So far in 2016, Heart Institute researchers have won more than $7 million in research funding, including major awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. Perhaps most remarkable is the Institute’s success rate versus the national average:
- CIHR Project Grants: 22% vs. 13%
- CIHR Foundation Grants: 25% vs. 13%
- Heart & Stroke Foundation Grants-in-Aid: 50% vs. 20%
“This reflects the dedication and focused efforts of our researchers,” said Peter Liu, MD, Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research. “The grant reviews are all about how relevant and impactful the research is in addressing the real health challenges we face and having exciting, innovative solutions. I think we are clearly meeting those criteria.”
Grants awarded this year to Heart Institute researchers explore many aspects of heart disease, including:
- The underlying causes of cardiac arrhythmias
- The genetic mechanisms that contribute to coronary artery disease
- Balancing the benefit of antiplatelet therapies with the increased risk of bleeding complications
- The role of inflammation in atherosclerosis
- The use of imaging to identify arterial plaques at high risk of causing a heart attack or stroke
- Arterial stiffness and blood dynamics as predictors of disease progression in thoracic aorta aneurysms
Many of these grants were awarded to scientists recently recruited to the Heart Institute.
“I’m particularly proud of our young recruits. This shows how engaged and hard working they are,” said Dr. Liu.
Learn More
- For more specifics on research grants awarded in 2016, see “Recent Grant Success.”