These awardees encompass a range of levels – from undergraduate and graduate students to postdoctoral and clinical fellows – reflecting BHI’s commitment to fostering research talent at every stage.
These trainees play a critical role in advancing brain-heart research under the guidance of experienced supervisors. Below is a list of each awardee, institutional affiliation, and title of their BHI project.
Congratulations to our 2024 Trainee Award winners! We look forward to your contributions to the BHI.
Postdoctoral or Clinical Fellowships
Jeremy Ng, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Project: Core Knowledge Synthesis Program
Stacey Fisher, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Project: Core Prediction Analytics Program
David Sugar, Sunnybrook Hospital, Project: Core Prediction Analytics Program
D. Javad Hesmati, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Core Prediction Analytics Program
Benjamin Bhunu, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Mechanisms by which brain-heart are connected
Emily Freeman, CHEO Research Institute, Project: Brain-Heart-Muscle Dysfunction in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1)
Livia Camargo, McGill University, Project: Mechanisms by which brain-heart are connected
Anahita Tavoosi, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Serum and PET biomarkers in inflammatory patients
Edwige Martin-Valiente, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Brain-Heart Innovative Biomarker Research AND Validation Endeavour (BHI-BRAVE)
Priyadharshni Muniyandi, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Boosting Recovery According to IGFBP7 levels as Novel HEART Failure ± COGnitive impairment Strategies (BRAIN-HEART-COGS)
Ajay Sharma, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Therapies for life-long Brain-Heart Disease in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1)
Soraya Lahlou, The Royal, Project: Therapies for life-long Brain-Heart Disease in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1)
Sachin Pasricha, Sunnybrook Hospital, Project: C-CHANGE clinical practice guideline development
Huges Sampasa Kanyinga, University of Ottawa, Project: School-based mental health interventions to build resilience against future brain and heart dysfunction
Bailey Goldman, Sunnybrook Hospital, Project: C-CHANGE clinical practice guideline development
Graduate Student Awardees - PhD
Sara Siddiqi, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Project: Core Epidemiology Program
Meghan Lewis, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Core Epidemiology Program
Joey Wu, Sunnybrook Hospital, Project: Core Epidemiology Program
Sajeevan Sujanthan, University of Toronto, Project: Core Prediction Analytics Program
Jade Poirier, University of Ottawa, Project: Mechanisms by which brain-heart are connected
Caroline Part , CHEO Research Institute, Project: Brain-Heart-Muscle Dysfunction in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1)
Aiman Baig, CHEO Research Institute, Project: Mechanisms by which brain-heart are connected
Nicole Blakeley, University of Ottawa, Project: Mechanisms by which brain-heart are connected
Nadya Morrow, University of Ottawa, Project: Mapping fructolysis and 4-FDF tracer
Shiloh Rousseau, University of Ottawa, Project: Mapping fructolysis and 4-FDF tracer
Leen Ghanayem, The Royal, Project: Mapping fructolysis and 4-FDF tracer
Fariba Sharmin, The Royal, Project: Mapping fructolysis and 4-FDF tracer
Alex Pham, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Boosting Recovery According to IGFBP7 levels as Novel HEART Failure ± COGnitive impairment Strategies (BRAIN-HEART-COGS) Proposal
Chloe Leveille, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute, Project: Concussion in non-athletes: RCT- physical activity vs. usual concussion care
Kevin Simas, CHEO Research Institute, Project: Concussion in non-athletes: RCT- physical activity vs. usual concussion care
Bruna Falavinha, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Project: Patterns of cannabis use and the impact on mental health and cardiovascular risk
Heather Brittain, University of Ottawa, Project: School-based mental health interventions to build resilience against future brain and heart dysfunction
Sadia Jama, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Project: Patterns of cannabis use and the impact on mental health and cardiovascular risk
Joanne Armah, University of Ottawa, Project: Innovations - Decision Aids
Tigana Runte, University of Saskatchewan, Project: Two-eyed Seeing Approaches to Learning from Health Information for System Improvement: Working with First Nation Communities on Brain-Heart Wellness
Graduate Student Awardees - Masters
Shain Raichura, Bruyere, Project: Core Epidemiology Program
Christina Zha, Bruyere, Project: Core Epidemiology Program
Raisa Ahmed, Bruyere, Project: Core Epidemiology Program
Emma Bates, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Core Prediction Analytics Program
Omar Kayyem, University of Ottawa, Project: Mechanisms by which brain-heart are connected
Leyton Basiren, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Brain-Heart Innovative Biomarker Research AND Validation Endeavour (BHI-BRAVE)
Yiqing Huang, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Brain-Heart Innovative Biomarker Research AND Validation Endeavour (BHI-BRAVE)
Aly Julien, University of Ottawa, Project: School-based mental health interventions to build resilience against future brain and heart dysfunction
Semhal Gessese, University of Ottawa, Project: Innovations - Decision Aids
Undergraduate Awardees
Daria Goulets, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Core Epidemiology Program
Maalick Sheraly, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Core Prediction Analytics Program
Jiajil Li, University of Ottawa, Project: Mechanisms by which brain-heart are connected
Sebastian Chio, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Brain-Heart Innovative Biomarker Research AND Validation Endeavour (BHI-BRAVE)
Steven Huang, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Project: Boosting Recovery According to IGFBP7 levels as Novel HEART Failure ± COGnitive impairment Strategies (BRAIN-HEART-COGS) Proposal
Callum French, CHEO Research Institute, Project: Therapies for life-long Brain-Heart Disease in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1)
Haoyi Wang, Sunnybrook Hospital, Project: C-CHANGE clinical practice guideline development
Sarah Hobson, University of Ottawa, Project: School-based mental health interventions to build resilience against future brain and heart dysfunction
Gemma Tyner, University of Ottawa, Project: School-based mental health interventions to build resilience against future brain and heart dysfunction
Arjun Aujla, Sunnybrook Hospital, Project: C-CHANGE clinical practice guideline development
Aramide Badejoh, University of Ottawa, Project: Innovations - Decision Aids