Congratulations to MSFHR Research Trainee Award Recipients

The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Trainee Program Awards support highly qualified Master’s, PhD and Post Doctoral trainees to prepare for careers as independent health researchers. While “training on the job,” these exceptional students significantly increase the productivity of the research programs with which they are affiliated. By funding their training, BC is better positioned to retain them as future leaders in health research. All awards consist of an annual stipend and a research and travel allowance.

2009 recipients include:

Biomedical
Junior Graduate Studentship

Cheung, Tsz Ying Sylvia
The mechanism by which SOCS3 mediates IL-10 inhibition of macrophage activation
University of British Columbia

Dranse, Helen
Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying retinoid action in chondrogenesis
University of British Columbia

Falk, Letitia
The role of gap junction Proteins in cytoskeletal rearrangements in B-lymphocytes
University of British Columbia

Himmel, Megan
Functional characterization of T cells and T regulatory cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
University of British Columbia
Jointly funded with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

McFaul, Sarah
Automated malaria diagnostic test via microfluidic separation of infected red blood cells
University of British Columbia

Ogloff, Nadya
Borrelidin: a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of inflammatory diseases
University of British Columbia
Jointly funded with VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

Russell, Shannon
Probing the gastrointestinal microbiota for microbial determinants of asthma
University of British Columbia

Simpson, Jessica
Evaluation of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the YAC128 transgenic mouse model of Huntington’s disease
University of Victoria

Westwell-Roper, Clara
Role of beta-cell Toll-like receptor signalling in type 2 diabetes
University of British Columbia

Whiting, Amanda
Small molecules with affinity for S100A7 a tumorigenic protein in breast cancer
University of Victoria

Wlodarska, Marta
The role of microbiota in susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease.
University of British Columbia
Jointly funded with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

Senior Graduate Studentship

Barha, Cindy
The effects of different forms of estrogen replacement on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in young and older female rats
University of British Columbia
Recipient of CIHR-Institute of Aging Recognition Prize on Aging

Crome, Sarah
Regulation and function of human T helper 17 cells
University of British Columbia

Lee, Cathy Yi-Shang
Targeting the Ras/MAPK pathway for treatment of high-grade pediatric brain tumors
University of British Columbia

Lin, Ann
Function of clathrin-based endocytic proteins during infections by extracellular bacterial pathogens
Simon Fraser University

Rogers, Lindsay
Mapping phosphorylation pathways to discover host signaling events induced by Salmonella
University of British Columbia

Svensson, Sarah
Molecular dissection of the Campylobacter jejuni regulatory system CprRS and its control of key aspects of pathogenesis and biofilm formation
University of British Columbia

Post Doctoral Fellowship

Frederic, Mélissa
Identification and analysis of proteins required for tubulin homeostasis: impact on nervous system disorders and cancer
Simon Fraser University

Gill, Navkiran
The relationship between the immune system and the normal gut microflora in Salmonella Typhimurium infection: A two-sided tale
University of British Columbia

Hackett, Tillie-Louise
The role of Apical Junction Complex in airway epithelial repair and differentiation in asthma
University of British Columbia

Heimovics, Sarah
Seasonal plasticity in brain estrogen signaling mechanisms regulating aggression
University of British Columbia

Tudurí, Eva
The role of leptin in the regulation of glucagon release from pancreatic alpha-cells.
University of British Columbia

Clinical
Junior Graduate Studentship

Ellamil, Melissa
Real-time fMRI training of functional connectivity and adaptive self-awareness
University of British Columbia

Jiang, Yuanyuan
The Positive Illusory Bias (PIB) in parents with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
University of British Columbia

Kam, Julia
Mind wandering in individuals with schizotypal personality traits
University of British Columbia

Kirkham, Amy
Exercise intensity prescription in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment
University of British Columbia
Jointly funded with Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation

Lukie, Carmen
Neural mechanisms of reward learning and cognitive control in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
University of Victoria

Turner, Brianna
Assessing protective factors for self-harm: Development of the barriers to self-harm inventory
Simon Fraser University

Senior Graduate Studentship

Nagamatsu, Lindsay
Visual-spatial attention and falls risk in seniors: Do fallers show impairments in reflexive orienting?
University of British Columbia

Paterson, Theone
Predictors of medication adherence in renal transplant patients: Self-efficacy depressive symptomology and neuropsychological abilities
Simon Fraser University

Rombough, Adrienne
Social attention and visual exploration in children with autism spectrum disorders
Simon Fraser University

Post Doctoral Fellowship

Andreazza, Ana
Identifying biomarkers associated with the diagnosis and illness progression of mood disorders
University of British Columbia

Birmingham, Elina
Perceptual and attentional abnormalities in autism – understanding impaired discrimination of the eyes
Simon Fraser University

Feehan, Lynne
Imaging early micro-structural bone changes in the rheumatoid hand: A high resolution-peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT) study in people with newly diagnosed RA
University of British Columbia

Health Services
Junior Graduate Studentship

Courtot, Melanie
Knowledge representation in health research: the Canadian influenza research network model
University of British Columbia

Housden, Laura
An innovative approach to providing patient care: examining the role of the nurse practitioner in primary care group medical visits
University of British Columbia

Senior Graduate Studentship

Hanley, Gillian
Measuring equity in the use and financing of prescription medicines
University of British Columbia

Semaka, Alicia
Development of clinical standards of care for Huntington’s disease intermediate allele predictive test results
University of British Columbia

Post Doctoral Fellowship
Hutcheon, Jennifer
Optimal timing of delivery for pregnancies with pre-existing hypertension
University of British Columbia
Jointly funded with the Provincial Health Services Authority – Child & Family Research Institute