Research Funding
Congrats EPCAT III team!
Dr. Sudeep Shivakumar, Principal Investigator was recently awarded $4.48 million via NSHA for EPCAT III study.
Summary:
This study has the potential to show that a cheap, commonly used medication like aspirin is just as good and safe as an expensive blood thinner after hip and knee replacement surgeries, which would result in huge cost savings to the health care system.
This study continues the work of the EPCAT I and EPCAT II trials which led to the February 2018 publication in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Research integral to highest quality patient care
The Department of Medicine is home to grant and industry funded research in all areas of internal medicine. Our members’ research efforts are recognized around the world and attract more than $15 million in funding annually–15% of Dalhousie Medical School's total funding. As a department, we have research strengths in geriatric medicine, neurology, cardiology and infectious diseases.
University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF)
The University Internal Medicine Research Foundation was established to fund excellence in general internal medicine research at Dalhousie and its affiliated research institutions.
The Department of Medicine is one of only a few clinical departments to provide research funding enabling investigators to establish or grow their research efforts as well as attract additional grants or industry sponsors. |
Supporting research efforts
Awards are available to new and established investigators in four categories: bridge/pilot funding, junior investigator funding, fellowships and summer studentships. For more information, email domresearch@nshealth.ca, or visit the UIMRF page.
As part of our efforts to increase research in the Department of Medicine, we've committed to supporting and enabling funding opportunities for investigators at all stages of their careers. This is in keeping with our belief that research is integral to the highest quality patient care.
CIHR Project Grant competitions
Spring 2020 Project Grant Competition
$462,824 to Department of Medicine researcher – Dr. Leah Cahill
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) released the results of their Spring 2020 Project Grant competition, with 336 grants awarded, totaling $253 million. With a Canadian success rate of 15.8%, Nova Scotia had 49 applications, 8 of which were funded, for a 16.3% success rate. Of the eight researchers, six were affiliated with Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health, and received $4.7 million in funding. We are very pleased to announce that one of those projects is led by a DoM researcher.
Nominated Principal Investigator Dr. Leah Cahill was awarded $462,824 (NSH) for The Common Haptoglobin Phenotype as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: A Re-Analysis of Four Randomized Controlled Trials of Glycemic Control. |
Spring 2019 Project Grant Competition
$4.48 million to Department of Medicine researcher – Dr. Sudeep Shivakumar
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) released the results of their Spring 2019 Project Grant competition, with 382 grants awarded, totaling $275 million. With a Canadian success rate of 15.6%, Nova Scotia had 61 applications, 9 of which were funded, for a 14.8% success rate. Eight of the nine researchers were affiliated with Dalhousie University, IWK and Nova Scotia Health Authority, and received $9.27 million in funding. We are very pleased to announce that one of those projects is led by a DoM researcher.
Nominated Principal Investigator Dr. Sudeep Shivakumar was awarded $4,482,900 (NSHA) for EPCAT III - Extended Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Comparing Rivaroxaban and Aspirin to Aspirin Alone Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. |
Fall 2018 Project Grant Competition
$321,000 to Department of Medicine researcher – Dr. Karthik Tennankore
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) released the results of their Fall 2018 Project Grant competition, with 371 grants awarded, totalling $275 million. With a Canadian success rate of 14.9%, Nova Scotia had 46 applications, 6 of which were funded, for a 13% success rate. The six researchers, all affiliated with Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health Authority, received $3.25 million in funding. We are very pleased to announce that one of those projects is led by a DoM researcher.
Nominated Principal Investigator Dr. Karthik Tennankore was awarded $321,300 (NSHA) for Frailty and the Kidney Transplant Wait List. |
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2020-2021 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Chris Blanchard, PhD |
DoM Research |
DoM UIMRF Pilot Funding |
Dyadic Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in SOT Recipients |
Dr. Janet Roberts |
Rheumatology |
DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member |
Prospective study of rheumatic immune related adverse events during or following immunotherapy for cancer and the impact of immunotherapy on pre-existing rheumatic disease: Establishing a Prospective Nova Scotia cohort |
Elizabeth Blundon, PhD |
Palliative Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship |
Describing aspects of brain function at end of life |
Dr. Erica Kelly |
Hematology |
Internal Research Fellowship |
Tumor thrombus: A single-centre prospective registry study |
Dr. Alexandra Legge |
Rheumatology |
External Research Fellowship |
Using administrative health data to construct and validate a frailty index as a measure of susceptibility to adverse outcomes among patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases |
Mohammad Pulok, PhD |
Geriatric Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship |
The impact of retirement on health care utilization in Canada: The role of frailty |
Dr. Samuel Searle |
Geriatric Medicine |
External Research Fellowship |
Prognosticating Adverse Outcomes in Acutely ill Hospitalised Frail Patients |
Shanna Trenaman, PhD |
Geriatric Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship |
Uncovering how medication use moderates dementia neuropathology and how to improve medication use among older adults |
Dr. Jasmine Mah |
PGY3 Internal Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship – Clinician Investigator Program (3rd year of funding for PhD program) |
Social vulnerability and social admissions in older adults presenting to acute care |
Dr. Thomas Brothers |
PGY4 Internal Medicine – Clinician Investigator Program |
Resident Research Funding |
Implementation and evaluation of a novel, unofficial, trainee-organized hospital addiction medicine consultation service |
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2019-2020 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ulises Perez-Zepeda | Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship | Frailty in Countries of the American Continent |
| Dr. Thomas Brothers | PGY3 Internal Medicine | Internal Fellowship – Clinician Investigator Program (2 year program) |
Understanding and preventing serious bacterial and fungal infections in people who inject drugs |
| Drs. Kristin Ikeda and Antonina Omisade | Neurology | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Functional MRI (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) in pre-surgical lateralization of language and memory functions: Determining clinical usefulness and applications |
| Dr. Kim Anderson | Cardiology | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Failing at Diagnosing Heart Failure: Health Care Utilization before Hospitalization |
| Dr. Michael Thorne | Neurology | DoM UIMRF Matching Funds | Diagnostic and Therapeutic Roles of Butylcholinesterase in Multiple Sclerosis |
| Dr. Karthik Tennankore | Nephrology | DoM UIMRF Matching Funds | Aldosterone bloCkade for Health ImproVement Evaluation in end-stage renal disease (ACHIEVE). Proposal for Enhancing Recruitment in Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2018-2019 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leah Cahill, PhD | Howard Webster Research Chair | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Eating Frequency and Timing as a Predictor of Developing Type 2 Diabetes |
| Clove Haviva, PhD | Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship | How Does Religiosity Influence the Health of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Across Levels of Frailty? |
| Dr. Benjamin Whatley | Neurology | External Fellowship | Validating an Automatic Detector for EEG High Frequency Oscillations AND Evaluating the Clinical Utility and Impact of EEG Video Telemetry |
| Dr. Jasmine Mah | PGY3 Internal Medicine | Internal Fellowship – Clinician Investigator Program (2 year program) | Social vulnerability and social admissions in older adults presenting to acute care |
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2017-2018 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Gabrielle Horne | Cardiology | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Cardio-Aortic Mechanics in Genetically Triggered Aortopathy |
| Scott Kehler, PhD | Dr. Kenneth Rockwood's Lab, Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship (renewal for 2nd year) | Frailty and Cardiac Rehabilitation: Do Sedentary and Physical Activity Behaviors Impact Outcomes? |
| Dr. iAmanda Vinson | Nephrology | DoM UIMRF Matching Funds award | Kidney Graft Loss in Female Recipients of Male Kidneys: The Effect of Pre-Transplant Pregnancy |
| Dr. Jennifer Jones | Digestive Care & Endoscopy | DoM UIMRF Pilot Funding | Impact of Stakeholder-Defined Access Barriers on Healthcare Resource Use and Disease-Related Outcomes: Application of a Patient-oriented Systems Mapping Approach |
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2016-2017 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. Scott Kehler* University of Manitoba | Dr. Kenneth Rockwood’s lab, Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship | Frailty and Cardiac Rehabilitation: Do Sedentary and Physical Activity Behaviors Impact Outcomes? |
| Dr. Caitlin Lees | PGY3 | Internal Fellowship (2nd year) | Clinical Investigator Program (CIP), Dalhousie University |
| Cindy Forbes, PhD | Chris Blanchard’s lab | Internal Fellowship (Renewal 2nd year) | Improving Cancer Survivors’ Quality of Life Using an Integrative eHealth/mHealth Platform |
| Dr. Amir AbdelWahab | Cardiology | Junior Department Member | Validation of a Real-Time Localization Algorithm for Ventricular Tachycardia using the 12-lead Electrocardiogram |
| Dr. Doug Hayami | Cardiology | Junior Department Member | Optimized Exercise Training in Breast Cancer Survivors Pilot Study |
| Dr. Nathan Lamond | Medical Oncology | Junior Department Member | Malnutrition and Chemo-radiotherapy Outcomes in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study |
*Scott Kehler subsequently received a Dalhousie Killam Award and a CIHR Fellowship, thereby decreasing the UIMRF award by the amount of the external awards.
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2015-2016 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Caitlin Lees | PGY3 | CIP | Internal Fellowship - Clinical Investigator Program (CIP) |
| Dr. Alexandra Legge | PGY2 | CIP | Internal Fellowship - Clinical Investigator Program (CIP) |
| Cindy Forbes, PhD | Dr. Chris Blanchard's Lab | Internal Fellowship Award | Improving Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life Using an Integrative eHealth / mHealth Platform |
| Dr. Ciorsti MacIntyre | Cardiology | External Fellowship Award | Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Assessment of therapeutic options |
| Dr. Ferhan Siddiqi | Endocrinology & Metabolism | Junior Department Member Award | Epigenetic Markers in Diabetic Nephropathy |
| Dr. Karthik Tennankore | Nephrology | Junior Department Member Award | Frailty and the Transplant Wait List |
2020-2021
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2020-2021 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Chris Blanchard, PhD |
DoM Research |
DoM UIMRF Pilot Funding |
Dyadic Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in SOT Recipients |
Dr. Janet Roberts |
Rheumatology |
DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member |
Prospective study of rheumatic immune related adverse events during or following immunotherapy for cancer and the impact of immunotherapy on pre-existing rheumatic disease: Establishing a Prospective Nova Scotia cohort |
Elizabeth Blundon, PhD |
Palliative Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship |
Describing aspects of brain function at end of life |
Dr. Erica Kelly |
Hematology |
Internal Research Fellowship |
Tumor thrombus: A single-centre prospective registry study |
Dr. Alexandra Legge |
Rheumatology |
External Research Fellowship |
Using administrative health data to construct and validate a frailty index as a measure of susceptibility to adverse outcomes among patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases |
Mohammad Pulok, PhD |
Geriatric Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship |
The impact of retirement on health care utilization in Canada: The role of frailty |
Dr. Samuel Searle |
Geriatric Medicine |
External Research Fellowship |
Prognosticating Adverse Outcomes in Acutely ill Hospitalised Frail Patients |
Shanna Trenaman, PhD |
Geriatric Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship |
Uncovering how medication use moderates dementia neuropathology and how to improve medication use among older adults |
Dr. Jasmine Mah |
PGY3 Internal Medicine |
Internal Research Fellowship – Clinician Investigator Program (3rd year of funding for PhD program) |
Social vulnerability and social admissions in older adults presenting to acute care |
Dr. Thomas Brothers |
PGY4 Internal Medicine – Clinician Investigator Program |
Resident Research Funding |
Implementation and evaluation of a novel, unofficial, trainee-organized hospital addiction medicine consultation service |
2019-2020
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2019-2020 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ulises Perez-Zepeda | Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship | Frailty in Countries of the American Continent |
| Dr. Thomas Brothers | PGY3 Internal Medicine | Internal Fellowship – Clinician Investigator Program (2 year program) |
Understanding and preventing serious bacterial and fungal infections in people who inject drugs |
| Drs. Kristin Ikeda and Antonina Omisade | Neurology | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Functional MRI (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) in pre-surgical lateralization of language and memory functions: Determining clinical usefulness and applications |
| Dr. Kim Anderson | Cardiology | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Failing at Diagnosing Heart Failure: Health Care Utilization before Hospitalization |
| Dr. Michael Thorne | Neurology | DoM UIMRF Matching Funds | Diagnostic and Therapeutic Roles of Butylcholinesterase in Multiple Sclerosis |
| Dr. Karthik Tennankore | Nephrology | DoM UIMRF Matching Funds | Aldosterone bloCkade for Health ImproVement Evaluation in end-stage renal disease (ACHIEVE). Proposal for Enhancing Recruitment in Halifax, Nova Scotia |
2018-2019
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2018-2019 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leah Cahill, PhD | Howard Webster Research Chair | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Eating Frequency and Timing as a Predictor of Developing Type 2 Diabetes |
| Clove Haviva, PhD | Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship | How Does Religiosity Influence the Health of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Across Levels of Frailty? |
| Dr. Benjamin Whatley | Neurology | External Fellowship | Validating an Automatic Detector for EEG High Frequency Oscillations AND Evaluating the Clinical Utility and Impact of EEG Video Telemetry |
| Dr. Jasmine Mah | PGY3 Internal Medicine | Internal Fellowship – Clinician Investigator Program (2 year program) | Social vulnerability and social admissions in older adults presenting to acute care |
2017-2018
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2017-2018 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Gabrielle Horne | Cardiology | DoM UIMRF Junior Department Member | Cardio-Aortic Mechanics in Genetically Triggered Aortopathy |
| Scott Kehler, PhD | Dr. Kenneth Rockwood's Lab, Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship (renewal for 2nd year) | Frailty and Cardiac Rehabilitation: Do Sedentary and Physical Activity Behaviors Impact Outcomes? |
| Dr. iAmanda Vinson | Nephrology | DoM UIMRF Matching Funds award | Kidney Graft Loss in Female Recipients of Male Kidneys: The Effect of Pre-Transplant Pregnancy |
| Dr. Jennifer Jones | Digestive Care & Endoscopy | DoM UIMRF Pilot Funding | Impact of Stakeholder-Defined Access Barriers on Healthcare Resource Use and Disease-Related Outcomes: Application of a Patient-oriented Systems Mapping Approach |
2016-2017
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2016-2017 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. Scott Kehler* University of Manitoba | Dr. Kenneth Rockwood’s lab, Geriatric Medicine | Internal Fellowship | Frailty and Cardiac Rehabilitation: Do Sedentary and Physical Activity Behaviors Impact Outcomes? |
| Dr. Caitlin Lees | PGY3 | Internal Fellowship (2nd year) | Clinical Investigator Program (CIP), Dalhousie University |
| Cindy Forbes, PhD | Chris Blanchard’s lab | Internal Fellowship (Renewal 2nd year) | Improving Cancer Survivors’ Quality of Life Using an Integrative eHealth/mHealth Platform |
| Dr. Amir AbdelWahab | Cardiology | Junior Department Member | Validation of a Real-Time Localization Algorithm for Ventricular Tachycardia using the 12-lead Electrocardiogram |
| Dr. Doug Hayami | Cardiology | Junior Department Member | Optimized Exercise Training in Breast Cancer Survivors Pilot Study |
| Dr. Nathan Lamond | Medical Oncology | Junior Department Member | Malnutrition and Chemo-radiotherapy Outcomes in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study |
*Scott Kehler subsequently received a Dalhousie Killam Award and a CIHR Fellowship, thereby decreasing the UIMRF award by the amount of the external awards.
2015-2016
Department of Medicine UIMRF Awards
Department of Medicine University Internal Medicine Research Foundation (UIMRF) has approved the following funding applications in the 2015-2016 academic year:
| Name | Division | Program / Award | Project description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Caitlin Lees | PGY3 | CIP | Internal Fellowship - Clinical Investigator Program (CIP) |
| Dr. Alexandra Legge | PGY2 | CIP | Internal Fellowship - Clinical Investigator Program (CIP) |
| Cindy Forbes, PhD | Dr. Chris Blanchard's Lab | Internal Fellowship Award | Improving Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life Using an Integrative eHealth / mHealth Platform |
| Dr. Ciorsti MacIntyre | Cardiology | External Fellowship Award | Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Assessment of therapeutic options |
| Dr. Ferhan Siddiqi | Endocrinology & Metabolism | Junior Department Member Award | Epigenetic Markers in Diabetic Nephropathy |
| Dr. Karthik Tennankore | Nephrology | Junior Department Member Award | Frailty and the Transplant Wait List |