Awards and recognition

RI-MUHC Annual Report

THE INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2025

RESEARCHERS HONOURED
TRAINEE ACHIEVEMENTS
STAFF HONOURED

RESEARCHERS HONOURED

Susan Bartlett

Susan Bartlett receives highest honour from the American College of Rheumatology
A Senior Scientist at The Institute, Prof. Bartlett advocates for patient engagement and patient-centred outcomes research

Susan Bartlett receives Arthritis Health Professions Association lifetime achievement award
Celebrating a career committed to improving the lives of people with arthritis

Mariane Bertagnolli
Prestigious award for Mariane Bertagnolli
CHAL researcher receives Prix Nouveau Chercheur from the Société québécoise d'hypertension artérielle

Mariane Bertagnolli, Abhinav Sharma, Rhian Touyz
International awards for three cardiovascular health researchers from the RI-MUHC
Dr. Rhian Touyz and Prof. Mariane Bertagnolli were honoured by the International Society of Hypertension, Dr. Abhinav Sharma by the Heart Failure Collaboratory and American Heart Association

Rhian Touyz and Mariane Bertagnolli received awards from the International Society of Hypertension (ISH). Abhinav Sharma was honoured by the Heart Failure Collaboratory in collaboration with the American Heart Association.

Stefanie Blain-Moraes, Delphine Collin-Vézina, Rhian Touyz
Three RI-MUHC researchers honoured by the Royal Society of Canada
Newest Fellows and Members to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists recognized for scholarly, research and artistic excellence

Left to right: Researchers Stefanie Blain-Moraes, Delphine Collin-Vézina and Rhian Touyz.

Jean Bourbeau, Angela Genge, Larry Lands, Ronald Postuma
Researchers honoured with King Charles III's Coronation Medal for outstanding achievements
In recognition of their contributions to the understanding of neurological and respiratory disease

Jean Bourbeau, Angela Genge, Larry Lands and Ronald Postuma are the recipients of the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal.

Ana Copaescu
Ana Copaescu receives the 2024 FMSQ Research Award
Dr. Copaescu's influential publication in JAMA Internal Medicine evaluated a safer and simpler approach to penicillin allergy testing

Lucy Gilbert
Honouring a Trailblazer in Women's Health Innovation
Dr. Lucy Gilbert, founder of DOvEEgene, is presented with the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal

From left to right: Annie Koutrakis, M.P. for Vimy, Lucie Opatrny, President and Executive Director of the MUHC, Lucy Gilbert, investigator in the Cancer Research Program at the Institute and Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation.

Jason Harley
Jason Harley, PhD, a scientist in the Surgical and Interventional Sciences (SIS) program at The Institute, has been awarded the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Certificate of Merit Award. The CAME Certificate of Merit promotes, recognizes and rewards faculty committed to medical education in Canadian medical schools.

Nada Jabado, Sam Shemie
Two researchers from The Institute appointed to the Order of Canada
Dr. Nada Jabado and Dr. Sam Shemie, both physicians at the Montreal Children's Hospital as well as senior scientists at The Institute, were recognized for their exceptional achievements

Nada Jabado, Officer of the Order of Canada (left), and Sam Shemie, Member of the Order of Canada (right), conduct research at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.

Tania Janaudis-Ferreira
Tania Janaudis-Ferreira honoured
A scientist from The Institute has been selected for the Carrie M. Derick Award for Graduate Supervision and Teaching

Marina Klein
A modernized Clinical Trials Network to tackle health challenges associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Canada
Dr. Marina Klein will lead the network at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Sylvie Lambert, Marc Martel, Mathieu Roy
Three RI-MUHC researchers honoured with prestigious Canada Research Chairs
Sylvie Lambert, Marc Martel and Mathieu Roy are emerging leaders in research domains ranging from chronic illnesses to chronic pain

Left to right: Sylvie Lambert, RN, Marc Martel, and Mathieu Roy are among the seven new and 10 renewed Canada Research Chairs announced for McGill University.

Giada Sebastiani
Giada Sebastiani receives the Ingegno Italiano Award from the Italian ambassador in Canada
This national distinction recognizes outstanding contributions to science by Italian researchers across all disciplines in Canada

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TRAINEE ACHIEVEMENTS

Zafina Budhwani, Jéssica Ding, Nicholas Hickens, Suleima Jacob-Tomas, Hani Rukh-E-Qamar, Yichun Sun, Thupten Tsering, Sacha Williams
Eight RI-MUHC trainees earn 2024 EDI award for academic excellence
The awards for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in health care research recognize the academic excellence of medical and health science students from racialized groups

The awards for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in health care research recognize the academic excellence of medical and health science students from racialized groups. From left, Nicholas Hickens (award winner), Emily Bell (Associate Director, Desjardins Centre for Advanced Training, RI-MUHC), Zafina Budhwani (award winner), Jéssica Ding (award winner), Yichun Sun (award winner), Suleima Jacob-Tomas (award winner, in front), Sacha Williams (award winner), Rhian Touyz (Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, RI-MUHC), Diego Herrera (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion specialist, RI-MUHC), Thupten Tsering (award winner). Inset: Hani Rukh-E-Qamar (award winner).

Jae Hyun Byun, Nour Chahine, Judy Chen, Mary LaPierre, Jamie Magrill, Tarek Taifour, Raffles Xingqi Zhu
Major funding awards for seven RI-MUHC trainees
A Banting Fellowship and six Vanier Scholarships were awarded in 2024

Jae Hyun Byun, Kristina Cunanan, Kate Lindsay, Maya Verma
CHAL trainees shine on the national stage
From national conferences to peer-reviewed publications, CHAL trainees are earning recognition for their outstanding contributions to heart health research

(From left to right) CHAL program trainees Kate Lindsay, Kristina Cunanan, Maya Verma and Jae Hyun Byun.

Mariam El Sheikh, Ioanna Gianopoulos, Tarek Klaylat, Ghadeer Olleik
Four RI-MUHC trainees win laurels on a national platform
Congratulations to these RI-MUHC trainees distinguished for their innovative work!

RI-MUHC trainees Mariam El Sheikh, Ioanna Gianopoulos, Tarek Klaylat and Ghadeer Olleik (left to right).

Leah Flatman
American College of Rheumatology honours a trainee from The Institute
Leah Flatman's research investigates risks associated with maternal medication exposure during pregnancy

Gabriel Blanco Gomez
Provincial finals for Science POP Competition 2024
Science comes out on top as RI-MUHC trainee Gabriel Blanco Gomez wins first place and the Prix du scientifique en chef

Aura Andrea Tamez González, Guy Hajj-Boutros, Sarkis Hannaian, Cecilia Carolina Hes, Suleima Jacob-Tomas, Yi Yvonne Jin, Maisha Maliha Promi
Recognizing Excellence in Metabolism and Aging Research
MeDiC Program trainees honoured with awards and fellowships for innovative contributions

Dana Kablawi
RI-MUHC trainee honoured by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Dana Kablawi receives 2024 Raymond T. Chung Emerging Liver Scholar Award

Joseph Petruccelli
Trainee from The Institute wins two 2024 Prix Hippocrate awards
Dr. Joseph Petruccelli and CoeurWay startup honoured for AI-powered solution to clinician burnout

Back row (left to right): Samuel Gareau-Lajoie (CoeurWay), Marie Lavoie (CoeurWay). Front row: Antoine Lavoie (CoeurWay), Daniel Paré (Deputy Minister of Health in Quebec, MSSS) and Dr. Joseph Petruccelli (CoeurWay and The Institute)

Sami Sedraoui
April 2025 winner of the Relève étoile Jacques-Genest award
Congratulations to Sami Sedraoui, postdoctoral researcher in experimental medicine at the Meakins-Christie Laboratories

Sacha Williams
High-profile distinctions for RI-MUHC child health research trainee
Doctoral student Sacha Williams combines a career interest in child health research with the study of gender and sex

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STAFF HONOURED

Julie Browning
Congratulations to Julie Browning for winning the Regional Chapter Travel Fellowship Award for the 2025 CALAS-ACSAL Symposium in Richmond, British Columbia.

Lucie Côté
Lucie Côté, DVM, Director of the Animal Resources Division at The Institute, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the European Animal Research Association (EARA). As the first North American to join the board, Dr. Côté brings a wealth of expertise and leadership experience that will contribute to EARA's mission.

Mihaela Cucu Sandu
Mihaela Cucu Sandu, Environmental Health and Safety Officer at The Institute, has been appointed as Administrator and Regional Director for Montréal on the Board of the AQHSST Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail.

Aurore Dodelet-Devillers
Dr. Aurore Dodelet-Devillers, senior clinical veterinarian at The Institute, was recognized for her leadership in laboratory animal medicine by receiving the CALAM/ACMAL Award.