Since 1975, we've supported outstanding diabetes research in Canada and provided more than $140 million in research grants, awards and partnerships to scientists across the country.
Since Banting and Best’s discovery of insulin in Toronto in 1922, Canadian researchers have made huge strides and key advances in mapping and understanding how the human body functions (physiology), its chemistry (biochemistry) and the role of genetics in diabetes. This is why, each year, we choose to fund Canada’s most renowned researchers in their quest for new and innovative developments in the prevention, treatment and management of diabetes. And although the research is diverse in its scope, covering a broad range of specialties and topics, the underlying goal of each study remains the same—to improve the quality of life for people living with diabetes and to find a cure.
Every year, our researchers continue a tradition of innovation and discovery. Meet the researchers we are currently funding.
Causes Screening Complications Prevention Treatment Cure
Causes
Dr. Christine Doucette
University of Manitoba, Man. | Title: Can we improve the metabolic health of the next generation by restoring circadian rhythms? | Research area: Gestational diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Doucette’s research goal is to provide valuable information about how gestational diabetes mellitus exposure increases susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in children, and how this can be stopped.
Dr. Kathy McCoy
University of Calgary, Alta. | Title: Protecting children from type 1 diabetes by harnessing the microbiota of the mom and the Infant | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. McCoy is studying how microbes shape type 1 diabetes development, to protect children from type 1 diabetes by harnessing the microbiota of the mom and the infant.
Dr. Vincent Poitout
Centre de recherche du CHUM, Que. | Title: How the cells that make insulin adapt to puberty | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Poitout is studying how the cells that make insulin adapt to puberty, which will help devise strategies to curb the increase in type 2 diabetes in young adults.
Dr. Michael Wheeler
University of Toronto, Ont. | Title: The discovery of a more accurate means to predict future type 2 diabetes: preventing the onset and consequences of diabetes | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Wheeler’s research goal is to improve methods to accurately assess the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus and later in life, type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Brandy Wicklow
University of Manitoba, Man. | Title: The developmental origins of pediatric type 2 diabetes and early renal dysfunction | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: CIHR Team Grant: Diabetes Mechanisms and Translational Solutions for 100 Years of Insulin, 2022-2027
Dr. Wicklow is studying the developmental origins of pediatric type 2 diabetes to identify markers at birth that identify which children are at highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Screening
Dr. Jennifer Yamamoto
University of Manitoba, Man. | Title: Can continuous glucose monitors improve postpartum screening for diabetes? | Research area: Gestational diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Yamamoto is exploring whether continuous glucose monitors can be used in people with gestational diabetes mellitus after delivery to predict their risk of diabetes.
Complications
Dr. Sylvain Iceta
Université Laval, Que. | Title: Do “sugar swings” impact the brain software of people with type 1 diabetes? | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Iceta is studying the impact of blood sugar changes on the brain and eating behaviours in people with type 1 diabetes, which may result in improved early detection and management of these issues.
Dr. Saija Kontulainen
University of Saskatchewan, Sask. | Title: Bone strength development in girls and boys with type 1 diabetes study (BSDS) | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Kontulainen's study will guide interventions designed to optimize bone strength development and the prevention of bone fragility and fractures in individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Bruce Perkins
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health, Ont. | Title: Working to finally end diabetic ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes: an education tool combining data and lived experience | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Perkins’ research will help to better understand risk factors and components of effective education and prevention tools to end diabetic ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret
Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Que. | Title: Prevention of exercise-induced hypoglycemia with the artificial pancreas | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Rabasa-Lhoret is exploring the prevention of exercise-induced hypoglycemia with the artificial pancreas, which has the potential to reduce barriers to physical activity and improve the quality of life for people living with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Valeria Rac
University Health Network, Ont. | Title: Preventing vision loss from diabetic retinopathy: guiding primary care diabetic retinopathy screening in Canada through the use of provincial healthcare administrative data | Research area: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes | Award: CIHR Team Grant, Diabetes Mechanisms and Translational Solutions for 100 Years of Insulin, 2022-2027
Dr. Rac’s research, which focuses on preventing vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, uses provincial healthcare data to identify unmet care needs (according to clinical practice guidelines), as a crucial step in creating a Canadian diabetic retinopathy screening program.
Dr. Brian Rodrigues
University of British Columbia, B.C. | Title: VEGFB and its heart-protective role during diabetes | Research area: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Rodrigues is studying whether the protein VEGFB is protective against the development of heart complications, and whether this may be promising for treating people with diabetes who are at risk of developing heart disease.
Prevention/Reducing the Risk
Dr. Mary Jung
University of British Columbia, B.C. | Title: Addressing the health needs of rural communities: measuring the implementation and impact of an evidence-based diabetes prevention program adapted to local contexts in Northern British Columbia | Research area: Prediabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Jung is studying the implementation and impact of diabetes prevention programs in rural communities and measuring their meaningful healthcare impact.
Dr. Jonathan McGavock
University of Manitoba, Man. | Title: Preventing type 2 diabetes in teens through healthy lifestyles, emotional regulation and positive mental health | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. McGavock is exploring how to prevent type 2 diabetes in teens by supporting their social, emotional and psychological needs in addition to changing their lifestyle behaviours.
Dr. John Sievenpiper
University of Toronto, Ont. | Title: The role of the portfolio diet in the prevention of heart disease and diabetes: insights from clinical and population studies using markers of metabolism and genetics | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Sievenpiper is studying the role of the portfolio diet in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and its major complication, cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Shelley Spurr
University of Saskatchewan, Sask. | Title: Promoting health among Indigenous youth through wellness and HOPE | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Spurr’s research focuses on promoting health among Indigenous youth through wellness, prevention, and education that are relevant to Indigenous culture and values, and the needs of First Nation and Métis youth.
Treatment
Dr. Shazhan Amed
University of British Columbia, B.C. | Title: Building CAPACIty for pediatric diabetes research and quality improvement across Canada | Research area: Pediatric diabetes | Award: CIHR Team Grant, Diabetes Mechanisms and Translational Solutions for 100 Years of Insulin, 2022-2027
Dr. Amed's research addresses healthcare gaps in pediatric diabetes by studying the challenges with access to and delivery of diabetes care across Canada and developing strategies for quality improvement initiatives.
Dr. Lois Donovan
University of Calgary, Alta. | Title: Automated insulin delivery use in pregnancies of women with type 1 diabetes | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Donovan is exploring whether automated insulin delivery use in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes can improve blood glucose levels and result in fewer newborn complications and reduced diabetes self-care demands.
Dr. Mathieu Ferron
Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Que. | Title: A hormone produced by bone to treat diabetes | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Ferron is studying whether a hormone produced within the bones may be a promising antidiabetic agent that could have a strong impact on the treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Corinne Hoesli
McGill University, Que. | Title: Engineering a new islet transplantation site to improve access to cellular therapy as a treatment option for diabetes | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Hoesli is studying improved access to cellular therapy as a treatment option for diabetes.
Dr. Erin Mulvihill
University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ont. | Title: Exploring the effects of ketogenic diets on type 2 diabetes | Research area: Type 2 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Mulvihill is exploring the short- and long-term impacts of consuming a ketogenic diet to treat type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Meranda Nakhla
McGill University, Que. | Title: Group education trial to improve transition for parents of adolescents with T1D (GET-IT for parents) | Research area: Type 1 diabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Nakhla’s research focuses on improving the transition of diabetes care for parents of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, using patient-driven group education.
Cure
Dr. Robert Screaton
Sunnybrook Research Institute, Ont. | Title: Making beta cells secrete more insulin by targeting the switch protein ROMO1 | Research area: Prediabetes | Award: End Diabetes: 100 Award, 2021-2024
Dr. Screaton’s research focuses on strategies to make beta cells secrete more insulin, which could lead to the development of drugs that promote insulin secretion.