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
Deadline: July 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm in the time zone of the applicant.
In partnership with CAAIF, we have two new research grants for available.
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
There are two grants available for a maximum of $75,000 each.
Graduate Student Awards in Asthma
Applications are now closed. Please check 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 support promising students whose work focuses on:
- Understanding the causes and mechanisms of asthma; and/or
- Advancing treatment options and care.
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. Please check again later this year.
In partnership with CAAIF, 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 support research in basic, clinical, health services, and/or population health that:
- Improves the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of asthma; and/or
- Contributes to advancements in patient care, management, or health outcomes.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must:
- Be within the first 84 months of their first academic appointment;
- Hold a faculty position at an eligible Canadian institution; and
- Have a written institutional commitment to protect a minimum of 50% of their time for research.
VALUE OF THE AWARDS
TBA.
Current Research Projects Supported:
2025 Graduate Student Research Award Winners | Asthma Canada and CAAIF
Israel Shpilman
2025 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, PhD Israel Shpilman McGill University | Biography: From a young age, Israel Shpilman was fascinated by how things work—whether disassembling toys or exploring the complexities of the immune system. Raised in Canada by highly educated immigrant parents who were unable to practice in their original fields, he developed a deep appreciation for learning and adaptability. This foundation sparked his passion for science, which flourished in high school thanks to inspiring AP Biology and Chemistry teachers. At McMaster University, Israel pursued a degree in Biochemistry and became particularly interested in immunology, with a focus on allergies and autoimmune diseases. His enthusiasm for research grew during his time at the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, where he contributed to studies on COPD and cystic fibrosis. As a Master’s student at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Nahum Sonenberg, he investigated protein interactions involved in translation initiation. His team discovered that proteins linked to cognitive impairment in insulin-resistant mice did not exhibit the same behavior in humans, challenging existing scientific assumptions. These experiences solidified Israel’s commitment to conducting research with meaningful real-world impact. |
Research Project: B-Lymphocyte derived extracellular vesicles as key regulators of allergic airway
inflammation
Asthma is a long-term lung condition that affects over 262 million people worldwide, causing significant illness and around 455,000 deaths each year. Their lab is focusing on a type of immune cell called B-lymphocytes, which help regulate inflammation, including in asthma. They’ve discovered that these cells release tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are important for cell-to-cell communication and control of inflammation. These EVs carry proteins, fats, and genetic material (RNA), including microRNAs (miRNAs), which can affect how cells behave. In their research, they found that B2-EVs, a special type of EV produced by B-cells, can help reduce airway inflammation in asthma. They also discovered that certain miRNAs in these B2-EVs are linked to controlling the growth of cells involved in inflammation, such as eosinophils. In the first part of their project, they plan to investigate how specific miRNAs in B2-EVs influence eosinophil development and the inflammation process. By manipulating these miRNAs, they aim to understand which ones are most effective in controlling asthma-related inflammation. In the second part, they’ll test whether they can use these miRNAs as a treatment. They will introduce synthetic miRNAs to eosinophils in lab settings and in animal models to see if they can prevent excessive growth and inflammation. Ultimately, their goal is to find new ways to reduce asthma symptoms and improve treatments.
Jenysbel Hernandez Reyes
2025 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, PhD Jenysbel Hernandez Reyes Dalhousie University | Biography: Jenysbel is a Cuban researcher with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Havana and five years of experience as a Junior Researcher at the Center of Molecular Immunology. During this time, she contributed to clinical-stage immunotherapy research targeting cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. Currently, she is pursuing graduate studies in Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University under the supervision of Dr. Jean S. Marshall. Her research focuses on developing novel, targeted, cell-based immunotherapies for B-cell-mediated disorders and asthma. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, co-authored a granted patent, and secured competitive research funding, including support from Research Nova Scotia and the Canadian Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Foundation. Her long-term goal is to lead translational immunology research that bridges the gap between bench and bedside, advancing therapies for immune-driven diseases. |
Research Project: Development of a novel, targeted, cell-based immunotherapy for the treatment of
asthma.
Asthma is a long-term disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it hard to breathe. It affects around 300 million people globally and leads to over 180,000 deaths each year. Current treatments for severe allergic asthma mainly help control symptoms but don’t fix the root cause of the disease. They can also have serious side effects and are not always effective in stopping the disease from getting worse.
This project aims to develop a new, targeted, and long-lasting treatment for severe allergic asthma using a modified form of immune therapy called CAAR-T cells. These specially engineered T cells are designed to find and destroy only the harmful immune cells (IgE-producing B cells) that drive asthma, while leaving the rest of the immune system intact. We will first test these cells in the lab to see if they can effectively kill allergy-causing cells. Then, we will test their safety and effectiveness in mice with asthma. We will compare the efficacy of the treatment when administered before or after the onset of asthma symptoms.
If successful, this approach could lead to a new kind of cell-based therapy that may one day cure severe asthma or prevent it from developing altogether.
Omar Abdelraheem
2025 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, MSc Omar Abdelraheem Western University | Biography: Omar Abdelraheem’s journey as a biomedical researcher began with his undergraduate degree at Western University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree and specialized in Microbiology and Immunology. During this time, he conducted microbiome research under the supervision of Dr. Jeremy Burton. Since graduating in 2024, he continued at Western University as an MSc student under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Cameron in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, where he studies mechanisms behind asthma pathology. As a graduate student, he has succeeded in acquiring scholarship funding, including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and has had the chance to present his research at various regional conferences. His long-term goal as a researcher is to engage in translational biomedical research as a PhD student and/or throughout medical training as an MD. His research with Dr. Lisa Cameron is an exciting stepping stone towards that end goal in his professional career. |
Research Project: Elucidating the development and pathogenicity of dual-positive Th2-Th17 cells
Asthma is a common lung disease that affects about 300 million people worldwide and is associated with wheezing and shortness of breath. It is often caused by immune reactions in the lungs that are driven by immune cells called T-helper cells. Normally, these cells protect the body against threats, like microbes, by activating other immune cells. However, T-helper cells are associated with asthma by mediating inflammation, particularly T-helper 2 (Th2) cells and T-helper 17 (Th17) cells. In many cases, asthma is caused by inflammation from Th2 cells. As it becomes more severe, Th17 cells increase in frequency and cause inflammation alongside Th2 cells. This mixed inflammation has been reported to mainly come from hybrid Th2-Th17 cells. They want to study the processes by which Th2-Th17 cells develop and which of their features worsens asthma. To answer these questions, they will first examine how Th2 cells respond to molecules that they believe may induce them to become Th2-Th17 cells. They will then track what characteristics these cells develop. Their work will help deepen the knowledge of how different types of Th2 cells play a role in asthma. Understanding if and how Th2-Th17 cells increase asthma severity could uncover clues about new therapies that can be created to treat severe asthma patients.
Oscar Gonzalez-Morales
2025 Recipient, Graduate Student Research Award, MSc Oscar Gonzalez-Morales University of Manitoba | Biography: Oscar Gonzalez-Morales is a first-year MSc student (Immunology) in Dr. Neeloffer Mookherjee’s research group at the University of Manitoba. Oscar completed BSc in Biotechnology Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico) with two co-authored scientific publications. Subsequently, he worked at Nupromic Biotech (Mexico) developing novel dietary supplements, which deepened his interest in research in immune regulation and therapeutic innovation. Oscar’s MSc research project is focused on the role of Cationic Host Defense Peptides in the regulation of airway inflammation, especially for steroid-resistant severe asthma. Within the first year, Oscar secured three competitive graduate studentships, from Research Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and from Asthma Canada. Oscar aspires to further pursue a PhD and develop a career as an immunology researcher focused on respiratory disease. Oscar is also committed to science outreach; he volunteers with Science Rendezvous and the Wonon Project to engage youth in STEM and make science more accessible. |
Research Project: Effect of cationic host defence peptides on Histone Deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and
related pathways, in steroid-unresponsive asthma.
Asthma causes lung inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. It is the most common chronic respiratory disease, affecting more than 4.5 million Canadians. This disease lowers the quality of life and costs the Canadian economy more than $2 billion each year. Approximately 10–15% of asthma patients do not respond to available steroid treatments and suffer from steroid-resistant (SR) severe asthma, representing more than 50% of the asthma-related healthcare burden. Therefore, new treatments are needed for SR severe asthma.
This study focuses on understanding biological processes that can be targeted to control SR asthma by using molecules known as Innate Defence Regulator (IDR) peptides. They showed that an IDR peptide controls lung inflammation, improves breathing capacity, and intervenes in cellular processes linked to SR asthma. A protein that is decreased in the lungs in SR asthma is HDAC2. This project will examine how IDR peptides restore the levels of this protein in the lungs and consequently decrease lung inflammation related to SR asthma.
The findings from this project will identify cellular targets that can be used to control SR asthma, as well as establish the use of IDR peptides as a new therapeutic approach. Additionally, this project will advance the knowledge required to develop new strategies to control SR severe asthma, for which there are no available treatments.
Past Research Projects Supported:
Graduate Student Awards in Asthma [Recipients] | Asthma Canada & CAAIF
2024
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
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
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
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
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
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
Graduate Student Awards in Asthma [Recipients] | Asthma Canada & AllerGen
2018
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
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 [Recipients]
2022
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 [Recipients]
2019
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
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
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
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
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
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.