2025 Canada Research Chairs
22 October 2025
The Canada Research Chairs Program invests up to $311 million per year to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Read Government of Canada invests to support research excellence for more information.
Congratulations to these new and renewed Chairs!
Dr. Sara Davison, professor, Division of Nephrology
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Kidney Supportive Care
Almost one billion people worldwide are living with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. By the time a person reaches kidney failure, they are usually suffering from a range of complex symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, itch, restless legs, insomnia and poor appetite. As Canada Research Chair in Kidney Supportive Care, Dr. Sara Davison aims to improve symptom management for those suffering from these conditions.
She and her research team are using the National Institute of Health Symptom Science Model to characterize the phenotypes of complex symptoms throughout the progression of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. They will then determine the proteomic and metabolomic biomarkers that foretell these symptoms and develop personalized, targeted strategies to support prevention or early diagnosis. Davison’s research has the potential to transform care and provide hope for people living with chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Glen Jickling, associate professor, Division of Neurology
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Stroke Genomics and Immunobiology
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Canada. Every year, more than 60,000 Canadians suffer strokes—and nearly 14,000 die. As Canada Research Chair in Stroke Genomics and Immunobiology, Dr. Glen Jickling is developing new approaches to preventing, diagnosing and treating stroke.
He has already made several important advances relating to understanding what causes a stroke, enhancing blood flow to the brain, and targeting aspects of the immune system to improve outcomes in stroke patients. Now, he and his research team aim to improve our understanding of how the immune system contributes to brain injury. They are also investigating how blood clots form in stroke and how blood vessels are injured in stroke patients. Jickling’s goal is to develop new treatments and precision diagnostic tools to better treat and prevent this often deadly condition.
Dr. Padma Kaul, professor, Division of Cardiology
Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Women and Children’s Cardio-Metabolic Health
Diabetes that develops during pregnancy, or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), is on the rise in Canada. It can lead to complications in infants and increase the baby’s risk of developing obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome later in life. It has also been linked to the development of diabetes in the mother, in turn increasing her risk of cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Padma Kaul, Canada Research Chair in Women and Children’s Cardio-Metabolic Health, is conducting three projects related to pregnancy and birth, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. She and her research team are examining treatments for GDM and how they affect health outcomes in children. They are also exploring the links between diabetes, a history of GDM, and the development of cancer. Lastly, they are using electrocardiogram-based artificial intelligence algorithms for screening and early detection of heart failure. Ultimately, Kaul aims to improve heart health for mothers and their children.