Arthritis Society Canada announces investment in 13 new research projects
March 17, 2025 - Arthritis Society Canada is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Strategic Operating Grants, Stars Career Development Awards, and Ignite Innovation Grants. Totalling to more than $3.5 million over three years, funding for this group of 13 recipients from across the nation will fuel bold attempts to test novel hypotheses and generate new knowledge, with the ultimate goal of improving arthritis prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and support.
One recipient of the Strategic Operating Grants is Dr. Maxwell Slepian, a researcher at University Health Network studying if memory training can prevent chronic pain after knee replacement. Chronic pain affects one in five knee replacement patients, yet there are no preventive treatments. Research shows that brain areas involved in pain and memory overlap, suggesting that people with better memory recall may be less likely to develop chronic pain. Dr. Slepian and his team will test this by randomly assigning patients to receive memory training or not before surgery and then measuring their pain and memory recall three months later. If successful, this could reveal a way to prevent chronic pain after surgery.
Dr. Lauren King from the University of Toronto, recipient of the 2024 Stars Career Development Award, is addressing the gap in care for Canadians with osteoarthritis. Many patients do not receive safe, effective treatments early enough, missing the opportunity to reduce pain and improve quality of life. Dr. King's research will develop innovative, personalized care methods and create standardized early diagnostic tools to help test preventive and disease-modifying treatments, ultimately enhancing early diagnosis, improving care, and reducing the burden of osteoarthritis in Canada.
Dr. Joshua Giles from the University of Victoria, recipient of an Ignite Innovation Grant, is studying how to develop a personalized approach to pre-operative planning for shoulder surgery. He is focused on improving outcomes for people with severe muscle damage from osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis who undergo Reverse Shoulder Replacement. This surgery can restore function but drastically alters shoulder muscle characteristics, making it hard to predict post-surgical results. Dr. Giles and his team are developing a tool that combines biomechanics, computer algorithms, and medical image analysis to predict muscle function after surgery. This tool will help surgeons create more personalized surgical plans, potentially improving patient outcomes and transforming shoulder replacement planning.
“We are excited to recognize and support the exceptional work of researchers dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by arthritis,” said Dr. Siân Bevan, Chief Science Officer, Arthritis Society Canada. “These research grants and awards reflect our commitment to fostering scientific excellence and innovation, advancing our understanding of arthritis, and delivering evidence-based care. Each recipient embodies the spirit of discovery, bringing us closer to a future free from the agony of arthritis.”
This year's recipients showcase a diverse array of projects including:
Strategic Operating Grants
-
Dr. Hesham Abdelbary, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute – A new way to treat joint replacement infections
-
Dr. Antoine Dufour, University of Calgary – Restoring joint lubrication in osteoarthritis
-
Dr. Lihi Eder, Women’s College Hospital – How a patient’s sex affects response to biologic treatments in psoriatic arthritis
-
Dr. Akihiro Nakamura, Queen’s University – Slowing excessive bone growth in spondyloarthritis with a green tea compound
-
Dr. Maxwell Slepian, University Health Network – Can memory training prevent chronic pain after a knee replacement?
-
Dr. Carrie Ye, University of Alberta – Doctor versus AI: Who is better at triaging rheumatology referrals
Stars Career Development Awards
Ignite Innovation Grants
-
Dr. Adele Changoor, University of Toronto – A non-invasive tool to transform testing of new osteoarthritis drugs
-
Dr. Joshua Giles, University of Victoria – Advancing shoulder surgery: A personalized approach to pre-operative planning
-
Dr. Shyh-Dar Li, University of British Columbia – A topical cream to relieve osteoarthritis pain
-
Dr. Arielle Mendel, McGill University Health Centre – Deprescribing in arthritis: A mission to stop medications that do more harm than good
-
Dr. Alain Moreau, CHU Sainte-Justine/University of Montreal – Unlocking new paths for osteoarthritis detection and treatment
-
Dr. David Wilson, University of British Columbia – New MRI scanning to protect knees from osteoarthritis
View full details of the recipients of the Strategic Operating Grants, Stars Career Development Awards, and Ignite Innovation Grants.
Learn more about the Strategic Operating Grants, Stars Career Development Awards, and Ignite Innovation Grants.
-30-
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.
Media Contact:
Jenny Ng
Senior Manager, Public Relations & Media
Arthritis Society Canada
jng@arthritis.ca
416-455-1182
Back to News
Share