2021-2022 PROGRAM TIMELINE

Please share comments and feedback about the 2021 - 2022 Merit Awards Program process at: Merit Awards Program Evaluation Survey

RECIPIENTS FOR 2021-2022 MERIT AWARDS

Congratulations to the following recipients who received a competitive peer-reviewed Merit Award from the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto for the period of 2021-2022.

New “Mentorship Merit Awards” ($20,000 per annum):
 

Balki, Mrinalini                

MSH                                 

Effect of maternal vasopressor agents on human myometrium, uterine and umbilical artery contractility: An in-vitro approach to optimize neonatal outcomes at Cesarean delivery under regional anesthesia

Choi, Stephen

SHSC

Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders

Goldenberg, Neil

HSC

Immunological Dysfunction Drives The Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Hypertension

Riazi, Sheila                                                                         

TWH                                                        

A Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Test for Malignant Hypertherm


New Research Commendation Awards:
 

Aoyama, Kazuyoshi                               

HSC                              

Charting Risk Factors and Inventions for Adverse Outcomes Associated with Severe Maternal Morbidity”

Baker, Andrew

SMH

The role of TREM2/DAP signaling on acute and chronic neuroinflammation and outcome following modeled traumatic brain injury

Crawford, Mark

HSC

An evidence-based program to inform the development and implementation of a pediatric anesthesia academic-rural partnership for Ontario

Gleicher, Yehoshua

MSH

Converting Inpatient Surgery to Outpatient (CISTO): A Knowledge Translation Based Implementation Framework

Jinn, Ki Chin, Ki

TWH/WCH

Advancing the Understanding and Clinical Application of the Erector Spinae Plane Block

Khan, James

MSH

Persistent pain after breast cancer surgery research program

Kirkham, Kyle

TWH/WCH

De-implementing low value care: Does a theory-based intervention to improve accountability reduce low-value preoperative investigations in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery?

Lorello, Gianni

TWH/WCH

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Medicine

Mashari, Azad

TGH

Sustainable Systems for Rapidly Scalable Respiratory Support in Public Health Emergencies

McDonnell, , Conor

HSC

Removing Excess Unused Opioids from the Community – A Pediatric Postoperative Opioid Stewardship Program

Niazi, Ahtsham

SHSC

The Effect of Pre-Operative Education Providing Opioid Counselling and Pain Coping Skills on Post-Operative Opioid Consumption.

Parotto, Matteo

TGH

Improving outcomes in perioperative and critical care medicine

Teja, Bijan

SMH

Vasopressor Selection and Administration in Septic Shock

You-Ten, Eric                                                                  

MSH                                    

Macroscopic and Microscopic Contaminations of High Level Protection Gowns Using Simulated Droplets of Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures: Implications for Re-Designing Gowns and Enhanced Protocol Training for Optimal Protection During the Current COVID-19 Pandemic

 “Excellence in Research” Awards ($60,000 per annum):
 

Cuthbertson, Brian                    

SHSC              

An Innovative Clinical Trials and mentorship program

Wijeysundera, Duminda

SMH

Integrated Program to Improve Prediction and Prevention of Postoperative Complications

Wunsch, Hannah                            

SHSC                               

Pharmaco-epidemiology in surgery and critical illness

 

“Research Merit” Awards ($40,000 per annum):

Bhatia, Anuj                                                                   

TWH                            

Evaluation of Mechanisms and Outcomes of Paresthesia-based and Paresthesia-free Modes of Spinal Cord Stimulation in patients with neuropathic pain: the MOPPStim study

Brull, Richard

TWH/WCH

Expanding the Boundaries of Anesthesia for Ambulatory Surgery

Carvalho, Jose

MSH

1) Oxytocin at elective cesarean deliveries: dose-finding study in morbidly obese women

2) Oxytocin at elective cesarean deliveries: dose-finding study in women with twin pregnancy

3) Carbetocin at elective cesarean deliveries: dose-finding study in women with twin Pregnancy

4) Use of a standardized algorithm for the management of epidural analgesia for labor and delivery: An observational cohort study

Clarke, Hance

TGH

Ontario Transitional Pain and Opioid Safety Program: Improving Pain, Opioid, and Harm Reduction Practices, as well as, Cannabis Safety for Canadian Patients

Hare, Greg

SMH

Assessing the Impact of Anemia on Cardiac Function, Myocyte Metabolism and Myocardial Injury in a Translational Animal Model of Acute Anemia.

Jerath, Angela

SHSC

Perioperative Care Models and Morbidity on Patient and Health System Outcomes (PROPEL)

Karkouti, Keyvan

TGH

OPTIMAL COAGULATION MANAGEMENT IN CARDIAC SURGERY

Maynes, Jason

HSC

Regenerative Therapies for Heart Failure

Mazer, David

SMH

Improving Outcomes through Clinical Trials Research

Peng, Philip

TWH

Innervation of Shoulder and Wrist Joints relevant to Image-Guided Intervention

Perlas, Anahi

TWH

Advancing anesthesia patient safety through point-of-care gastric ultrasound

Singh, Mandeep

TWH/WCH

The TRANslating sleep health into QUaLity of recovery (TRANQUiL) program: A multi- center prospective cohort study of sleep health measures predicting meaningful, patient-reported outcomes following elective surgeries

Wong, Jean                                          

TWH/WCH                             

FEASIBILITY OF A SELF-ADMINISTERED ONLINE COGNITIVE SCREENING TOOL IN OLDER SURGICAL PATIENTS

Education Research Merit Award ($40,000 per annum):

Alam, Fahad                                

SHSC                         

Propelling immersive reality: integration with healthcare and patient perspective

Early Investigator Awards ($40,000 per annum):

Bartoszko, Justyna                                               

TGH                                         

Albumin Utilization for Intravascular Volume Replacement Across Canadian Cardiac Surgical Centres: A Prospective Observational Study

Ladha, Karim

SMH

No Laughing Matter: The Use of Anesthetics for the Treatment of Depression

Steinberg, Benjamin                    

HSC                            

The role of pyroptosis in neonatal pain priming

REVIEW PROCESS

There were 51 applications submitted to this 2021-2022 Merit Awards cycle. Each application was sent out for peer review, it was reviewed by four independent peer reviewers who are either internal and external faculty to the department. All the reviewers are highly experienced academics from the University of Toronto and have a broad range of expertise reflecting the applications that were received for the merit awards program. There were 45 reviewers in total: 41 are clinical researchers, 9 are basic science or translational researchers, 6 are qualitative researchers, 9 are educational researchers and 20 are quality improvement scientists. These researchers were matched to the methods and topics of the submitted applications.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

We are aware that Dr. Brian Cuthbertson, Vice-Chair of Research, was involved in organizing the Merit Awards Program and was a successful applicant. To address concerns regarding perceived conflicts of interest, the following information is provided to you. Overall, every effort was made to ensure a fair and transparent submission and review process and applications were assessed by the highest calibre reviewers. In his role as Vice-Chair of Research, Dr. Cuthbertson helped to design the competition infrastructure (e.g. call for applications, design of application package, updates to the website). He also advised on the scoring system, helped to identify reviewers and prepared the information share with faculty prior to review processes. At no time was he privy to the assignment of reviewers, the identity of the reviewers for his particular application or the analyses of data we received from the reviewers. These elements of the grant competition were managed by the administrative team under the direction of Dr. Beverley Orser, Chair of the Department. Only after the assessments were completed, was Dr. Cuthbertson involved with preparing the information that was released to the applicants. Therefore, the Department took considerable cautionary steps to address conflicts of interest during the review process.

COLLEGE OF REVIEWERS

This year, 45 independent and experienced reviewers from different education, clinical and research sectors assisted with the challenge of reviewing the merit awards applications. We sincerely thank them for their expertise and commitment in delivering knowledge to help scores the applications to the Merit Award Program.

The reviewers for this cycle are:

Last Name

First Name

Hospital Site

Department

Academic Rank

Adhikari

Neill

SHSC

Critical Care Medicine

Assistant Professor

Brochard

Laurent

SMH

Critical Care Medicine

Professor

Bryden

Pier

HSC

Psychiatry

Associate Professor

Chapman

Martin

SHSC

Critical Care Medicine

Assistant Professor

Chung

Frances

TWH

Anesthesia

Professor

Dale

Craig

UofT

Nursing

Assistant Professor

Dev

Shelly

SHSC

Medicine

Assistant Professor

Etchells

Edward

SHSC

Medicine

Associate Professor

Fan

Eddy

UHN

Critical Care Medicine

Associate Professor

Farkouh

Michael

TGH

Medicine

Professor

Fehlings

Michael

TWH

Surgery

Professor

Ferguson

Niall

UHN

Critical Care Medicine

Professor

Fowler

Rob

SHSC

Critical Care Medicine

Professor

Golligher

Ewan

UHN

Critical Care Medicine

Assistant Professor

Gotlieb Conn

Lesley

SHSC

Surgery

Adjunct Professor

Hawker

Gillian

TGH

Medicine

Professor

Herridge

Margaret

UHN

CCM/resp

Professor

Jaglal

Susan

UofT

Physio

Professor

Kandel

Rita

MSH

Lab Medicine Pathology

Professor

Kaplan

Allan

CAMH

Psychiatry

Professor

Karanocolas

Paul

SHSC

Surgery

Associate Professor

Kaveh

Shojania

SHSC

Medicine

Professor

Kingdom

John

MSH

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Professor

Kurrek Matt   Anesthesia Professor

Levine

Mark

HSC

Anesthesia

Associate Professor

Marshall

John

SMH

Critical Care Medicine

Professor

McCredie

Victoria

TWH

Critical Care Medicine

Assistant Professor

McKnight

David

SMH

Anesthesia

Professor

Mertens

Luc

HSC

Pediatrics

Professor

Moody

Alan

SHSC

Medical Imaging

Professor

Morgan

Pamela Jane

WCH

Anesthesia

Professor

Murphy

Patricia

TGH

Anesthesia

Professor

Nathens

Avery

SHSC

Surgery

Professor

Piquette

Dominique

SHSC

Critical Care Medicine

Assistant Professor

Pittini

Richard

SHSC

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Associate Professor

Reid

Darlene

UofT

Physiology

Professor

Rubenfeld

Gordon

SHSC

Critical Care Medicine

Professor

Rutka

James

SMH

Surgery

Professor

Scales

Damon

SHSC

Critical Care Medicine

Professor

Singh

Jeff

TWH

Critical Care Medicine

Assistant Professor

Slinger

Peter

TGH

Anesthesia

Professor

Stewart

Donna

TGH

Psychiatry

Professor

Stroud

Lynfa

SHSC

Medicine

Associate Professor

Witterick

Ian

MSH

Otolaryngology

Professor

Wong

David

SMH

Anesthesia

Professor

Zhang

Haibo

SMH

Anesthesia

Professor

AWARD REPORTING FROMS

Click to start your report for January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021 (coming soon)

Click to start your report for January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022 (coming soon)