CVRI February Newsletter

As February gets underway, we hope the month is off to a great start. Below are the latest CVRI updates and announcements.

CVRI Funding Opportunities remain OPEN

Margaret "Marmie" Perkins Hess Heart Research Pilot Grant

Value & Duration: $30,000 for one year
Application Deadline: February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm MST
For details and to submit your pilot grant application, please click here »

CVRI-Cote Biomedical Research Studentship

Value & Duration: $20,000 for one year
Application Deadline: February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm MST
For details and to submit your studentship application, please click here »

Sandra and Scott Wegner and Riley Zinnert Student Travel Allowance

Value & Duration: $1,000 once in any 24 month period
Application Deadline: February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm MST
For details and to submit your Travel Allowance application, please click here »

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS 

CVRI Gary Lopaschuk Research Day 2026 
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026 | Time: 8:00am – 4:30pm | Location: Bernard Snell Hall, WMC

We are excited to announce that the call for abstracts for the upcoming Research Day will open on March 1, 2026, with a submission deadline of April 12, 2026.

 Further information will be shared via email and posted on here. 

CVRI Membership - to join or renew

This will allow for the provision of additional data and information for our members that would improve our potential for collaborations, supervision of trainees, and frequent updates on our publications through the ORCID number in our website, in order to improve our branding. The process will take a few minutes and in addition to your name and affiliation, you will need 2-3 sentences describing your research expertise/interest, a list of your best 3 most important publications, as well as 2-3 grants from the past 10 years. Finally, you will need your ORCID number. If you don’t have one, full details and registration form can be found here to help you obtain this very important identification number.

Here is the link to the CVRI Membership Form.

Success Stories: Recipients of the CIHR fall 2025 project grant competition

1. Dr. Jason Dyck – Dept. of Pediatrics
2. Dr. Mahesh Pundlik Kate – Dept. of Medicine
3. Dr. Michael Kenneth Stickland – Dept. of Medicine
4. Dr. Dawei Zhang – Dept. of Pediatrics
5. Dr. Stephane Bourque – Dept. of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
6. Dr. Margaret Davenport - Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
7. Dr. Victor Ezeugwu – Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine - Physical Therapy
8. Dr. Mark Haykowsky – Faculty of Nursing
9. Dr. Toshifumi Yokota – Dept. of Pediatrics

Celebrate HEART MONTH

a) Heart and Stroke Foundation

To mark Heart Month, Heart & Stroke has released its 2026 Heart Month Report, highlighting concerning trends in modifiable risk factors for heart disease and stroke — including declining physical activity, rising diabetes rates, persistent high blood pressure and cholesterol, and increasing youth vaping.

Nine in ten people in Canada have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke. To help Canadians better understand their personal risk and take action, Heart & Stroke offers Risk Screen, a free, easy-to-use online tool that provides personalized recommendations for heart and brain health.
Learn more and take the Risk Screen: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/healthy-living/risk-screen 

B) HEART MONTH in the MAZ

Heart Month continues with lots of activities planned this week, February 9-13^th

•  Blood Pressure Clinics – Pharmacy Students will be taking your blood pressure in the Healing Garden and 2^nd floor Pedway Entrance to the Maz  February 10: 8:50 to 10:50am and February 11: 2 to 4pm.
• February 13 is Wear Red Day - show our MAZ pride, and raise awareness for Women’s Heart Disease. 
• CARDIO BYTES – Dr. Gouda will be presenting on February 11: 12pm in the Shaw (0 Level, Maz).  Light refreshments will be served.
• Cookies! The MAZ Café on the 1^st floor is selling heart shaped cookies again. Proceeds go to the University Hospital Foundation and cardiac care at the MAZ! 
• The SPIN-A-THON is back! Get your heart pumping with your friends and colleagues on February 19: 12hours, 12 bikes…and MAZ teams having fun & spinning to raise funds.       

The CVRI office welcomes the opportunity to connect with members to discuss ideas, questions, or upcoming initiatives. Personal or virtual meetings are available on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 10 AM to 12 PM. Appointments can be arranged by contacting the CVRI at cvri@ualberta.ca

We look forward to another exciting year of collaboration, discovery, and shared success. Thank you for your ongoing contributions to our vibrant research community.

Best wishes,
Evangelos and Irene