Arthritis Society Canada announces 2024 training awards to four trailblazing researchers advancing arthritis innovations

Toronto, ON, October 8, 2024 – Arthritis Society Canada is proud to award its annual funding to four researchers in training dedicated to advancing the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of arthritis. This year’s awards include two PhD Salary Awards and two Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards.

The PhD Salary Awards provide up to $35,000 annually for graduate students engaged in full-time research training, renewable for up to three years. Similarly, the Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards offer between $40,000 and $50,000 (dependent on candidate eligibility) annually for postdoctoral fellows, also for up to three years. Both awards are funded by Arthritis Society Canada and matched by funding partners, including government entities, industry, non-profits, or existing research grants held by supervising scientific investigators.

Each year, the selection process for these prestigious awards is highly competitive. A rigorous peer-review system, incorporating insights from scientists, clinicians, and individuals with lived experience of arthritis, ensures that only the most exemplary projects receive funding.

One of this year’s distinguished recipients is Dr. Erin Lee from the University of Waterloo. Under the supervision of Dr. Monica Maly, Dr. Lee’s research is shaping the future of knee osteoarthritis. Over a three-year period, she will study adults living with knee osteoarthritis to determine whether knee bone shape can predict its progression. By examining the relationships between bone shape, joint load, cartilage health and gender differences, her findings aim to refine treatment strategies and prioritize access to interventions like knee joint replacements.

“Despite significant advancements in arthritis research, we still have a lot to understand about what is driving the disease and how to treat it most effectively,” said Dr. Siân Bevan, Chief Science Officer at Arthritis Society Canada. “These training awards reflect our commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers who are poised to enhance our understanding of arthritis and transform the lives of millions across Canada. Their work holds the potential to uncover novel treatments and pave the way towards a cure.”

Here are the full details of this year’s training award recipients:

PhD Salary Awards:
•    Wils Nielsen, University Health Network: Updating the systemic lupus erythematosus core outset set
•    Peter Suderman, University of Toronto: Electroarthrography: The non-invasive measurement of streaming potentials

Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards:
•    Dr. Paramvir Kaur, University Health Network: Elucidating the role of progesterone receptor (PGR) in synovial pathology associated with osteoarthritis
•    Dr. Erin Lee, University of Waterloo: The role of bone shape in knee osteoarthritis worsening: Investigating relationships among bone shape, cartilage health, and joint loading

Arthritis Society Canada has been supporting the training and career development of arthritis researchers for over 70 years. The current PhD Salary Award and Postdoctoral Fellowship Award programs were launched in 2013 and, since then, have supported over 100 students and fellows in establishing their arthritis research expertise. This has enabled recent advances ranging from detecting signs of arthritis in the blood, to insights into hip cartilage health in young adults, to predicting persistent osteoarthritis pain. Learn more at arthritis.ca/research.

About Arthritis Society Canada
Arthritis Society Canada represents the six million people in Canada living with arthritis today, and the millions more who are impacted or at risk. Fueled by the trust and support of our donors and volunteers, Arthritis Society Canada is fighting arthritis with research, advocacy, innovation, information and support. We are Canada’s largest charitable funder of cutting-edge arthritis research. We will not give up our efforts until everyone is free from the agony of arthritis. Arthritis Society Canada is accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. For more information, visit arthritis.ca.  

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Media Contact:
Jenny Ng
Senior Manager, Public Relations & Media
Arthritis Society Canada
jng@arthritis.ca
416-455-1182

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