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Medical Sciences

7 Mitacs Globalink (GRI) research projects for Summer 2027.

1. Clinical Outcomes of Antiretroviral Therapy in the General Population

While ART has improved survival and reduced HIV-related complications, uncertainties remain regarding real-world outcomes across diverse populations. Evaluating these outcomes is essential for informing clinical practice and public health strategies. This study aims to assess clinical outcomes among individuals receiving ART in Manitoba. Objectives: To estimate the incidence of key clinical outcomes among ART users; to compare outcomes across subgroups; and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: This retrospective, population-based cohort study will use linked administrative health data from the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository. The cohort includes all individuals diagnosed with HIV and prescribed ART between 1998 and 2026. Outcomes will be identified using ICD-9/10 codes from hospital and physician data. Incidence rates and regression models will be used, with subgroup analyses performed.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Dr. Payam Peymani is an assistant professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. He has professional experience across leading research institutions in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Canada. Dr. Peymani is a Pharmacoepidemiologist with expertise in drug safety, real-world evidence, and chronic disease management. His primary research interests include drug utilization and the safety and effectiveness of medications, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations. His work leverages large-scale health data, population-level analyses, and the application of machine learning artificial intelligence to generate real-world insights that inform clinical and policy decisions.

Student roles:
The student will:
• Conduct a literature review on stimulant medication safety and cardiovascular outcomes in pediatric populations.
• Assist in cohort creation, data cleaning
• Support statistical analyses
• Under supervision, draft sections of the manuscript (e.g., methods, results) and create conference posters/presentations.

Skills required:
The student should have a background in epidemiology, public health, pharmacy, medicine, or related fields. Experience with health data analysis, literature review, and communication skills are required. Attention to detail, critical thinking, and ability to work independently and collaboratively are important.

2. Development of an immune imaging method to accurately determine the immune status of tumors

The project involves antibody labeling with 89Zr. Labeled antibodies will be characterized in cells first with a competitive binding assay and saturation assays. Labeled antibodies will first be tested for their stability in vitro and in vivo. Agent variants that work in cellulo and are stable will be tested in vivo. Tumor-bearing mice will be prepared for this part of the project. Radioactivity in each organ and tumor will be measured with a gamma counter, and the tumor/blood, tumor/liver, tumor/kidney, tumor/muscle ratios will be calculated to determine which variant shows the most promising distribution (highest ratios for PDL1 positive tumors, lowest ratios for PDL1 negative tumors). Preliminary PET imaging data at the same time point as the biodistribution will be acquired with the best two variants to support publication of the design process.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Tumor immunogenicity is an important indicator of response to immunotherapy. The immune status of a tumor is linked to the expression of markers such as programmed death-1 and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1). The immune system is not easily isolated and therefore methodologies need to be developed using tumor models in animals. My lab focuses on the development of robust imaging methodologies that quantitate the immune status of a tumor. We use quantitative PET/MRI methods to measure the level of PD-L1 in tumors at baseline and in response to radiation.

Student roles:
Write reports and manuscripts
Analyze data
Perform molecular biology assays
Perform functional cell-based assays
Assist with animal handling and monitorin

Skills required:
Must have a strong background in immunology and preferably have a background in cancer biology, radiobiology and nuclear medicine.

3. Is chronic shame a moderator of the relationship between body weight and self-rated health?

There is a long history of studies finding a relationship between body weight and physical health outcomes. A small body of literature suggests that body weight and physical health may be related because high body weight is significantly stigmatized in North American society. However, there is a lack of research on how exactly weight-related stigma leads to worse physical health outcomes. Since stigmatized populations have higher amounts of chronic shame and shame has negative physiological and health effects, it is possible that chronic shame is involved. No studies to date have investigated the role of chronic shame in the relationship between body weight and health. The main goals of this research project are to investigate whether chronic shame moderates the relationship between weight and health, and investigate the relationship between chronic shame and theoretically related measures that are more commonly used in epidemiological datasets including weight bias internalization.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: This project is in the area of social epidemiology which analyzes relationships between psychosocial factors and health outcomes (both mental and physical health). In our lab, we are specifically interested in how stigmatization affects physical health through the emotion of shame.

Student roles:
With the guidance of a supervisor, the student will lead analysis of epidemiological datasets using software such as Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Variables and relationships to be analyzed include whether chronic shame moderates the relationship between weight and health, and investigate the relationship between chronic shame and theoretically related measures that are more commonly used in epidemiological datasets including weight bias internalization. Student will also lead manuscript writing for the project, guided by the supervisor.

Skills required:
At least a basic understanding of quantitative data analysis. Background in health sciences or sciences. Reliable, attention to detail, completes tasks on time.

4. Lymphocyte-sparing radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can inadvertently expose circulating blood cells to ionizing radiation, contributing to treatment-related lymphopenia, a condition associated with poorer clinical outcomes in many cancer patients. Recent advances in computational modeling, including the development of the HEDOS software platform, have made it possible to estimate radiation dose delivered to circulating blood throughout the body. However, further validation and enhancement of these models are needed before they can be routinely used in research or clinical practice. Digital human phantoms and realistic synthetic clinical datasets offer a safe and scalable way to test, refine, and benchmark these computational tools without requiring access to patient data. This project aims to advance HEDOS by integrating improved digital phantoms and synthetic blood test data, creating a robust platform for future investigations into lymphocyte-sparing radiotherapy and personalized treatment planning.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: John Kildea is an associate professor of Medical Physics in the Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology at McGill University. John’s research focuses on building software for patient-centered health informatics and experimental methods to examine the biophysics underlying radiation-induced carcinogenesis. At the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, John directs the research, development, and technology innovation activities for the Opal Health Informatics Group (O-HIG). John is the principal investigator of the Quebec SmartCare Consortium project (quebecsmartcare.com). John's research group created the open-source patient-in-the-loop data platform Opal (opalmedapps.com).

Student roles:
This student will contribute to the development and validation of the open-source HEDOS (HEmatological Dose) software, a computational framework used to estimate radiation dose delivered to circulating blood cells during radiotherapy. Building on previous work in the Kildea Lab, the student will enhance HEDOS by integrating advanced digital human phantoms that provide more realistic representations of anatomy, blood flow, and organ-specific circulation patterns.

The student will evaluate the ability of these phantoms to support accurate simulation of radiation exposure to circulating lymphocytes and other blood components. To facilitate software development and testing, the student will generate and curate synthetic datasets that mimic clinical radiotherapy treatment plans and patient characteristics. These datasets will include synthetic complete blood count (CBC) results and longitudinal blood test data designed to emulate treatment-related changes in lymphocyte levels. The student will develop workflows to import, process, and analyze these synthetic laboratory data within the HEDOS framework. Using the enhanced software, the student will investigate relationships between radiation dose to circulating blood and predicted changes in blood biomarkers.

The project will also involve benchmarking the performance and robustness of HEDOS across different digital phantom models and treatment scenarios. Results will be compared against published literature and existing simulation approaches to identify opportunities for further improvement. By the end of the project, the student will have contributed new capabilities to HEDOS that support future research into lymphocyte-sparing radiotherapy and the use of synthetic data for validating digital health technologies.

Skills required:
Programming with Python
Physics background

5. Neutron-Induced Carcinogenic Effects

This project will examine the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons to produce mutations in DNA, accounting for direct and indirect damage and DNA repair. To do this, we will make use of the Geant4 and Geant4-DNA radiation simulation packages (or their wrappers TOPAS and TOPAS-nBio). We will model direct action and indirect action DNA damage as well as DNA repair and simple post-irradiation single-cell sequencing using our in-house-built DNA sequencing simulator (RadiSeq). Findings from the project will be compared with mutations measured experimentally using single-cell whole genome DNA sequencing of irradiated cells.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Patients undergoing high-energy (>10 MeV) radiation therapy and astronauts in deep space are two population groups for whom whole-body neutron exposure cannot be controlled. As a result, these populations are at risk for neutron-induced carcinogenesis. With this in mind, our group (kildealab.com) has built a research program that we have called Neutron-Induced Carcinogenic Effects (NICE) to: (a) better measure neutron spectra in high-dose-rate radiation therapy environments using multiple neutron detection techniques, and (b) better understand the energy-dependence of neutron relative biological effectiveness (RBE) through Monte Carlo modelling and radiobiological experiments.

Student roles:
The student will be required to work with graduate students and the supervisor to undertake Monte Carlo modeling of neutron interactions in tissue and/or modeling and measurement of radiation interactions in a detector medium. Some cell culturing, exposure and preparation for single-cell sequencing may be involved.

Ideally, not not necessarily, the student will have some experience with C++ and/or other programming languages.

Skills required:
The student should have a basic understanding of radiation physics and some programming skills.

6. The acute effect of a weight stigma protocol on emotions and sympathetic nervous system activity

Weight stigma has a negative impact on physical health, however, there is a lack of research on how weight-related stigma leads to worse physical health outcomes. Since stigmatized populations have higher amounts of shame and shame has been found to have negative bodily and health effects, it is possible that shame is one potential mechanism of this relationship. More specifically, shame has been found to decrease the function of the endothelium; a layer of cells that lines human arteries, and regulates blood flow and blood vessel size. Since stigma is closely linked with shame which has been found to negatively impact endothelial function through increased sympathetic nervous system activity (the fight or flight system), it’s possible that weight stigma may negatively affect endothelial function through increases in sympathetic nervous system activity. This is of particular importance in health care where weight-related stigmatization and discrimination is rampant, potentially causing harm to patients. To date, no studies have investigated the impact of weight stigma in a healthcare environment on endothelial function. Before this can be investigated, a weight stigma protocol that is specific to healthcare settings needs to be created and validated since there are none that currently exist. The purpose of this specific pilot study is to test the effectiveness of a weight stigma protocol by assessing how effective the protocol is at creating perceptions of stigma and discrimination, feelings of shame and negative affect, and increasing sympathetic nervous system activity. This pilot study is the first study in a larger research project where the ultimate goal is to investigate how weight stigma in a healthcare context impacts endothelial function, as well as potential mediating variables including perceived shame.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: This project is in the area of psychophysiology which researches how psychological factors affect human physiology. For our lab specifically, we investigate how laboratory-induced increases in shame and stress affect cardiovascular function, hormone levels, and sympathetic nervous system activation.

Student roles:
With the guidance of a supervisor, the student will lead collection of physiological data in this experimental study. This will include recruiting participants, administering the weight stigma protocol, collecting physiological data (heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure) and analyzing data. Software to be used for analysis includes Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Variables and relationships to be analyzed include how effective the weight stigma protocol is at creating perceptions of stigma and discrimination, feelings of shame and negative affect, and increasing sympathetic nervous system activity. Student will also lead manuscript writing for the project, guided by the supervisor.

Skills required:
At least a basic understanding of quantitative data analysis. Background in health sciences or sciences. Reliable, attention to detail, completes tasks on time. Organized. Interpersonal communication skills.

7. Vascular and Integrated Brain Effects of Estrogen

The Vascular and Integrated Brain Effects of Estrogen (VIBE) study investigates how vascular and cerebrovascular function contribute to brain aging and cognitive health, with a focus on differences in lifetime and current estrogen exposure. Estradiol plays an important role in endothelial function and cerebral perfusion, yet its vascular mechanisms in aging populations remain poorly understood. This project builds on a parent study examining cognition and brain structure across groups with distinct estrogen exposure profiles, including transfeminine individuals, postmenopausal cisgender women, and cisgender men. The VIBE sub study will assess whether differences in estrogen exposure are associated with vascular and cerebrovascular function. Participants aged 50 years and older will undergo comprehensive physiological testing, including endothelial function, arterial stiffness, cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide, and transcranial Doppler measures of cerebral blood flow. Assessments will also include upright protocols such as standing, walking, and cognitive dual task conditions to evaluate real world brain blood flow regulation. The project aims to identify whether vascular pathways help explain differences in cognitive and brain health across hormone exposure groups. By integrating physiological, behavioral, and demographic data, this study will provide new insights into mechanisms linking vascular health, estrogen exposure, and cognition. The findings will advance understanding of vascular contributions to dementia risk and support the development of targeted prevention strategies for aging populations.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: My research focuses on cerebrovascular physiology and its role in cognitive and motor function during aging. Specifically, I investigate how brain blood flow regulation during upright and real world activities influences cognition, mobility, and balance. Using ambulatory and non invasive technologies, my work examines mechanisms of cerebral hypoperfusion, neurovascular coupling, and cardiovascular regulation under physiological stress. A key focus is on sex specific differences and hormonal influences on vascular aging. This research advances understanding of vascular contributions to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, and aims to identify modifiable physiological pathways to support brain health and prevent cognitive decline.

Student roles:
The student will play an integral role in all phases of the research project, receiving hands on training in a human laboratory environment. The student will be trained to conduct non invasive physiological assessments, cardiovascular monitoring, and functional testing protocols such as balance tasks, walking assessments, and cognitive dual task conditions.
The student will support data collection under supervision, ensuring adherence to standardized protocols and high quality data acquisition. They will also assist with preprocessing and organization of physiological datasets, including basic signal cleaning and preparation for analysis. With mentorship, the student will contribute to statistical analyses, interpretation of findings, and preparation of research outputs such as abstracts, presentations, and manuscripts.
In addition to technical skills, the student will gain experience working with diverse populations, including older adults and underrepresented groups, contributing to inclusive and patient centered research practices. They will participate in regular team meetings, where they will engage with a multidisciplinary team of investigators, clinicians, and trainees.
Overall, this role provides comprehensive training in translational human physiology research, bridging laboratory methods with clinical application, and supporting the development of skills relevant to graduate training and future careers in health research.

Skills required:
The student should have a background in kinesiology, physiology, neuroscience, or a related health or medical science discipline. Experience with human participant research, data collection, or laboratory work is preferred. Familiarity with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular physiology, signal processing, or statistical analysis would be beneficial but is not required, as training will be provided. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work both independently and within a collaborative research team are essential. The student should also have excellent communication skills and a demonstrated interest in aging, brain health, and translational research.