Funded research
Since 2017, we've awarded more than $2.5 million in research funding focused on a wide range of lung diseases and conditions. We are very proud to have supported so many up-and-coming researchers across the country.
Thank you to our funding partners:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Gender and Health (CIHR-IGH)
- Asthma Canada
- Canadian Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Foundation
- Canadian Respiratory Research Network (CRRN)
- Cystic Fibrosis Canada
- Astra Zeneca Canada

- Asthma
- Children's Lung Health
- Chronic Cough
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- COPD Catalyst Grants
- Clinical Care
- COVID-19 and Long COVID Condition
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Infectious Diseases & Immunology
- Interstitial Lung Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Lung Transplant
- Public Health
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Sleep & Exercise
Asthma
2023
Francis Lissanga Dendo
Université de Moncton
CRRN AGM travel award, $1500
Asthme et pollution atmosphérique au Nouveau Brunswick
Clarus Leung
University of British Columbia
Clinical Fellowship, $33,000
Endo-phenotyping of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Overlap by Airway Inflammation
Shirley Quach & Teresa To
Hospital for Sick Children
Allied Health Research Grant, $10,000
Does the use of biologics in children with severe asthma improve health outcomes and quality of life? – A longitudinal cohort study
2022
Cristina Longo
Université de Montréal
Early Career Researcher Awards in Asthma*, $100,000
Treating asthma by integrating learning algorithms with omics research: Moving toward automated high-dimensional endotyping in children (TAILOR-MADE)
Zihang Lu
Queen's University
Early Career Researcher Awards in Asthma*, $100,000
Asthma phenotypes, risk factors and the implications for future management in Canadian children
Maria Medeleanu
SickKids
Studentship, $21,000
Interrogating the link between early viral infections and childhood asthma
Dheerendra Pandey
University of Manitoba
Studentship, $14,000
Multidimensional role of CD38 in oxidized phosphatidylcholine (OxPCs) induce obstructive lung diseases
2020
Jigneshkumar Vaghasiya
University of Manitoba
Studentship, $10,500
Oxidized phosphatidylcholines are unique drivers of asthma pathobiology
2018
Kozeta Miliku
University of Manitoba
Fellowship, $90,000
The role of human milk oligosaccharides in the developmental origins of lung function and asthma
*Led by Asthma Canada in partnership with AstraZeneca Canada, Canadian Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Foundation (CAAIF) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH)
Children's Lung Health
2020
Chelsea Morin
University of Alberta
Fellowship, $55,000
A randomized control trial comparing three methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an infant piglet model of asphyxia
Tara Janes
University of Alberta
Fellowship, $45,000
Progesterone promotes respiratory recovery in a rat model of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: site of action and mechanisms
Shirley Quach
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Allied Health
Fellowship, $10,000)
The pediatric mechanical ventilation in Canada (PeMViC) study: A Delphi survey of pediatric mechanical ventilation practices by Canadian respiratory therapists
2019
Kawsari Abdullah
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
Fellowship, $54,000
Long-term respiratory outcome of children diagnosed with bronchiolitis in the first year of life: A prospective cohort study using linked clinical and health administrative data
Chanèle Cyr-Depauw
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Studentship, $12,000
Defining the next-generation umbilical cord-derived cell-therapy for treatment of neonatal lung disease
Shirley Quach
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Allied Health
Fellowship, $10,000
Common Canadian practices of pediatric mechanical ventilation
Chronic Cough
2022
Nermin Diab
McMaster University
Fellowship, $55,000
Mepolizumab for the Treatment of Chronic Cough with Eosinophilic Airways Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
2023
Konstiantyn Dmytriiev
University of Alberta
Studentship, $10,500
Pulmonary vascular dysfunction and exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Tania Janaudis-Ferreira
McGill University
Allied Health Research Grant, $10,000
Remote Physical Function Assessment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Shirley Quach
McMaster University
Allied Health Fellowship, $5,000
Perceptions and Usability of Publicly Available Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Apps
2022
Carli Peters
University of British Columbia
Fellowship, $45,000
Utilizing optical coherence tomography and exercise to develop novel biomarkers of respiratory impairment in people living with human immunodeficiency virus
Mika Nonoyama
Ontario Technical University
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
Testing the effects of temperature and humidity on individuals with COPD in the ACE climactic chamber: A feasibility and pilot study
Fatemeh Aminazadeh
University of British Columbia
Studentship, $21,000
The contribution of sex differences to small airways disease in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Meghan Koo
Toronto Metropolitan University
Studentship, $15,667
Inspiration-expiration CT texture-based delta radiomics: a new biomarker associated with COPD symptoms?
Dmitry Rozenberg
University Health Network
$500
Translating the Interplay of Cognition and Physical Performance to Daily Activities in COPD and ILD – Identifying Needs and Research Priorities
2021
Dina Brooks
University of British Columbia
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
A mobile electronic repository to address patients’ support needs in coping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Shirley Quach
University of British Columbia
Allied Health Fellowship, $10,000
A mobile electronic repository to address patients’ support needs in coping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2020
Tania Janaudis-Ferreira
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Allied Health Research Grant, $35,000
Improving ACCEPTance and uptake of pulmonary rehabilitation after acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The ACCEPT PR STUDY
2019
Sunita Mulpuru
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Emerging Clinician Scientist Award, $175,000
In partnership with CIHR-ICRH and Astra Zeneca Canada
Validating the use of frailty measurements to predict care expectations and deteriorations in quality of life among people with COPD: A prospective cohort study
2018
Dina Brooks
West Park Healthcare Centre
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
Perspectives of Patients with COPD and Healthcare Providers on an Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour
Devin Phillips
University of Alberta
Studentship, $10,500
The effect of inhaled nitric oxide on dyspnea and exercise tolerance in mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Sachi O'Hoski
McMaster University
Allied Health Fellowship $10,000
Beyond function: Exploring participation in life roles in people with COPD
Nafeez Syed
University of British Columbia
Allied Health Fellowship, $10,000
Impact of diesel exhaust on exercise endurance, breathlessness and airway physiology in mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2017
Kate Johnson
University of British Columbia
Studentship, $42,000
Evaluating strategies for early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Didier Saey
Université Laval
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
Measuring quadriceps muscle endurance in patients with COPD
COPD Catalyst Grants
Each Catalyst Grant is worth $30,000
2020
In partnership with CIHR-ICRH
Sunita Mulpuru, Ottawa Hospital Research institute ($30,000)
A pilot feasibility study to inform the development of a novel clinical and biomarker-driven definition of COPD exacerbation among hospitalized adults in Canada
Christel Renoux, CIUSSS de Centre-Ouest-de-l’Ile-de-Montréal-Jewish General
Gabapentinoids and the risk of severe respiratory events in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Dimitry Rozenberg, University Health Network
Feasibility of a Home-Based Cognitive-Physical Exercise Program in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial
Benjamin Smith, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Airway trees in the Anthropocene: A new paradigm for personalizing COPD prevention, prognosis, and pharmacotherapy
2019
In partnership with CIHR-ICRH
Pat Camp, University of British Columbia
COPD Alert! Telehealth System
Christopher Carlsten, University of British Columbia
Effect of diesel exhaust exposures on the lung microbiome in COPD
Roger Goldstein, University of Toronto
Rapid access rehabilitation (RAR) post-hospitalization for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A feasibility study
2018
Laurent Brochard, St. Michael's Hospital
High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Thomas Rotter, Queen's University
Optimizing integrated care for older adults with COPD: Determining the influence of the primary and specialist network of care on patient and system outcomes
Robert Wu, University Health Network
Identification of patients admitted with COPD exacerbations and stratification of those at high risk of readmission using natural language processing and machine learning
2017 COPD
Andrew Cave, University of Alberta
Natural history of COPD in primary care: A national retrospective cohort study
Dennis Jensen, McGill University
Morphine: A novel intervention to maximize the benefits of exercise training in adults with COPD?
Ma'en Obeidat, University of British Columbia
The effect of sex on molecular signatures in lung tissue from COPD patients
Clinical Care
2017
Louise Rose
University of Toronto
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
Patient and family centered performance measures focused on actionable processes of care for persistent or chronic critical illness
Erin Miller
University of Toronto
Allied Health Fellowship, $10,000
Evaluating the effectiveness of using high fidelity stimulation to teach tracheal suctioning to physical therapists
COVID-19 and Long COVID Condition
2021 Respiratory Health Effects of Long COVID Operating Grants
In partnership with CIHR-ICRH/IGH
Jordan Guenette, University of British Columbia ($40,000)
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and functional imaging determinants of dyspnea post-COVID-19
Robert Kozak, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre ($40,000)
Host gene expression signatures from clinically banked upper respiratory tract swabs associate in situ altered mucosal immunity with development of long COVID-19
Simon Rousseau, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre ($40,000)
Immunopathology of respiratory distress in long COVID
Alyson Wong, University of British Columbia ($40,000)
Identifying long COVID phenotypes and their association with long-term quality of life
Cystic Fibrosis
2023
Razieh Enjilela
Toronto Metropolitan University
Fellowship, $27,000
Development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Airway Segmentation to Assess and Monitor Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease
2022
Jordana McMurray
University of Toronto
Allied Health Fellowship, $10,000
Actigraphic and self-reported sleep outcomes and relationships to anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents and young adults with cystic fibrosis: A mixed-methods study
in partnership with Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Andrea Murru
CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Studentship, $21,000
Functional Characterization of Low-Density Neutrophils in Cystic Fibrosis: Clinical Implications
Amy Wong
University of Toronto
Studentship, $21,000
Modeling Human iPSC-derived Alveolar Type 1 and 2 Cells for Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease
2018
Adèle Coriati
Providence St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s Healthcare
Fellowship, $90,000
Understanding differences in cystic fibrosis health outcomes and survival: A systematic comparison of Canadian and French registry data
Kenneth Wu
University of Toronto
Allied Health Fellowship, $10,000
Characteristics of peripheral skeletal muscles structure and function in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) & its relationship with CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) malfunction
2017
Sunita Mathur
University of Toronto
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
Determinants of skeletal muscle function in adults with cystic fibrosis
Infectious Diseases & Immunology
2022
Danuzia Marques
Université Laval
Fellowship, $30,000
Linking neonatal stress and anomalies of immune development in rats: novel insights into the origin of sex-based differences in viral infection severity
Nicole Sarden
University of Calgary
Studentship, $13,500
Investigating the role of neutrophils during respiratory viral infections
2018
Dale Craig
University of Toronto
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
A multi-centered stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the de-adoption of oral chlorhexidine prophylaxis and implementation of an oral care bundle for ventilated critically ill patients (The CHORAL study)
Cameron Griffiths
University of Alberta
Studentship, $10,500
Interactions between respiratory syncytial virus and cell surface nucleolin during viral entry
Interstitial Lung Disease
2021
Gillian Goobie
University of British Columbia
Fellowship, $55,000
Air pollution as a modulator of molecular, structural, and clinical outcomes in patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease
2019
Joyce Ka Yan Wu
Toronto General Hospital
Allied Health Research Grant$20,000)
Characterization of interstitial lung disease using airway oscillometry
Lung Cancer
2023
Hadrien Gayap Tagheu
Université de Moncton
CRRN AGM travel award, $1500
Deep Machine Learning for Medical Diagnosis, Application to Lung Cancer Detection
In partnership with Research New Brunswick
2018
Javad Alizadeh
University of Manitoba
Studentship, $42,000
Stiff substrates enhance mitophagy/EMT crosstalk
Lung Transplant
2022
Anne Fu
University of Toronto
Studentship, $11,000
Respiratory Oscillometry for Early Diagnosis of Chronic Rejection After Lung Transplant
Public Health
2023
Cole Bowerman
Dalhousie University
Studentship, $10,500
Hidden Amongst Healthy: Normalization of Respiratory Pathology and Health Disparities by Reference Equations
Maks Dziura
University of Windsor
Studentship, $2,500
Investigating the Isomeric Effect of Synthetic Nicotine on Respiratory Functionality
2022
Tina Afshar
University of British Columbia
Studentship, $14,000
Lung Health Effects of E-Cigarette Cessation
Justin Turner
University of British Columbia
Allied Health Fellowship, $10,000
Wildfire Smoke and Emergency Planning for First Nations People Living with Lung Disease in Remote and Rural British Columbia
Pulmonary Fibrosis
2022
Olivia Ferguson
University of British Columbia
Studentship, $10,667
The physiological mechanisms of improved exertional dyspnoea and functional exercise capacity associated with antifibrotic therapy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
2021
Carlos Hiroki
University of Calgary
Studentship, $10,500
Lung sensory neurons influence in the outcome of pulmonary fibrosis
CIHR Project Grant
2017
Miranda Kirby
University of British Columbia
Fellowship, $45,000
Small airway disease and emphysema in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary Hypertension
2023
Saeid Maghsoudi
University of Manitoba
Studentship
Inhibition of Adenylyl Cyclase Isoform 6 by Cysteine Nitrosylation in Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension, and Rescue with Novel Forskolin Derivatives
In partnership with the Manitoba Lung Association
2019
Neil Goldenberg
Hospital for Sick Children
Emerging Clinician Scientist Award, $200,000
Immunological Dysfunction in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
In partnership with CIHR-ICRH and Astra-Zeneca Canada
2017
Steven Wright
University of Toronto
Studentship, $42,000
Exercise Hemodynamics for the Evaluation of Breathlessness & Suspected Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Sleep & Exercise
2023
Felix Gerard
McGill University
Allied Health Research Grant, $10,000
Effects of (Un)Loading Stimuli on the Human Diaphragm Activation at Rest and During Exercise: Implications for a Better Understanding of Dyspnea
2022
Silvia Cardani
University of Alberta
Fellowship, $45,000
Sex hormones and their use in hypoventilation syndromes: site of action and mechanism
Mohammadreza Hajipour
University of British Columbia
Studentship, $21,000
Alternative metrics of sleep apnea severity derived from polysomnography
2018
Veronique Pepin
Concordia University
Allied Health Research Grant, $20,000
APNex: A pilot randomized trial of combined cognitive-behavioural therapy and exercise training versus exercise training alone for the treatment of chronic insomnia in obstructive sleep apnea
Annette Pisanski (Abad-Hernandez)
University of Alberta
Studentship, $14,000
Role of parafacial respiratory group on the stabilization of sleep disordered breathing