Canada Research Chairs were renewed for two St. Joe's researchers. Dr. Jeremy Hirota, Canada Research Chair in Respiratory Mucosal Immunology and Dr. Ryan Van Lieshout, Canada Research Chair in the Perinatal Programming of Mental Disorders will hold their Tier 2 chairs for a second five-year term.
Tier 2 Chairs, which are held for five years and are renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers who have the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the home institution receives $100,000 annually for five years to support the researcher.
Dr. Hirota is an associate professor of Medicine at McMaster University who holds a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology. His research focuses on respiratory mucosal immunology, chronic respiratory diseases, and the impact of exterior factors such as cigarette smoke.
Dr. Van Lieshout is a perinatal psychiatrist with a PhD in research methods interested in how pregnancy and early postpartum exposures affect brain development in ways that increase the risk of mental disorders across the lifespan.
“The Canada Research Chairs program is a vital tool that encourages some of our brightest scientists, and it bolsters both McMaster’s and Canada’s reputations as a global leader of research and innovation," said Dr. Karen Mossman, Vice-president, Research at McMaster University.
The Research Institute congratulates Drs. Hirota and Van Lieshout on their chair renewals.