2025 Research Awards
Our Impact & Innovation Evening honours this year’s Montreal General Hospital Foundation Research Award recipients and celebrates the impact of philanthropy on research.
Through our 2025 Research Awards, over $2.8M will be invested in over 120 promising research projects led by approximately 80 researchers. Thanks to our donors, these funds help advance projects ranging from surgical innovation to cancer care, neurology, mental health, and much more.
To all our generous donors, thank you! Your support and vision empower researchers to continue their important work, and fuel discoveries poised to transform healthcare. Showcasing the impact of your support, previous Research Award recipients have gone on to achieve amazing things. They have launched successful health-tech startups and lead transformative initiatives with impacts on patients throughout the province and beyond.
Supporting research is essential, and philanthropic funding makes a real difference to researchers! Our Foundation is proud that half our annual support goes towards research and innovation. This commitment resonates with our mission: to inspire the philanthropic community to invest in transformative initiatives, conceived and guided by our medical leaders, that have a significant impact on patient lives. In doing so, we advance the pioneering spirit of the Montreal General Hospital, which joined forces with McGill University to form Canada’s first teaching hospital.
Thank you to the donors whose generosity makes these awards possible. And congratulations to our 2025 Research Award recipients (listed below). Your work, vision, and impact are inspiring, as we transform healthcare together.
$2.8M Funding
123 Awards
79 Recipients
Personalized Cancer Care
Honourable Hartland Molson Fellowship
Provided by The Molson Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Anthony Bozzo
Nesbitt-McMaster Award for Excellence in Medicine and Surgery
Provided by Mr. A.R. Deane Nesbitt
Awarded to Dr. Anthony Bozzo
Courtois Foundation Research Award
Provided by The Courtois Foundation
Awarded to Ms. Ariane Brassard & Mr. Iqraa Dhoparee-Doomah
Herbert S. Lang Award in Oncology and Surgery
Provided by The Lang Family
Awarded to Dr. Trafford Crump, Ansley Gnanapragasam, PhD & Ms. Ece Özmen
Barbara Bourne Tiffin Award
Awarded to Dr. Karin Fink
Thelma L. Adams Fellowship
Awarded to Dr. Carol Oliveira & Samara Perez, PhD
Elaine T. & Charles H. Peters Award in Medical Oncology
Awarded to Samara Perez, PhD & Dr. Simon Roy
Aune Foundation Research Award in Thoracic Surgery
Provided by The Aune Foundation
Awarded to Dae Kyum Kim, PhD
Elizabeth & Arnie Vered Cancer Research Award
Provided by Mrs. Elizabeth Vered
Awarded to Mr. Ruoyu Ma
Dr. Gold Fellowship in Cancer Research
Provided by Mr. Norman Zavalkoff
Awarded to Livia Garzia, PhD & Joanna Przybyl, PhD
Simone & Morris Fast Award for Oncology
Provided by Mrs. Louise Fast
Awarded to Dr. Vanessa Di Lalla, Dr. Karin Fink, Livia Garzia, PhD, Dr. Marco Mascarella, Samara Perez, PhD, Dr. Sara Soldera, & Dr. James Tsui
Henry and Margaret Johnson Award in Oncology
Provided by Mr. Robert Johnson
Awarded to Mr. Ruoyu Ma & Dr. Marco Mascarella
William T. Stewart Family Award in Cancer Research
Provided by The William T. Stewart Family
Awarded to Livia Garzia, PhD & Dr. Eric Grignano
The Tanguay Kidney Cancer Research Award in Recognition of Medical Excellence
Provided by Mrs. Nancy Maklan and Mr. Martin Smith
Awarded to Dr. Simon Tanguay
Dr. Ray Chiu Distinguished Scientist in Surgical Research Award
Provided by Dr. Jane Chiu
Awarded to Dr. Jonathan Spicer
Grete Roggenburg Research Award
Awarded to Mr. Ruoyu Ma & Ms. Ece Özmen
F. Ann Birks Fellowship
Provided by Mrs. F. Ann Birks
Awarded to Ms. Ece Özmen
Ian Greenberg Bell Media Fellowship
Provided by Mrs. Linda Greenberg
Awarded to Ms. Ece Özmen
Surgery
Japanese Visiting Scholar in Minimally Invasive Surgery
Provided by Mr. Richard & Mrs. Sotoko Ingram
Awarded to Dr. Masayuki Fukumoto
T.H.P. Molson Fellowship
Provided by Mr. Eric H. Molson, C.M., O.Q.
Awarded to Chelsia Gillis, PhD, Jonathan Hubermann, PhD & Joanna Przybyl, PhD
Nesbitt-McMaster Award for Excellence in Medicine and Surgery
Provided by Mr. A.R. Deane Nesbitt
Awarded to Ms. Marzie Lafouti
Nesbitt Innovation Award
Provided by Mr. A.R. Deane Nesbitt
Awarded to Derek Rosenzweig, PhD
Honourable Hartland Molson Fellowship
Provided by The Molson Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Jason Corban, Dr. Charlotte Jaloux & Sepehr Madani, PhD
Dr. Harvey C. Brown Award
Provided by The Brown Family
Awarded to Dr. Caroline Esmonde-White
Col. J. Alex Hutchison Prof. of Surgery
Awarded to Jason Harley, PhD
Stewart and Leonard Blonder Research Award
Awarded to Jason Harley, PhD
The Adair Award in Trauma
Provided by Colin J. Adair Charitable Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Afif Jastaniah
Mimi Dupuis Benjamin Award
Awarded to Ms. Marzie Lafouti
Gérard R. Douville Award
Provided by Mr. Gérard R. Douville
Awarded to Sepehr Madani, PhD
Molson Brothers Award in Trauma
Provided by The Molson Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Mathieu Rousseau
The Rita Dobrovsky Travel Award
Awarded to Dr. Yifan Wang
Jack Victor Foundation Research Award
Provided by The Jack Victor Foundation
Awarded to Mr. Kyle White
Cools-Gagnon Thoracic Surgery Award
Awarded to Mr. Roni Zaks
Edwards Distinguished Scientist Award
Provided by The Louise and Alan Edwards Foundation
Awarded to Amir Hooshiar, PhD
Brain Health and Mental Health
Louise and Alan Edwards Foundation Award in Pain Research
Provided by The Louise and Alan Edwards Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Jonathan Hudon
Albert & Florence Aziz Family Research Award in Neuro-degenerative Diseases
Provided by The Aziz Family
Awarded to Aparna Suvrathan, PhD
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Research Award
Provided by The Aune Foundation
Awarded to Francesca Capozzi, PhD
Senator W. David Angus Award for Research into Major Psychiatric Diseases
Provided by The Hon. W. David Angus, Q.C., Ad.E.
Awarded to Dr. Gabriella Gobbi & Dr. Alexandra Richard
Dr. Joe Stratford Award for the Study of Pain
Provided by Mrs. Leslie & Mr. Huntly Stratford
Awarded to Ms. Louisia Starnino & Ms. Masha Verner
Fellowship in Neuromuscular Diseases
Provided by Mr. Robert Johnson
Awarded to Dr. Mayra Aldecoa
Sustaining Excellence Grant Program
Awarded to Alexander Baldwin, PhD
Medicine
Honourable Hartland Molson Fellowship
Provided by The Molson Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Vidal Essebag, Momar Ndao, PhD
Nesbitt-McMaster Award for Excellence in Medicine and Surgery
Provided by Mr. A.R. Deane Nesbitt
Awarded to Julio Fiore, PhD, Ms. Marzie Lafouti, Dr. Alexander Lawandi, Dr. Augusto Montezano, Momar Ndao, PhD, Dr. Bryan Ross, Dr. Giada Sebastiani, Dr. Atul Verma & Christina Wolfson, PhD
Strauss Chair in Respiratory Medicine
Provided by Mr. Luc Villeneuve, Mr. Richard & Mrs. Edith Strauss Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Maziar Divangahi
Dr. Mostafa Elhilali Fellowship
Provided by Mrs. Cynthia Gordon, Mrs. Gail Jarislowsky, The Jarislowsky Foundation & Mr. Robert Johnson
Awarded to Dr. Fernanda Girardi & Dr. Rocio Roldan
Marjorie Cadham Award in Cardiology Research
Awarded to Dr. Judy Luu
Millennium Research Award
Awarded to Dr. Augusto Montezano & Dr. Bryan Ross
Tom Hum and Eileen Hum Chang Research Award
Provided by The Chang family and descendants of the late-patriarch Tom Hum
Awarded to Dr. Bryan Ross
Goldberg/Tabac Research Award
Provided by Mr. Steven Tabac
Awarded to Dr. Bryan Ross
Deane Nesbitt Award
Provided by Mr. A.R. Deane Nesbitt
Awarded to Dr. Augusto Montezano, Dr. Bryan Ross & Christina Wolfson, PhD
Inez and Willena Beaton Award in Cardiology
Awarded to Dr. Karin Fink, Dr. George Thanassoulis & Dr. Atul Verma
Charles Scriver Research Award
Provided by Mr. John Blachford
Awarded to Dr. Giada Sebastiani & Christina Wolfson, PhD
Kimberly Sue McCall Memorial Award in IBD Research
Provided by Mr. Tom Brady
Awarded to Dr. Matthieu Allez
Owen Catchpaugh Grant for Innovative IBD Research
Provided by Mr. Brian Catchpaugh
Awarded to Dr. Matthieu Allez
Jawaid Khan Award in Interstitial Lung Disease
Provided by Mrs. Susan Khan and Family
Awarded to Dr. Deborah Assayag
The Dominique Harvey-Jaar Lupus Research Award
Provided by Mr. Robert Al-Jaar
Awarded to Dr. Sasha Bernatsky
Anna Maria Solinas Laroche Career Award in Immunology
Provided by Ms. Anna Maria Solinas Laroche
Awarded to Dr. Ana Copaescu
Ian and Helgi Soutar Research Award
Provided by Mrs. Helgi Soutar
Awarded to Dr. Eric Grignano
Michèle and Philippe Stora Distinguished Scientist Award
Provided by Mrs. Francoise Caron
Awarded to Dr. Inés Colmegna
Michèle and Philippe Stora Award
Provided by Mrs. Françoise Caron
Awarded to Dr. Luke Harrison
Robert and Mary Hewitt Horizons Award
Provided by Mr. James Hewitt
Awarded to Dr. Vidal Essebag, Dr. Luke Harrison & Momar Ndao, PhD
Richard Cherney Award in Innovative Research
Provided by Mr. Richard Cherney
Awarded to Dr. Luke Harrison
Fellowship in Neuromuscular Diseases
Provided by Mr. Robert Johnson
Awarded to Dr. Mayra Aldecoa & Dr. Pablo Iruzubieta Agudo
Catherine & Stuart Townsend Fellowship in Haematology Award
Provided by Mrs. Ann-Marie Townsend
Awarded to Dr. Victoria Korsos
Dr. Alisha Ling Thrombosis Research Award
Provided by Mrs. Julie Wong and Mr. William Ling
Awarded to Ms. Kathia Mendelew
F. Ann Birks Fellowship
Provided by Mrs. F. Ann Birks
Awarded to Dr. Augusto Montezano
Grete Roggenburg Research Award
Awarded to Dr. Augusto Montezano
Anita Garbarino Girard/Anna Maria Solinas/Dr. Phil Gold Award of Distinction
Provided by Ms. Anna Maria Solinas Laroche
Awarded to Dr. Vanessa Polito
Sara Louise King Award in Cardiology Research
Awarded to Dr. George Thanassoulis
Gérard R. Douville Award
Provided by Mr. Gérard R. Douville
Awarded to Dr. Judy Luu
MGHF Board Emeritus Research Award
Awarded to Dr. Judy Luu
Auxiliary of the MGH Research Award
Provided by The Auxiliary of the Montreal General Hospital
Awarded to Dr. Suzanne Morin
Brigadier-General Herbert Stanley Birkett Memorial Research Award (MGH)
Awarded to Jun Ding, PhD, Momar Ndao, PhD & Dr. Giada Sebastiani
Frank McGill Travel Fellowship
Provided by Dr. Sandra McGill
Awarded to Dr. Michèle Stanciu
Bob Lavoie Research Award
Provided by The Lavoie Family
Awarded to Dr. Pingxing Xie
Healthy Living
Helen McCall Hutchison Award in Geriatric Medicine
Provided by Mrs. Ann Hutchison
Awarded to Dr. Tevy Chan & Dr. Gustavo Duque
