Four Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH) members have been named new and renewed Canada Research Chairs by the Government of Canada, recognizing their global research excellence and contributions to advancing health and medicine.

The Canada Research Chairs Program enables Canadian universities to attract and retain world-class researchers who advance new knowledge and discoveries, strengthen Canada’s international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled people.

In total, 25 UBC researchers were announced as new and renewed Canada Research Chairs, representing an investment of $23 million.

Parliamentary Secretary Karim Bardeesy announced the chairs on October 23 on behalf of Industry Minister Mélanie Joly. The appointments were part of an $813 million investment in Canada’s research ecosystem by the Government of Canada.

New Chairs:

  • Sophia Frangou, Department of Psychiatry
    Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Pathophysiology of Mood & Psychotic Disorders

  • Sriram Subramaniam, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
    Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Structural Biology and AI-Driven Drug Discovery

  • Helen Tremlett, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology
    Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Multiple Sclerosis

Renewed Chair:

  • Manu Madhav, School of Biomedical Engineering
    Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Neural Circuits of Cognition and Control

The Government of Canada also announced nearly $8 million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support CRCs across the country. These contributions, made through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) in collaboration with the CRC program, support the work of 35 research chairs at 22 universities across the country.

JELF funding was awarded to Dr. Helen Tremlett.