Queen’s announces 16 Canada Research Chairs

Queen’s researchers are exploring new frontiers in research with the promise of global impact. From developing novel cancer therapies to addressing affordable housing scarcity and advancing innovative sustainable fuels, 16 researchers from across disciplines at Queen’s have been recognized for their leadership in solving some of the world’s most urgent challenges. As part of today’s announcement on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, 224 Canada Research Chairs (CRCs) have been announced or renewed across the country. A record number of Queen’s researchers have been awarded CRCs in this latest round, bringing the total to 41 researchers, including two Canada Excellence Research Chairs, pursing their leading research at the university.

“By supporting our world-class postsecondary institutions and their diverse teams of researchers, we’re fueling the innovations that drive progress and competitiveness,” says Minister Champagne. “This funding not only strengthens science and discoveries but also informs public policy, fosters equity, and ensures Canada remains at the forefront of global issues like health, the environment, and social justice.”

Founded in 2000, the CRC program is part of a national strategy to attract and retain leading and promising minds with the aim to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development. Tier 1 Chairs are recognized by their peers as world leaders in their respective fields and hold a seven-year term receiving $1.4 million in funding. Tier 2 Chairs are recognized as emerging leaders in their research areas and hold a five-year term receiving $500,000 in support. Of the 16 Queen’s researchers awarded Chairs, nine have been named Tier 1 and seven have been named Tier 2.

“This is an exciting moment for Queen’s and we are very proud to have 16 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs advancing knowledge in their respective fields,” says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research). “The CRC program has a unique multiplier effect – helping to attract new trainees, resources, and funding opportunities. I look forward to seeing the how the CRC enhances the research programs of these leaders at Queen's and across Canada.”

Learn more about Queen’s new and renewed CRCs:

Tier 1 Chairs

[Clockwise from left] Drs. Lisa M. Butler, Amir Fam, Kerstin de Wit, and Fernanda De Felice.

Lisa M. Butler – Global Health Equity: Dr. Butler (Public Health Sciences) seeks to tackle global inequalities in maternal, newborn, and adolescent healthcare access and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries through the development of pragmatic, scalable, and sustainable interventions that improve access to and delivery of quality care in clinic and community settings.

Amir Fam – Climate Change Resilient Infrastructure: Dr. Fam (Civil Engineering) aims to develop durable, climate-resilient designs for infrastructure to address both the immediate risks and long-term sustainability of Canada’s highway bridges and buildings in the face of extreme weather conditions and loading demands. His approach is through adaptation such as retrofits and mitigation with corrosion-resistant reinforcements, smaller volumes but stronger concrete for low-carbon structures, and rapid construction methods for lower impact on the surrounding environment.

Fernanda De Felice – Brain Resilience: Leading a groundbreaking research program aimed at revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. De Felice (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences; Psychiatry) utilizes innovative techniques to detect disease-specific nanoparticles in blood samples to combat neurodegenerative disorders and improve outcomes for brain health.

[Clockwise from left] Drs. Lynne-Marie Postovit, Parvin Mousavi, Susanne Soederberg, Mohammad Zulkernine, and Lidan You.

Kerstin de Wit – Emergency Venous Thromboembolism: Dr. de Wit (Emergency Medicine) is at the head of a transformative research program aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in emergency departments to streamline clinical practices, enhance patient outcomes, and improve the overall efficiency of emergency care contributing to reduced department wait times.

Lynne-Marie Postovit – Translational Cancer Research: Dr. Postovit (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell plasticity, the ability of a cell to alter its phenotype in response to microenvironmental cues, and resistance to therapy to translate these discoveries into innovative therapies and biomarkers for personalized medicine.

Parvin Mousavi – Medical Informatics: Dr. Mousavi (Computing) is integrating computing science and engineering to translate cutting-edge AI advancements into practical applications that improve disease diagnosis, medical interventions, and personalized treatments, envisioning machine learning solutions tailored for the unique demands of healthcare.

Susanne Soederberg – Just and Inclusive Cities: To address the critical issue of affordable housing scarcity which has led to increased evictions, homelessness, and challenges for vulnerable groups in securing stable housing, Dr. Soederberg (Global Development Studies) is evaluating innovative public-private partnerships aimed at increasing affordable housing supply to advance the creation of equitable and just cities.

Lidan You – Cell Mechanics and Mechanobiology: Dr. You (Mechanical and Materials Engineering) aims to pioneer the development of advanced microtechnologies that will enable the investigation of cellular responses to mechanical cues in their microenvironment with unprecedented detail to drive progress in understanding and treating bone disorders to promote musculoskeletal health and overall wellbeing.

Mohammad Zulkernine – Cyber-Physical System Security: Seeking to safeguard connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), Dr. Zulkernine (Computing) is addressing critical security vulnerabilities in cyber-physical systems, integrating AI, communications networks, and privacy principles to advance state-of-the-art technology and rebuild consumer trust in CAV safety.

Tier 2 Chairs

Drs. Heather Aldersey, Yolande Bouka, and Chantelle Capicciotti.

Heather Aldersey – Disability-Inclusive Development: Dr. Aldersey’s (Rehabilitation Therapy) research integrates participatory action approaches to enable culturally relevant and community-driven support systems that enhance quality of life for people with disabilities and their families globally. Her work focuses on identifying and addressing the needs of families affected by disability, especially in low- and middle-income countries. (Renewed Chair)

Yolande Bouka – Afrofeminist Thought and Political Transformation: Aiming to elevate decolonial and Afrofeminist debates, Dr. Bouka (Political Studies) is creating and sustaining physical and virtual spaces to develop strategies to research, teach, and mainstream Black women’s international thought in the field of International Relations to engage with emerging conversations about their emancipatory thought, practices, aspirations for planetary transformation.

Chantelle Capicciotti – Chemical Biology: Dr. Capicciotti (Chemistry; Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) is at the forefront of glycan research—the complex carbohydrates coating all cells—to uncover the efficient synthesis methods and tools for studying their interactions with protein that are essential to answering fundamental questions in cellular biology and developing more effective medicines to treat disease.

[Clockwise from left] Drs. Cao Thang Dinh, Maria Ospina, Robert Way, and Bhavin Shastri.

Cao Thang Dinh – Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals: Dr. Dinh (Chemical Engineering) leads a transformative research program aimed at tackling the pressing challenges of CO2 capture and conversion, crucial for achieving net-zero emissions in the chemical and energy sectors which is critical to global climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability.

Maria Ospina – Life-Course Health Development: Investigating the developmental origins of health disparities, Dr. Ospina (Public Health Sciences) utilizes a multidisciplinary approach that integrates life-course epidemiology, geographic information systems, and mixed-methods research to highlight the critical importance of early life interventions in fostering lifelong health and wellbeing.

Bhavin Shastri – Neuromorphic Photonic Computing: Dr. Shastri (Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy) is building computers inspired by the human brain that are powered by light (photons) instead of electrons. These neuromorphic photonic computers could be millions of times faster and more energy efficient than conventional electronic computers and could extend the application domains of artificial intelligence and quantum information.

Robert Way – Northern Environmental Change: Dr. Way (Geography and Planning) is addressing the pressing need to understand and mitigate climate change impacts within Indigenous Protected Areas as a response to the call to action for collaboration between governments, academic institutions, and Indigenous communities with the goal of developing community-led adaptation and resilience strategies to empower communities and safeguard cultural heritage.

To learn more about Queen’s 41 Canada Research Chairs and their leading research programs across diverse disciplines, visit the Research@Queen’s website.

The story originally appeared in The Gazette.