Ottawa, July 22, 2025 — The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has awarded more than $8 million in funding to several projects led by investigators at the Ottawa Heart Institute (OHI) in the highly competitive Spring 2025 Project Grant competition.
With nearly 50% of submitted OHI proposals receiving funding, the institute achieved an exceptional success rate compared to the national average of about 15.5% for this round.
“This is a powerful endorsement of the world-class research happening at the Ottawa Heart Institute,” said Dr. Katey Rayner, chief scientific officer and vice-president of research at the Ottawa Heart Institute. “These projects are pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery while poised to improve patient care and health outcomes for Canadians and people around the world.”
The CIHR Project Grant Program prioritizes groundbreaking ideas that have the potential to transform fundamental and applied health knowledge, healthcare practices, and health systems.
The newly funded projects (listed below) span a wide spectrum – from artificial intelligence and mRNA biology to clinical trials and biomaterials – each with the potential to reshape the future of cardiovascular medicine.
- Christopher Sun, PhD
Scientist, OHI; Assistant Professor, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
Project: Actionable Incidental Extracardiac Findings Detection via Interactive Artificial Intelligence
Amount: $1,365,526 over five years - Emilio Alarcón, PhD
Scientist, OHI; Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa
Project: LuzCornea: A light activated biomimetic material for on-the-spot repairing thinning corneas
Amount: $956,250 over three years - Erin Mulvihill, PhD
Scientist, OHI; Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa
Co-Principal Investigator: Kyoung-Han Kim, PhD (Scientist; Associate Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa)
Project: Understanding and Treating Cardiac Fibrosis in PAI-1 Deficiency: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Strategies
Amount: $100,000 (bridge) over 1 year - Katey Rayner, PhD
Scientist, OHI; Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa
Project: Specialized mRNA translation regulates macrophage function in atherosclerosis
Amount: $1,028,926 over five years - Michel Le May, MD
Clinician Investigator, OHI; Professor, Deptartment of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Co-Principal Investigator: George Wells, PhD (Senior Scientist, OHI; Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa)
Project: The University Of Ottawa Dapagliflozin in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Randomized Trial (DAPA-STEMI) CLINICAL TRIAL (DAPA-STEMI)
Amount: $466,650 over three years - Mireille Ouimet, PhD
Scientist, OHI; Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa
Project: Role of HDL in Postoperative Atherosclerosis
Amount: $879,750 over five years - Sharon Chih, MD, PhD
Clinician Investigator, OHI; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Co-Principal Investigator: George Wells, PhD (Senior Scientist, OHI; Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa)
Project: Early Initiation of Antiplatelet Therapy in Heart Transplantation - AERIAL International Trial
Amount: $2,516,852 over six years - Thomas Lagace, PhD
Scientist, OHI; Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa
Project: Molecular determinants and physiological role of PCSK9-LDL association
Amount: $780,300 over five years
To schedule an interview with one or more of the funded investigators at the Ottawa Heart Institute, please contact the liaison below.
Media contact
Leigh B. Morris
Communications Officer
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
613-316-6409 (cell)
lmorris@ottawaheart.ca