Seed Fund Grants

 


2025 GHP-MI4-Steinberg Seed Fund Grant (SFG)

In early March 2025, the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) partnered with the McGill Global Health Programs (GHP) for another round of the of the GHP-MI4 Steinberg Seed Fund Grant Competition, aimed to catalyze interdisciplinary, impact-driven research that addresses major global health challenges through the lens of infectious and immune-mediated diseases. This year's award was made possible with the support from the Steinberg Fund for Interdisciplinary Global Health Research and other sources via MI4.

We are pleased to announce the four winning teams, as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

Global health treaties to tackle the global polycrisis in an era of nationalism and populism: what factors impact consensus building?

Project Description

We are firmly in an era of polycrisis – pandemics, climate crisis, conflicts, and economic inequities are major challenges that require international collaboration on an unprecedented scale. Yet, lack of trust among countries, nationalist and populist approaches continue to erode global health security. In the past, countries have agreed on treaties, like the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the Paris Agreement, to address global challenges. In May 2025, recently the Pandemic Agreement was passed in the World Health Assembly. However, with aspects such as pathogen and benefit sharing annexes remain to be finalized.

Thus, in this project, we aim to a) identify key factors impacting successful completion of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations in the original timeline (2021-24), b) identify key factors that impacted consensus building towards two past successful treaties: the WHO FCTC and the Paris Agreement c) compare factors relevant to consensus building across the three global health treaties above and provide recommendations for future negotiations and treaties. To achieve this, we will conduct a literature review and qualitative interviews with national and global experts. Our findings will be directly relevant to consensus building in global health governance and strengthening global health security.

Joanne Liu

Raphael Lencucha

Evaluating the potential role of cell-free DNA in guiding tuberculosis preventive treatment: a prospective cohort study.

Project Description

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that spreads through the air. However, being exposed to TB and becoming infected does not always mean a person will develop the illness. Unfortunately, there is currently no test that can accurately predict who will become sick. Because of this, many people are given preventive antibiotic treatment in order to stop just one person from becoming ill. This is challenging, especially since the preventive treatment can cause side effects. We believe it is possible to improve current tests to better identify who is actually at risk of getting sick after becoming infected with TB. This would help reduce the number of people who need to take preventive treatment. Our plan involves studying a biomarker—specifically, a measurable molecule released by TB bacteria into the blood, called cell-free DNA. We aim to see whether this biomarker can be detected in people who test positive for TB infection using current methods, and whether it disappears after they take preventive treatment. This could give us valuable evidence about whether the biomarker is a useful tool to guide treatment decisions, and whether it should be studied more in future research.

 

Jonathon Campbell

Julia Burnier

Mapping mistrust: health-seeking and mobility patterns during infectious disease outbreaks among recently arrived immigrant communities in Montreal.

Project Description

During infectious disease outbreaks, how people decide when and where to seek care can be heavily influenced by trust (or mistrust) in health systems. This project explores how misinformation, institutional mistrust, and social vulnerability shape health-seeking behavior and mobility patterns among recently arrived South Asian immigrants in Montreal. These communities often face language barriers, limited transportation options, and culturally specific misinformation, all of which can delay or deter access to care.

Our study combines interviews and travel surveys to understand how people in this population make decisions about care during outbreaks (like flu or COVID-19), and how they move, or choose not to move, through the city to reach clinics, pharmacies, or testing sites. We will produce geospatial maps and visualizations to show how trust and fear impact real-world care-seeking behaviors.

This pilot will generate foundational data for larger studies that we hope will facilitate more equitable, community-centered responses to future health emergencies.

Prativa Baral

Jiangbo Yu

Jasmine Mah

Socioeconomic and maternal factors associated with neonatal sepsis and related morbidity and mortality in Kano state, Nigeria.

Project Description

Neonatal sepsis—a serious medical condition that occurs when a baby younger than 28 days old has a life-threatening response to an infection—is a major cause of illness and death in babies worldwide. While deaths in young babies have decreased in many parts of the world, sepsis still causes a large number of deaths and complications in Nigeria and other low-resource countries. To help reduce this burden, it’s important to understand which babies are most at risk. This collaborative study will use data collected prospectively in Kano State in Northern Nigeria. We will examine how different factors—such as a mother’s socioeconomic background, pregnancy complications, and access to healthcare—may increase the chances of a newborn developing sepsis and related health problems. By identifying which babies are most likely to be affected, the study can help health care workers and policymakers create better plans to prevent, detect, and treat sepsis timely. Ultimately, the results from this research could lead to better care for young babies in places with limited resources, helping to save lives and reduce long-term health issues caused by neonatal sepsis.

Ugochinyere Vivian Ukah

Dan Poenaru

Muktar Aliyu

 

 


2024 GHP-MI4-Steinberg Seed Fund Grant (SFG)

This Spring 2024, the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4) and McGill Global Health Programs (GHP) co-sponsored two new Seed Fund Grants with support from the Steinberg Fund for Interdisciplinary Global Health Research. A total of 9 applications were received and were peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

The awarded projects are as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

Enabling adaptive West Nile virus surveillance by simulating the expected benefit of collected data.     

Project description

Mosquito-transmitted diseases like West Nile virus are hard to predict, and their risk is increasing in Canada due to climate change. Risk can be monitored by trapping and testing mosquitos or by testing wastewater for viral genetic material shed by infected people. In this project, we will develop a new framework for an adaptive West Nile virus monitoring strategy. First, we will develop a machine learning model to forecast West Nile virus risk month-over-month across census divisions with uncertainty. Then, we will use framework called ‘expected value of sample information’ to estimate when and where new data (testing trapped mosquitos or wastewater) is likely to reduce uncertainty in a way that leads to better deployment of preventative measures. The framework will be designed to deploy finite resources in ways that maximizes health benefits and health equity, ensuring that risk is not disproportionately born by geographic areas with vulnerable populations.                             

Dr. Alton Russel

Promoting Indigenous Canadians’ Self-determination in the Adoption of Liquid Biopsy in Cervical Cancer Screening.

Project description

In Canada, over 16 million women are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Screening with the Pap smear test by a doctor has reduced the number of cases by more than 80%. However, Indigenous women are still disproportionately affected and are three times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Reasons for this disparity include geographic barrier in getting a pap smear, lack of culturally sensitive approach to counseling and education on why screening is performed, discomfort associated with the examination, and historical trauma leading to mistrust in healthcare institutions. A new way of detecting cervical abnormalities is being introduced across Canada called human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. HPV causes the majority of cases of cervical cancer and gives women the option of self-collecting a vaginal swab at home, which can significantly improve access. Along with this technique, liquid biopsy is a new non-invasive technique that detects molecules associated with HPV found vaginal swabs and urine. We demonstrated the ability of liquid biopsy to detect cervical abnormalities among women living in Montreal. Given the unique experiences and barriers faced by Indigenous women, our team aims to explore and engage Indigenous members to co-create educational resources and future implementation plans that is culturally sensitive.

Dr. Shuk On Annie Leung

 


MI4-Microbiomes and Rheumatic Diseases (M-RD) Seed Fund Grant (SFG)

In April 2024, MI4 invited the researchers withing the McGill community to apply for MI4 Microbiomes and Rheumatic Diseases (M-RD) Duthie Saunders Seed Fund Grant Program. One application was received and successfully peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

The awarded project is as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

Investigating the role of the gut microbiota in mediating pain hypersensitivity in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).                           

Project description

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a cureless, debilitating chronic pain disorder characterized by severe spontaneous and evoked pain in the distal limb, which is disproportionate to the extent of tissue injury. The causes and the underlying mechanisms of CRPS are unknown and consequently, no targeted treatment is available. The microbiota is composed of various microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) that reside on our body. The gut microbiota has been suggested to play a critical role in various health conditions, such as cardiovascular and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as in distinct pain conditions such as neuropathic pain. We recently discovered that the composition of the gut microbiota is altered in CRPS patients. In this project, we will test the hypothesis that alterations in the gut microbiota in CRPS contribute to pain and investigate the underlying mechanisms. We will test this hypothesis by transplanting the gut microbiota from CRPS patients to mice lacking gut bacteria and determine whether this induces pain and other CRPS phenotypes. We will also investigate if such fecal transplant results in changes in the immune system and in the activity of pain circuits. Lastly, we will study the possible role of specific bacteria in mediating this pain condition.                   

Dr. Yoram Shir

Dr. Arkady Khoutorsky

 


MI4-Pathy Seed Fund Grant (SFG)

In April 2024, MI4 was thrilled to announce the Pathy SFG winners of the MI4 Seed Fund Grants Program. A total of 8 applications were received. All applications were peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

The awarded projects are as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

Integrated sample processing and analyte enrichment serving real-time quantitative Plasmonic PCR for infectious pathogen point-of-care diagnostics.

Dr. Jesse Papenburg

Dr. Dan Nicolau

The gut-testis axis: Establishing associations between the microbiome metabolome and male infertility.

Prof. Jianguo (Jeff) Xia

Prof. Cristian O'Flaherty

Ultrasensitive rapid test for influenza A

Dr. David Juncker

Dr. Cedric Yansouni

All-Trans-Retinoic-Acid in Influenza as a Vaccine Adjuvant and Adjunct Therapy

Dr. Leo Liu

Dr. Brian Ward

 


MI4 Seed Fund Grants – Round 5

In April 2023, MI4 was thrilled to announce the Round 5 winners of the MI4 Seed Fund Grants Program. A total of 8 applications were received. All applications were peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

The awarded projects are as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

Reducing antibiotic abuse at the primary care level using locally adapted, digitally delivered, clinical decision support tool: a pilot, intervention study in India

Samira Abbasgholizadeh Rahimi

Madhukar Pai

Investigating the impact of impaired immune responses on viral diversity in humans and mice

Judith Mandl

Abhinav Sharma

Targeting the gut microbiome to mitigate cholesterol-related diseases

Lisa Munter

Irah King

Early life BCG vaccination shaping gut microbiome and subsequently host defense against tuberculosis

Corinne Maurice

Maziar Divangahi

Erythrocyte Biphosphoglycerate Mutase (BPGM) as a novel Anti-Malarial Drug Target

Philippe Gros

Momar Ndao

 


MI4 Seed Fund Grants – Round 4

In March 2022, MI4 was thrilled to announce the winners of Round 4 of the MI4 Seed Fund Grant Program. A total of 17 applications were received. All applications were peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

The awarded projects are as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

A multidisciplinary approach to tackle multidrug resistant - tuberculosis (MDR-TB)

Michael Reed

Jesse Shapiro

Discovering Novel Antimicrobials from the Canadian High Arctic

Dao Nguyen

Karine Auclair

Point-of-care Rapid Test for Rogue Anti-Cytokine Auto-Antibodies in COVID-19 Patients

Donald Vinh

David Juncker

The impact of viral infection on the initiation and development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Joyce Rauch

Judith Mandl

Targeting soluble CD109 in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) secretome for the treatment of fibrosis in scleroderma

Anie Philip

Dieter Reinhardt

 


Ludmer - MI4 Collaborative Seed Fund Grant

In February 2022, the Ludmer Centre and MI4 were pleased to announce the results of the Ludmer-MI4 Collaborative Seed Fund Grant Competition! This grant aimed at supporting a new health research project focusing on the role of infection, immunity and/or the microbiome in the development, prevention or treatment of mental health disorders.

Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Silveira and Dr. Nicolas Cermakian!

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

Maternal immune activation and circadian disruption as risk factors for mental disorders – using transcriptomics to identify individual differences in susceptibility

Patricia Silveira

Nicolas Cermakian

 


MRM-MI4 Collaborative Seed Fund Grant

In July 2021, the McGill Regenerative Medicine (MRM Network) and MI4 were pleased to announce the result of the MRM-MI4 Collaborative Seed Fund Grant Competition! This grant aimed to support a new health research project focusing on stem cell or regenerative medicine within the domains of either infection or immunity.

Congratulations to Dr. Alex Gregorieff!

Project Title

Principal Investigator

Creation of a patient-derived enteroid biobank to study the role of intestinal stemcells in inflammatory bowel disease.

Alex Gregorieff

 


MI4 Seed Fund Grants - Round 3

In March 2021, MI4 was thrilled to announce the Round 3 winners of the MI4 Seed Fund Grant Program. A total of 16 applications were received. All applications were peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

MI4 would like to acknowledge that support for this round of its SFG Program was provided by the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), The Montreal General Hospital (MGH) Foundation, and the Doggone Foundation donation to McGill University. In addition, MI4 was pleased to collaborate with McGill Global Health Programs (GHP) to co-sponsor an additional grant with support from the Steinberg Fund for Interdisciplinary Global Health Research whose aim was to catalyze innovative and impactful infection- or immunity-focused global health research.

The awarded projects are as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal Investigators

Biomarkers associated with infections in Canadians 45-85 years of age with and without diabetes: analysis of metabolomic and clinical data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Elham Rahme

Robert Sladek

MENELIC-1 - Impact of mobile clinical decision support tool on prescription behaviour and patient outcomes in low-resource settings: A pilot trial of self-stewardship in Ethiopia

Makeda Semret

Nicole Basta

A colorimetric nanosurface fluidic platform for rapid phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing

Sara Mahshid

Dao Nguyen

At the heart of the matter - Speckle tracking echocardiography in lupus mothers and their offspring

Evelyne Vinet

Lawrence Rudski

 

MI4 - MNI Collaborative Seed Fund Grant

Project Title Co-principal Investigators

Inflammation-mediated white matter injury in pediatric encephalopathies

Myriam Srour

Jack Antel

 

MI4 - MGH Collaborative Seed Fund Grant

Project Title Co-principal Investigators

A Rabbit Prosthetic Joint Infection Model for Evaluation of Nano-Layered Antimicrobial Surface Coatings

Maryam Tabizian

Adam Hart

 

GHP-MI4 Steinberg Seed Fund Grant

Project Title Principal Investigator

The contribution of stigma among sexual minority men to HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa

Mathieu Maheu-Giroux

 


MI4 Seed Fund Grants - Round 2

In May 2020, MI4 was thrilled to announce the Round 2 winners of the MI4 Seed Fund Grant Program. A total of 23 applications were received. All applications were peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

The awarded projects are as follows:

Project Title Principal Investigators

CCR5 gene editing with antiviral genes to cure HIV-1 infection

Anne Gatignol

Jean-Pierre Routy

Integrating polygenic risk scores, machine learning and mouse models to develop predictive tools and therapeutics for severe dengue disease

Jamie Engert 

Silvia Vidal

The Pragmatic Observation of Labor, Exercise Tolerance, and Respiratory Impairment After Treatment of TB

Faiz Ahmad Khan 

Dennis Jensen

A stem cell-based microfluidics approach to mine the immunomodulatory activity of the gut epithelial secretome

Irah King 

Christopher Moraes

Targeting oncosome educated neutrophil subsets to curtail breast cancer metastasis 

Peter Siegel

Janusz Rak

 


MI4 Seed Fund Grants - Round 1

In June 2019, MI4 was thrilled to announce the Round 1 winners of the MI4 Seed Fund Grants Program. A total of 43 applications were received. All applications were peer reviewed by an independent Scientific Review Committee composed of researchers external to the McGill community.

MI4 was also pleased to collaborate with the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) and the Goodman Cancer Research Centre (GCRC) in this round of the MI4 Seed Fund Grant Program. This allowed the funding of two Collaborative Seed Fund Grants: one in neurological disease and the other in immuno-oncology.

The awarded projects are as follows:

Project Title

Co-principal investigators

Nature-inspired nanostructures: designing next generation antimicrobial biomaterials

Nathalie Tufenkji

Dao Nguyen

Integration of genomics and metagenomics for the surveillance of the Lyme disease vector Ixodes scapularis in Canada and the USA

Michael B. Reed

Ioannis Ragoussis

A Deadly Combination: Air Pollution and TB in India

Madhukar Pai

Scott Weichenthal

Design of a Rapid Point-of-Care PCR device for the diagnosis and management of HIV, HCV and other infectious diseases for key vulnerable populations in real-world settings

Bluma Brenner

Nadine Kronfli

Investigation of the functionality of anti-Respiratory Syncytial Virus specific antibodies

Selena Sagan

Nicole Bernard

The impact of the microbiome in shaping host defense against tuberculosis

Maziar Divangahi

Jianguo Xia

Apta-Nanosurface Fluidic Assay for Specific and Rapid Detection of Parasites via a Labelfree Electrical Readout

Sara Mahshid

Momar Ndao

Targeting the MNK1/2-eIF4E axis in postpartum breast cancer liver metastasis

Sonia del Rincon

Pnina Brodt

Targeting the mitophagy pathway to treat sepsis-induced organ dysfunction

Sabah Hussain

Heidi McBride

The combi-targeting concept: Engineering small molecules to target cell signaling, kill tumour cells and stimulate the immune system

Bertrand Jean-Claude

Moulay Alaoui-Jamali

 

MI4 - MNI Collaborative Seed Fund Grant

Project Title

Co-principal investigators

Unraveling the microbial contributions to Parkinson’s Disease

Heidi McBride

Erwin Schurr

 

MI4 - GCRC Collaborative Seed Fund Grant

Project Title

Co-principal investigators

Humanized Mouse Models to Untangle Mechanisms of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors- Immune Related Adverse Events and Effects of their treatment in Tumor Biology

Ines Colmegna

Logan Walsh

 

 


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