Asthma Canada proudly invests in the future of asthma research through three impactful funding streams: the Research Grant for Asthma Innovation & Impact, Graduate Student Awards in Asthma, and Early Career Research Awards in Asthma. On this page, you’ll find our current research opportunities and a list of current and past award recipients.
Research Grant for Asthma Innovation & Impact
Applications are now closed. Check back again later this year.
In partnership with CAAIF, we provide two research grants.
Investigators can apply for only one of these grants and should choose the category for which the work proposed most closely fits the description. It is understood that some grants may have elements of both types of research.
The objective of the Basic Science Research Grant in Asthma is to support innovative basic science research projects that improve the understanding of asthma and/or have a significant impact on the concepts, methods, treatments, and/or technologies applicable to asthma and/or comorbidities.
The objective of the Clinical Research Grant in Asthma is to support innovative clinical research projects that improve the health and quality of life of asthma patients and/or bridge the gap between research and clinical care.
VALUE OF THE AWARDS
Two grants for a maximum of $75,000 each.
Graduate Student Awards in Asthma
Applications are now closed. Check back again later this year.
In partnership with CAAIF, we provide research grants to support full-time MSc and PhD students conducting research in the field of asthma.
These awards are intended to foster the next generation of asthma researchers and contribute to better treatments and a future cure.
The objective of the Graduate Student Research Awards in Asthma is to create value-added opportunities for the training, education and professional development of graduate students, to promote greater understanding of the causes, and mechanisms of asthma with a view towards improvement of asthma treatments and potential cures.
VALUE OF THE AWARDS
- Two awards for PhD students, valued at $30,000 each
- One award for MSc students, valued at $15,000
Early Career Research Awards in Asthma
Applications are now closed. Check back again later this year.
In partnership with CAAIF, CIHR-ICRH and the Canadian Lung Association we provide research grants to support researchers in Canada at the early stages of their independent careers.
The objective of the Early Career Researcher Award in Asthma is to:
- Increase Canadian research capacity in the area of asthma;
- Support the research career of promising researchers;
- Produce high-quality research in asthma;
- Contribute to knowledge mobilization activities.
VALUE OF THE AWARDS
There are two awards available for up to $100,000 each
Current Researcher / Research Projects Supported (2025 - 2026):
2025 Early Career Research Awards in Asthma
[Asthma Canada, Canadian Lung Association CIHR-ICRH and CAAIF]
Dr. Eva Kaufmann
2026 Recipient, Early Career Research Awards in Asthma Dr. Eva Kaufmann | Biography: Dr. Kaufmann’s research program explores the role of hematopoietic stem cells and trained immunity (“innate immune memory”) in allergic diseases. Her work focuses on respiratory allergies affecting both the upper and lower airways, including allergic rhinitis and asthma. By investigating the fundamental mechanisms of allergy development, her team aims to pave the way for new preventive and therapeutic strategies. The Kaufmann Lab integrates animal models with human samples, applying advanced flow cytometry, imaging, and single-cell sequencing, alongside functional in vitro and in vivo approaches, to connect basic discovery with translational impact. Dr. Eva Kaufmann studied Veterinary Medicine in Germany, complemented by research fellowships in South Africa and the USA. She earned her PhD in Immunology at the German Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, with a visiting scientist appointment at IPBS Toulouse, where she investigated lipopeptide-specific T cell responses in BCG vaccination. As a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University, she advanced research on trained immunity and hematopoietic stem cell dynamics in tuberculosis, and later explored SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategies. In 2022, Dr. Kaufmann joined Queen’s University as an Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Immunology and Inflammation, establishing the Kaufmann Lab with its research focus on innate memory responses in allergic diseases. In 2025, Dr. Kaufmann was recruited back to McGill as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, with her group based at the Meakins-Christie Laboratories of the RI-MUHC. |
Research Project: Trained Immunity in Eosinophils: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities
Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease driven by exaggerated immune responses to environmental allergens. A type of immune cell called “eosinophil” plays a central role in driving inflammation and damage in the airways. Traditionally, eosinophils were thought to act only as short-lived “fighters” during allergic reactions. However, new data suggests they may also develop a form of “memory” of previous exposures, allowing them to respond more strongly when an allergen is encountered again.
This project explores how this immune memory in eosinophils contributes to ongoing asthma symptoms and whether it can be safely redirected.
By understanding and targeting this memory-like behavior, our research aims to break the cycle of repeated allergic reactions that amplify the response. Ultimately, this work could lead to new therapies addressing a root cause of asthma, improving quality of life for millions of people affected by allergic diseases.
Dr. Christina Thornton
2026 Recipient, Early Career Research Awards in Asthma Dr. Christina Thornton University of Calgary | Biography: Christina Thornton, MD PhD FRCPC is an adult respirologist in the Division of Respirology, Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary, Canada. Dr. Thornton is a clinician scientist specializing in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Her PhD thesis looked at the lower respiratory microbiome and microbial interactions in cystic fibrosis patients. She completed her internal medicine residency followed by respirology fellowship at the University of Calgary in 2021. Dr. Thornton then went on to the University of Michigan where she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in advanced microbiome community analysis in cystic fibrosis patients. She is now an assistant professor as of Aug 2022 at the University of Calgary. Dr. Thornton runs a research lab with the key interests around the role of polymicrobial infections at times of clinical stability and pulmonary exacerbation in suppurative lung disease. |
Research Project: Evaluating the pyroaeromicrobiome of wildfire smoke and its role in asthma
Wildfire smoke is becoming an increasingly common health threat in Canada, especially for people living with asthma. Smoke contains tiny particles (PM2.5) and chemicals that irritate the lungs, but new science suggests there may be an overlooked component contributing to asthma attacks: microbes carried on smoke particles. When vegetation and soil burn, living bacteria, fungi and potentially their toxins can become airborne and travel long distances in wildfire plumes. This “pyroaeromicrobiome” and its role in asthma is almost entirely unknown. Our research team proposes that these wildfire-borne microbes may worsen asthma by disrupting the airway microbiome and triggering neutrophilic inflammation, a form of asthma that is difficult to treat and less responsive to inhaled steroids. This study will investigate how wildfire smoke microbes influence asthma biology and clinical outcomes.
The project has three goals:
1. Identify the microbes carried in wildfire smoke. Using controlled burns at Canada’s leading wildfire research facility and real-world smoke sampling, we will measure which bacteria and fungi become airborne during wildfires and whether they remain alive and capable of triggering inflammation.
2. Examine how wildfire smoke exposure affects asthma risk at the population level. Using data from the UK Biobank (500,000 participants), we will model wildfire-derived PM2.5 exposure and determine whether asthma attacks increase during smoky periods. We will also explore whether a person’s baseline microbiome influences their susceptibility to smoke-related exacerbations.
3. Study how wildfire smoke affects people with asthma in Calgary. During wildfire season, we will collect airway, blood, and stool samples from adults with asthma to track how smoke changes their airway microbes and immune responses. We will compare responses in people with eosinophilic versus neutrophilic asthma to identify who is most vulnerable.
Expected Significance: This research will reveal whether wildfire-borne microbes are a hidden factor driving severe asthma symptoms during smoke events. Findings could lead to new tools to predict who is at greatest risk, new biomarkers to guide treatment, and eventually new strategies (including microbiome-based approaches) to help people with asthma during wildfire season.
2025 Research Grants for Asthma Innovation & Impact Winners
[Asthma Canada and CAAIF]
Dr. Anne Ellis
2026 Asthma Innovation Grant Recipient Dr. Anne Ellis Queen’s University | Project Name: Zepelumab in Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Study (TEZARS): An Open-Label Exploratory Mechanistic Pilot Study |
Dr. Harissios Vliagoftis
2026 Recipient, Early Career Research Awards in Asthma Dr. Harissios Vliagoftis University of Alberta | Project Name: Monocytes Orchestrate Airway Inflammation in Human Asthma. |
Research Project: Evaluating the pyroaeromicrobiome of wildfire smoke and its role in asthma
Coming soon.
2026 Graduate Student Research Award Winners
[Asthma Canada and CAAIF]
Abigail Davis
2026 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, PhD Abigail Davis Queen’s University | Biography: Abigail Davis developed her passion for translational allergy research through an undergraduate research project in the Life Sciences BScH program at Queen’s University. During her final year, she began working with Dr. Anne Ellis, whose mentorship inspired her to pursue graduate studies. As her research evolved, she completed a mini-master’s defense and was promoted directly into the PhD program. Abigail is now a PhD candidate in Dr. Anne Ellis’s laboratory and a trainee in Queen’s University’s Translational Medicine graduate program, where she investigates the relationship between allergic rhinitis and asthma. Her research focuses on understanding allergic rhinitis and asthma mechanisms and evaluating novel therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. Recognized through competitive awards, including the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship–Doctoral (CGRS-D) and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), Abigail aims to pursue a career in clinical research advancing innovative therapies for allergic and respiratory diseases. |
Research Project: Tezepelumab in the treatment of co-morbid allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma study (TEZARS) – An Open-Label Exploratory Mechanistic Pilot study to evaluate tezepelumab efficacy in asthma and allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis (AR), commonly known as hay fever, affects up to 80% of people with asthma. Both conditions occur when the immune system overreacts to allergens such as pollen and dust mites. When allergens are inhaled, cells in the nose and lungs release TSLP, a protein that acts like an alarm, triggering immune responses that lead to inflammation. This inflammation causes symptoms including sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, and wheezing.
Tezepelumab is a medication approved in Canada for the treatment of severe asthma that works by blocking TSLP. Many people with asthma also have AR and higher levels of TSLP in their noses, yet tezepelumab is not approved to treat both conditions due to limited research on its effects on nasal symptoms. We hypothesize tezepelumab will improve both asthma and AR by reducing upper and lower airway inflammation and symptoms.
In this study, 14 participants with both AR and asthma will receive tezepelumab for 12 months. A Nasal Allergen Challenge will be used to trigger an allergic response by applying allergen directly into the nose. Before treatment, and again after 6 and 12 months, we will evaluate nasal symptoms, measure TSLP and other inflammatory markers, assess lung function, and collect quality-of-life information.
This study addresses an important yet understudied patient population. Findings will improve our understanding of TSLP in AR and may support future clinical trials investigating tezepelumab as a treatment for both asthma and AR.
Shuqi Cai
2026 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, PhD Shuqi Cai Queen’s University | Biography: Shuqi Cai is a PhD student in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen’s University, where she works under the supervision of Dr. Sebastien Talbot. Her research focuses on how interactions between the nervous and immune systems contribute to chronic allergic asthma and how these mechanisms might be targeted to develop new therapies. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine, she pursued research in cancer neuroimmunology during her master’s training, where she became fascinated by the complex interactions between the nervous and immune systems. She enjoys combining advanced imaging and spatial transcriptomic approaches to better understand how immune responses are organized within tissues. Through her PhD, Shuqi hopes to build a career in translational immunology, connecting fundamental discoveries with new treatments that improve the lives of people living with asthma and other chronic inflammatory diseases. |
Research Project: Airway Neural Remodeling Drives iBALT Formation in Allergic Asthma.
Asthma affects millions of people worldwide, and many patients continue to experience symptoms that return even after the allergen that first triggered them is gone. This suggests the lungs retain a form of immune memory that keeps them primed to react to future exposures.
This project asks whether airway nerves help create that memory. In people with asthma, nerves in the lungs increase in number and change in structure after repeated allergen exposure. The goal is to determine whether these altered nerves promote the formation of small immune cell clusters, called inducible Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (iBALT), that may act as sites keeping allergic inflammation active long after the initial trigger has cleared.
Using mouse models of asthma, three-dimensional imaging, and spatial gene analysis, this project will examine how nerves and immune cells interact during allergic inflammation. It will also test whether blocking specific nerve signals prevents iBALT from forming, which would help clarify whether nerve activity is required to sustain these immune cell clusters.
If successful, this work will identify a previously unrecognized connection between the nervous and immune systems in asthma. Clarifying how nerves contribute to persistent inflammation could point toward new treatment strategies for patients with severe asthma who do not respond well to existing medications, improving long-term disease control.
Max Housefather
2026 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, MSc Max Housefather Queen’s University | Biography: Max Housefather is an immunology researcher in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen’s University. Currently completing a Master of Science under the supervision of Dr. Paul Kubes, he is using cutting-edge imaging techniques to study the lung immune response to wildfire smoke. Max obtained a BHScH with distinction from Queen’s University. During this time, he completed an Honours Thesis investigating the impact of A. fumigatus on stem and immune cell dynamics, and served as a Teaching Assistant for the Queen’s Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation course. With the support of Asthma Canada and CAAIF, he hopes to uncover new mechanisms of asthma exacerbation by wildfire smoke, leading to improved treatments and outcomes for people with asthma affected by wildfires. |
Research Project: Investigating Macrophage Paralysis and Neutrophilic Inflammation as Mechanisms of Asthma Exacerbation by Wildfire Smoke
Wildfires are becoming increasingly severe, and the smoke they produce is particularly harmful for people with asthma. However, how wildfire smoke exacerbates asthma is unclear. To answer this question, we will deliver wildfire smoke particles to mice and use special microscopes to observe their real-time effects on immune cells in the lung. We will first determine if wildfire smoke impairs macrophages—immune cells responsible for clearing any noxious substances we breath in. We will then test whether wildfire smoke increases neutrophils (inflammatory cells) in the lung, and whether this worsens asthma and makes it harder to treat. Ultimately, our findings could inform future treatment options for asthma exacerbated by wildfire smoke, and potentially other forms of treatment-resistant asthma.
Austin Pozniak
2026 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, MSc Austin Pozniak Guelph University | Biography: Austin Pozniak completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph, studying Biomedical Science and Microbiology. He then began his MSc degree in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph, studying the role of mast cells in infectious and inflammatory diseases. He has always been interested in the biological sciences and is specifically interested in the translation of medical research between humans and other species. Austin looks forward to continuing his studies with a One Health perspective, including understanding how diseases that are shared by different species exhibit similar pathophysiology and how this can be used in both research and therapeutic contexts. |
Research Project: Defining a Non-Allergic Mast Cell-Mediated Neuroimmune Axis in Asthma
Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease that often causes symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. While asthma is classically considered an allergic disease, there are also non-allergic mechanisms that play a role. Mast cells and sensory neurons are two cell types found within the airways that can communicate with each other to promote airway inflammation. Mast cells express a surface protein that can detect molecules released by neurons and promote the onset of inflammation, and it has been shown that there is increased expression of this protein in asthmatic lung tissue. This project aims to understand the role of mast cell expressed surface proteins in the onset and maintenance of airway inflammation in asthma, independent of the traditional allergic context. Specifically, we will focus on how sensory neurons activate mast cells to promote the release of molecules that contribute to disease development. By increasing our understanding of how this receptor may promote asthma, this will allow us to potentially harness receptor inhibitors as a future therapeutic option for asthma patients.
Past Researchers / Research Projects Supported:
Graduate Student Awards in Asthma (2017 - present)
2025 Awardees [Asthma Canada & CAAIF]
Israel Shpilman, PhD., McGill University, Research Project: B-Lymphocyte derived extracellular vesicles as key regulators of allergic airway inflammation.
Jenysbel Hernandez Reyes, PhD., Dalhousie University, Research Project: Development of a novel, targeted, cell-based immunotherapy for the treatment of asthma.
Omar Abdelraheem, MSc., Western University, Research Project: Elucidating the development and pathogenicity of dual-positive Th2-Th17 cells.
Oscar Gonzalez-Morales, MSc., University of Manitoba, Research Project: Effect of cationic host defence peptides on Histone Deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and related pathways, in steroid-unresponsive asthma.
2024 Awardees [Asthma Canada & CAAIF]
Nadia Abzan, PhD., Carleton University, Research Project: Development of 3D in vitro lung airway models to investigate the role of hypoxia in airway remodeling in asthma.
Courtney Marshall, PhD., University of Manitoba, Research Project: Sex as a biological variable in immunomodulation of airway inflammation by Innate Defence Regulator (IDR) peptides.
Mojdeh Matloubi, PhD., University of Manitoba, Research Project: Investigating the role of airway epithelial cell (AEC)-derived semaphorin3E in chronic type-2 high and steroid-resistant type-2 low models of asthma
Ali Mozaffaripour, MSc., University of Western Ontario, Research Project: Evaluating small-airways remodeling and response to therapy in patients with severe asthma using 129Xe MRI ventilation texture features.
Ikebek Peter, MSc., Lakehead University, Research Project: Exploring the molecular interactions between early-onset asthma and cow’s milk allergy
Sam Tcherner, MSc., University of Western Ontario, Research Project: An evaluation of gas-exchange abnormalities in moderate-severe asthma over time.
2023 Awardees [Asthma Canada & CAAIF]
Courtney Hoskinson, PhD. McMaster University, Research Project: Data from the CHILD cohort study: functionally linking the early-life gut microbiome to health and disease.
Natasha Kunchur, PhD., Carleton University, Research Project: Mapping airway remodelling in asthma using multimodal Raman-Second Harmonic Generation imaging and machine learning
Courtney Marshall, PhD. University of Manitoba, Research Project: Sex as a biological variable in immunomodulation of airway inflammation by Innate Defence Regulator (IDR) peptides
Jo-Chiao Wang. PhD. University of Montreal, Research Project: Basophilic oncostatin M fuels nociceptor neuron-induced asthma
Anam Ara, MSc. University of Manitoba, Research Project: DNA methylation changes induced by prenatal cannabis exposure associated with asthma in mice
Nandihitha Raguayakam, MSc. McMaster University, Research Project: Quantitative Imaging to Understand the Early Manifestation and Therapeutic Relevance of Abnormal Airway Morphology and Function in Asthma
Michael Yoon, MSc., University of British Columbia, Research Project: Investigating the interactions of air pollution and an anti-inflammatory asthma medication using scRNA sequencing
2022 Awardees [Asthma Canada & CAAIF]
Christiane Whetstone, PhD. McMaster University, Research Project: Effects of inhaled allergen on eosinophil phenotypes in blood and airways of patients with allergic asthma
Courtney Marshall, PhD. University of Manitoba, Research Project: Sex as a biological variable in immunomodulation of airway inflammation by Innate Defence Regulator (IDR) peptides
Darlene Dai, PhD. University of British Columbia, Research Project: Mining the infant gut microbiota to predict and prevent asthma: data from the CHILD Cohort Study
Fang Fang Li, PhD. University of British Columbia, Research Project: Uncovering viral determinants of asthma development by serological profiling
Harkiran Kooner, PhD. Western University. Research Project: Are CT Mucus Plugs disrupted following two years of Benralizumab treatment in severe, eosinophilic asthma?
Nadia Surrey Tan, MSc. McMaster University, Research Project: Aberrant lymphocytes and airway autoimmunity: Connecting severe asthma and EGPA pathology
Tony Guo, MSc. University of British Columbia, Research Project: Aberrant lymphocytes and airway autoimmunity: Connecting severe asthma and EGPA pathology
Vincent Dandenault, MSc. University of Montreal, Research Project: Aberrant lymphocytes and airway autoimmunity: Connecting severe asthma and EGPA pathology
2021 Awardees [Asthma Canada & CAAIF]
Caren (Xiaoshu) Cao, PhD. University of Toronto, Research Project: Understanding the link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma
Dr. Andrew Kouri, PhD. University of Toronto, Research Project: Exploring the influence and perspectives of older adults in the development and testing of mobile health interventions in airways disease
Samantha Lee, PhD. University of Manitoba, Research Project: Investigating epigenetic changes associated with prenatal air pollution exposure in the CANDLE study.
2020 Awardees [Asthma Canada & CAAIF]
Anthony Altieri, PhD. University of Manitoba, Research Project: Regulation of Airway Inflammation: Cytokin IL-17 & Cathelicidin LL-37
Aubrey Michi, PhD. University of Calgary, Research Project: Evaluation of trained innate immunity to rhinovirus infections in highly differentiated asthmatic airway epithelial cells
2019 Awardees [Asthma Canada & CAAIF]
Jo-Chiao Wang, PhD., Université de Montréal, Research Project: Nociceptor Neurons Control Pollution-exacerbating Asthma
Moïra Dion, PhD. Université Laval, Research Project: Understanding the Role of the Human Gut Virome in the Development of Early-onset Asthma
2018 Awardees [Asthma Canada & AllerGen]
Hadeesha Piyadasa, PhD., Univesity of Manitoba, Reserach Project: An Immunomodulatory Innate Defence Regulator (IDR) Peptide Alleviates Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness
Ryan Huff, PhD., University of British Columbia, Research Project:Diesel Exhaust Induces Glucocorticoid Resistance (DIGR)
Xiashu Cao, PhD., University of Toronto, Research Project:Investigating the Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Rostral Fluid Shift on the Pathophysiology of Asthma
Jaclyn Parks, MSc., Simon Fraser University, Research Project: Exploring Low Cotinine Levels as a Biomarker of Tobacco Use and Dietary Intake
Samuel Shin, MSc., University of British Columbia, Research Project: The Role of ILCs in Chronic Airway Inflammation and Lung Fibrosis
2017 Awardees [Asthma Canada & AllerGen]
Diana Pham, MSc. University of Calgary, Research Project: The Role of Human Rhinovirus Infections in the Pathogenesis of Airway Remodelling in Asthma
Thomas Mahood, PhD., University of Manitoba, Research Project: Understanding the Role of Protein Prenylation in Asthma.
Danay Maestre-Batlle, PhD., University of British Columbia, Research Project: Effects of Phthalate Inhalation on Airway Immunology: A Controlled Human Exposure Study
Early Career Research Awards in Asthma (2022 - present)
2022 Recipients [CAAIF]
Dr. Cristina Longo, Université de Montréal, Research Project: Treating Asthma by Integrating Learning Algorithms with Omics Research: Moving toward Automated High-Dimensional Endotyping in Children (TAILOR-MADE)
Dr. Zihang Lu, Queen’s University, Research Project: Asthma phenotypes, risk factors and the implications for future management in Canadian children
Lead Investigator Research Awards in Asthma (2014 - 2019)
2019 Recipient
Dr. Samir Gupta
Dr. Gupta is a clinician-scientist at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is a staff respirologist in the Division of Respirology at St. Michael’s Hospital. He completed his Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Toronto, followed by a fellowship in Knowledge Translation Research. His main research interest is in knowledge translation in primary care, across the spectrum of respiratory illness, with a focus on electronic tools and asthma. He also has an interest in rare lung disease research methods, and the hepatopulmonary syndrome in particular.
Dr. Gupta serves as Chair of the Canadian Respiratory Guidelines Committee at the Canadian Thoracic Society and holds the University of Toronto Michael Locke Term Chair in Knowledge Translation and Rare Lung Disease Research.
2018 Recipient
Dr. Catherine Lemière MD, MSc
Dr. Catherine Lemière MD, MSc is a Professor of Medicine at the Université de Montréal and a Staff Chest Physician at Sacre-Cœur Hospital in Montreal. Dr Lemiere’s research program is mainly focused on work-related asthma, asthma and more specifically, on the assessment of the airway inflammation present in this condition. Her research program, funded by several funding agencies – Canadian Institutes of Health Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC), Institut de recherche Robert Sauvé en Santé et Sécurité du Travail, Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé – has contributed to the improvement of the diagnosis of occupational asthma in clinical practice.
Dr. Lemière has been part of the Asthma Clinical Assembly of the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) since 2001. She chaired the assembly from 2001 to 2004 and was responsible for the 2004 up-date of the Canadian Adult Asthma guidelines. She is one of the co-lead authors of the 2017 Canadian Thoracic Society position Statement: Recognition and management of Severe Asthma, and served as President of the CTS.
2017 Recipient
Dr. Shawn Aaron
A professor in The Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Dr. Aaron is a respirologist with special research and clinical interests in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF). Dr. Aaron’s research has been focused on clinical and health services research related to the correct diagnosis and treatment of obstructive lung diseases (asthma and COPD) in Canadian communities. Dr. Aaron is Principal Investigator and Director of The Canadian Respiratory Research Network, a CIHR Emerging Research Network whose goal is to bring together researchers across disciplines to work together in a coordinated fashion in order to improve understanding of the origins and progression of asthma and COPD in Canada.
Dr. Aaron is recognized for the importance of his research examining misdiagnosis of asthma and the prevalence and economic/ health burden of undiagnosed airflow obstruction in Canadian communities. We also recognize his significant life-time achievements in asthma-related research over a very distinguished career.
2016 Recipient
Dr. Parameswaran Nair
A professor of Medicine at McMaster University, Dr. Nair is recognized for his innovative research investigating non-invasive measurements of airway inflammation in the treatment of Severe Asthma. He directs the AllerGen National Centre of Excellence Clinical Investigators Consortium for Severe Asthma and is a co-investigator of the Canadian Respiratory Research Network. At the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, he looks after patients with complex obstructive airway diseases, Severe Asthma, recurrent bronchitis, and lung disorders.
2015 Recipient
Dr. Malcolm Sears
A professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, Dr. Sears conducts innovative research into the epidemiology and natural history of asthma with a focus on its frequency, risk factors and characteristics in large populations. One of his most important studies to Asthma Canada was his longitudinal study examining the incidence and impact of asthma in a birth cohort of New Zealand children followed from infancy to adulthood. He is now conducting the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study assessing the influence of genes and the environment on infant development, which will add important information and understanding to the development of asthma in children and its impact in adults.
2014 Recipient
Dr. Michael Brauer
A professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Brauer is the inaugural recipient of Asthma Canada’s Bastable-Potts Asthma Research Prize for his ground-breaking research into traffic-related air pollution and its relationship to asthma in both adults and children. In his study he showed a prevalence of physician- diagnosed asthma and respiratory illness among children aged 0-24 months, who lived near and were regularly exposed to traffic related air pollution.
His work is being recognized by the Asthma Canada as a significant contribution to Canadians suffering from allergies and asthma.