Mental Health

Dr. Sasha Bernatsky - Environmental factors and risk of autoimmune rheumatic disease incidence and serology

Dr. Yen-I Chen - Prophylactic EUS-guided gastroenterostomy in advanced periampullary cancers: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (INTERCEPT study)

Dr. Maziar Divangahi - Programming Innate Memory Responses to promote host defense against SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia

Dr. Jonathon Campbell - Risk Assessment and Determinants of Tuberculosis Associated Respiratory Impairment and Disability (RADAR-TB): A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis

Dr. Jacqueline Joza - LEFT HF: LEFT Bundle Pacing vs Standard Right Ventricular Pacing for Heart Failure

Dr. Nadine Kronfli - Enhancing uptake of needle and syringe programs in Canadian federal prisons

Dr. Todd Lee - Clopidogrel vs. Aspirin in S. aureus Bacteremia (Clopido-SNAP)

Dr. Emily McDonald - Dabigatran for the adjunctive treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: the DABI-SNAP nested randomized controlled trial

Dr. Jean-Pierre Routy - ACBP as a target for immunometabolic reprogramming in people living with HIV

Dr. Atul Verma - Strategies for catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation: a randomized comparative study (STAR AF 3)

Dr. Michael Goldfarb - Increasing family engagement in critical care: The NGAGE Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial

Fall 2023

The Department of Medicine received one of the highest shares of awards within McGill University representing 17.8% of McGill’s total share of awards ($8.5 million). Excluding Priority Announcements and Bridge Grants, the DOM’s success rate was 21.2% (11 of 52).

Congratulations to the following DOM grant recipients for their successful Fall 2023 CIHR applications!

  • Carolyn Baglole
  • Andrea Benedetti (Priority Announcement)
  • Sasha R Bernatsky (Priority Announcement)
  • Yen-I Chen
  • Stella S Daskalopoulou (Priority Announcement)
  • Anne Gatignol (Priority Announcement)
  • William J Muller
  • Monzur Murshed
  • Nitika Pant Pai (Priority Announcement)
  • Stéphane Richard
  • Christian E Rocheleau
  • Shaifali Sandal
  • Tomoko Takano
  • George Thanassoulis
  • Rhian M Touyz
  • Oriana Hoi Yun Yu

The Department extends its sincere appreciation to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Government of Canada for their continued support of medical research. This investment not only drives innovation and enhances patient care but also strengthens Canada’s position as a leader in global health research. We are proud to contribute to this shared mission and remain committed to advancing scientific discovery for the benefit of our communities.

FRQS Success in the DOM (2025-2026 Results)
88% success rate
25% of FMHS Awards
22% of McGill Awards

2025-2026

The McGill Department of Medicine set a new record in the 2025-2026 FRQS competition, achieving an outstanding 88% success rate, with 14 out of 16 applicants receiving funding.

This year, the FRQS once again awarded six Chercheurs-boursiers et chercheuses-boursières de Mérite awards province-wide. One of these was granted to our McGill Division of Clinical Epidemiology’s Dr. Filion and the other to the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology’s Dr. Giada Sebastiani. Last year, the DOM received 3 of 6 of these rare/prestigious awards and this year 2 of 6!

Moreover, the department saw a notable success rate among its Chercheurs-boursiers cliniciens et chercheuses-boursières cliniciennes applications, with 10 out of 12 receiving awards. Additionally, both Chercheurs-boursiers et chercheuses-boursières applications were successful.

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 DOM FRQS awardees:

Chercheurs-boursiers et chercheuses-boursières de Mérite

  • Dr. Kristian Filion
  • Dr. Giada Sebastiani

Chercheurs-boursiers cliniciens et chercheuses-boursières cliniciennes Senior

  • Dr. Cecilia Costiniuk
  • Dr. Todd Lee
  • Dr. Ivan Litvinov

Chercheurs-boursiers cliniciens et chercheuses-boursières cliniciennes Junior 2

  • Dr. Nicole Ezer
  • Dr. Michael Goldfarb
  • Dr. Thomas Mavrakanas

Chercheurs-boursiers cliniciens et chercheuses-boursières cliniciennes Junior 1

  • Dr. Guillaume Butler-Laporte
  • Dr. Alexander Lawandi
  • Dr. Judy Luu
  • Dr. Bryan Ross

Chercheurs-boursiers et chercheuses-boursières Junior 2

  • Dr. Jun Ding

Chercheurs-boursiers et chercheuses-boursières Junior 1

  • Dr. Ugochinyere Vivian Ukah

2024-2025

The McGill Department of Medicine achieved an impressive 59% success rate in the FRQS competition, with 13 out of our 22 applicants receiving an award.

This year, the FRQS awarded six Chercheur(e) de Mérite awards province-wide. Remarkably, three of these were granted to the McGill Division of Cardiology.

Moreover, the department saw a notable success rate among its Chercheur(e) Boursier(e) Clinicien(ne) applications, with 9 out of 13 receiving awards. Additionally, one out of three Chercheur(e) Boursier(e) applications were successful.

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 DOM FRQS awardees:

Chercheur Boursier de Mérite

  • Jonathan Afilalo
  • Ariane Marelli
  • George Thanassoulis

Chercheur Boursier Senior

  • Andrea Benedetti

Chercheur Boursier Clinicien Senior

  • Sushmita Pamidi
  • Francois Tournoux
  • Cedric Yansouni

Chercheur Boursier Clinicien Junior 2

  • Deborah Assayag
  • Yen-I Chen

Chercheur Boursier Clinicien Junior 1

  • Amine Benmassaoud
  • Jacqueline Joza
  • Elena Netchiporouk
  • Romina Pace

2023-2024

The Department of Medicine excelled in the FRQS salary award competition, with 14 applications funded in Spring 2023, out of the 19 submitted (74%). This represents the highest number of applications from any department, and the highest success rate for any department that submitted more than one application. This testifies to the strength of our MD and PhD scientists, including those at the most junior levels and to the comprehensive mentorship and support we strive to provide.

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 DOM FRQS awardees:

Chercheur Boursier de Mérite

  • Dr. Dao Nguyen
  • Dr. Vidal Essebag

Chercheur Boursier Clinicien Senior

  • Dr. Benjamin Smith
  • Dr. Evelyne Vinet
  • Dr. Faiz Ahmad Khan

Chercheur Boursier Clinicien Junior 2

  • Dr. Francois Mercier
  • Dr. Abhinav Sharma
  • Dr. Nadine Kronfli

Chercheur Boursier Clinicien Junior 1

  • Dr. Carolyn Jack
  • Dr. Chan Gao
  • Dr. Claire Godard-Sebillote
  • Dr. Patrick Lawler

Chercheur Boursier Junior 1

  • Dr. Jonathon Campbell
  • Dr. Paul Sabatini
Back to top