SickKids researchers awarded renewed Canada Research Chairs and NFRF funding
Summary:
Two scientists received renewed Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs, while a third secured support from the New Frontiers in Research Fund as part of recent federal investments.
Three researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) are among the recipients of new federal investments announced by the Government of Canada through the Canada Research Chairs program and the New Frontiers in Research Fund..
SickKids scientists hold 35 Canada Research Chairs, including 22 Tier 1 Chairs and 13 Tier 2 Chairs. The latest chair renewals, for scientists in the Cell & Systems Biology and Neurosciences & Mental Health programs at SickKids, recognize their continued leadership contributions to advancing child health research:
- Dr. Aleixo Muise: Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (renewed)
- Dr. Lu-Yang Wang: Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Brain Development and Disorders (renewed)
In addition, Dr. Amy Wong in the Developmental, Stem Cell & Cancer Biology program received $250,000 through the New Frontiers in Research Fund Exploration stream for her project “Breathing Life into Bioengineered Airways: A 4D Platform to Model Human Airway Disease.” The Exploration stream aims to support high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research projects.
Wong’s research aims to engineer a 4D artificial human airway model to better investigate how mucus obstruction affects lung function in conditions like cystic fibrosis (CF). While CF is well studied, less is known about how these blockages create physical pressure in the airways and disrupt the airway lining. This project will create a “living” model of the airway that mimics how air moves through the lungs, allowing researchers to study how mucus build-up changes how airway cells function and triggers inflammation. This approach could offer a new way to study lung conditions and support the development of targeted therapies.
As Canada’s most research-intensive hospital, these investments reflect SickKids’ continued commitment to advancing discoveries that improve the health of children and families in Canada and around the world.