Ana Copaescu and Mariane Bertagnolli receive national awards for their research in allergy, immunology and cardiovascular health.
Source: The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute)
November 24, 2025
Two researchers at The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute) have received national recognition for their achievements as early-career investigators.
Ana Copaescu, MD, PhD, investigator in the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health (IDIGH) Program at The Institute received the Early Career Award from the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI). Presented to a CSACI Fellow within five years of completing fellowship training, the award recognizes exceptional dedication to advancing the specialty through clinical care, education and research. Based at The Institute and the McGill University Health Centre, Dr. Copaescu focuses on developing personalized medicine approaches in allergy and immunology to improve patient safety and treatment outcomes. "Through clinical trials and mechanistic research, we aim to improve diagnostic tools for drug allergy—advancing precision medicine and enhancing patient safety," said Dr. Copaescu.
Mariane Bertagnolli, PhD, co-leader and scientist in the Cardiovascular Health across the Lifespan Program at The Institute was awarded the 2025–2026 New Investigator Award from the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. This national program provides salary support to outstanding early-career researchers conducting cardiovascular research across Canada. Prof. Bertagnolli's funded research examines microvascular and endothelial health in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, a condition with lasting effects on maternal and fetal cardiovascular health. "Support from the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada is vital for early-career researchers," explains Prof. Bertagnolli. "This award lets us advance knowledge on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and build a translational program at The Institute to study placental vascular biology and test postpartum cardiac rehabilitation to help prevent long-term cardiovascular disease in women."
Recognitions such as these mark important milestones in the early stages of a research career. They provide essential support that enables promising investigators to establish their research programs, build teams and strengthen national collaborations. These awards also signal confidence in the quality and impact of research taking place at The Institute—work that is advancing knowledge, shaping clinical practice and improving health outcomes across Canada.
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