Memorial University researchers awarded more than $13 million to drive scientific and technological breakthroughs
Nearly 60 graduate students are among more than 100 researchers at Memorial University who have more than 13 million reasons to celebrate.
Studies ranging from Newfoundland and Labrador roadside memorials to flood modelling and risk assessment to the spawning migration of Atlantic salmon and more are receiving big-time support.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $13 million in funding at Memorial University as part of a significant $1.3-billion announcement for more than 9,700 researchers and research projects across Canada.
The funding was secured through highly competitive grant programs, with investments from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Impressive results
“The continuous support of the Government of Canada is a testament to Memorial’s reputation as an international research leader,” said Dr. Tana Allen, vice-president (research). “I am thrilled with these latest results and offer sincere congratulations to our talented research community.”
Dr. Amy Warren, associate vice-president (academic) and dean of the School of Graduate Studies, says federal scholarships and fellowships provide crucial support to emerging researchers.
“It is remarkable to see the success of our students, across our campuses, who have been awarded tri-council funding this round,” she said. “Graduate student researchers and their work is more important than ever, and through this outstanding support, they will face fewer barriers and, in turn, will be provided remarkable training opportunities that will benefit Memorial, our communities and the world.”
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Below is a listing of the Faculty of Medicine’s results from NSERC’s Discovery Grants Program and Discovery Launch Supplement competitions.
Discovery Grants Program
Dr. Diana De Carvalho, Division of Population Health and Applied Health Sciences, Exploring the impact of occupationally relevant durations of flexed postures on spine biomechanics and sitting tolerance in healthy adults, $220,000
Dr. Graham Fraser, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Application of quantitative microfluidic devices to study mechanisms of microvascular blood flow regulation in vivo, $195,000
Dr. Qutuba Karwi, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Uncoupling protein-2 as a regulator of cardiac energy metabolism, $245,000
Dr. Yanqing Yi, Division of Population Health and Applied Health Sciences, Efficient and robust statistical methods for sequential designs of clinical trials, $160,000
Dr. Qi Yuan, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Investigating Age-Dependent Neuronal Plasticity Mechanisms in Olfactory Learning, $245,000
Total: $1,065,000
Discovery Launch Supplement
Dr. Qutuba Karwi, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Uncoupling protein-2 as a regulator of cardiac energy metabolism, $12,500
Total: $12,500
Scholarships and fellowships
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Read more here and here.
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s
Kieran Gill – Discrimination experiences, responses, factors associated with confidence responding adaptively, and barriers constraining responses among Chinese Canadians – $27,000
Alexandra McLean – Cartographies of Care in Harm Reduction Outreach: An Ethnographic Exploration of Community-driven Responses to the Overdose Crisis in St. John’s, NL – $27,000
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Read more here.
Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral
Cameron Tobin – Characterizing the Role of Cell Membrane Asymmetry in Immune Regulation – $120,000
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s
Mark R. Bobbitt – Acid sensitivity of mGluR7 regulates somatostatin interneuron-mediated inhibition – $27,000
Colin Connors – Selective up-regulation of GLT-1 on astrocytes to reduce Alzheimer’s disease phenotype – $27,000
Valerie Dawe – The Impact of a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax on Beverage Purchasing in Newfoundland and Labrador – $27,000
Carly Stevenson – Investigating the electrophysiological impact of chemotherapy on CA1 pyramidal neurons and the neuroprotective potential of Spirulina for chemobrain – $27,000
Total: $162,000
A number of other Memorial researchers are co-applicants, collaborators and partners on other projects that received support.
Learn more about research at Memorial and check out Research Strategy 2023-28 to learn how we’re moving ideas forward.