College of Health Sciences researchers awarded more than $16.5 million in Fall 2025 CIHR Project Grants
Shelby Soke - 4 February 2026
Researchers from the University of Alberta’s College of Health Sciences have been awarded more than $16.5 million in funding through the Fall 2025 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant competition, underscoring the strength and breadth of health research across the College.
In the Fall 2025 competition, the University of Alberta submitted 145 applications, the highest number since Fall 2017. Eighteen projects received full Project Grant funding, with an additional three projects receiving Priority Announcement awards. The University’s overall success rate of 14 per cent matched the national average in a highly competitive funding environment.
Funded projects within the College of Health Sciences span a wide range of priority areas, including neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic health, rehabilitation, long COVID, diabetes, Indigenous health, health services research and the commercialization of new therapies.
Congratulations to the following recipients (nominated principal applicant followed by any other U of A principal applicants in brackets):
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation
Margie Davenport
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
Robin Clugston (Stephane Bourque), Jason Dyck, Shokrollah Elahi, Mahesh Kate (Brian Buck), Darren Lau, Jason Plemel (Fabrizio Giuliani), Michael Stickland, Alan Wilman, Toshifumi Yokota, Dawei Zhang
Faculty of Nursing
Yinfei Duan (Carole Estabrooks), Mark Haykowsky, Ashley Hyde (Farhad Peerani, Puneeta Tandon), Salima Meherali (Simone Lebeuf), Elisavet Papathanasoglou.
Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tony Kiang
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
David Bennett, Victor Ezeugwu
School of Public Health
Dean Eurich, Stephanie Yanow
Four Early Career Researchers from the University of Alberta were among the successful applicants, highlighting the College’s continued support for emerging research leaders.
“The CIHR Project Grant program is increasingly competitive, and these results reflect the excellence and collaborative strength of researchers across the College,” says Dr. Lawrence Richer, Associate Dean, Research, College of Health Sciences.