Carleton University Strengthens Research Excellence With Four Canada Research Chair Appointments
Carleton University is deepening its research leadership with the appointment of one new Canada Research Chair and the renewal of three existing Chairs. Together, these appointments recognize exceptional researchers whose work addresses some of the most pressing challenges today — from diabetes prevention and dementia resilience to data science and children’s mental health.
The Canada Research Chairs Program invests in exceptional researchers whose work generates new knowledge, trains the next generation of scholars, and contributes to Canada’s social, economic, and environmental well-being.
Jennifer Bruin, Canada Research Chair in Human Metabolic Disease
Biology professor Jennifer Bruin has been appointed as Carleton’s Canada Research Chair in Human Metabolic Disease. Her research investigates how environmental pollutants and pharmaceuticals damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, increasing the risk of diabetes.
Bruin’s research combines human studies with laboratory models to identify preventable causes of pancreatic cell damage. Her team examines how chemicals such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called ‘forever chemicals’, and other pollutants disrupt metabolic health. Bruin’s research is also developing new ways to measure chemical exposure in human pancreas tissue and studying the long-term effects of chemotherapy on metabolic health.
Working closely with partners including Health Canada and the Alberta Diabetes Institute, Bruin’s findings will help inform chemical regulation and public health policies aimed at reducing the growing burden of metabolic disease.
Renewed Canada Research Chairs
John Anderson, Canada Research Chair in Cognition and Wellness
Cognitive Science professor John Anderson’s Canada Research Chair has been renewed for his research into cognitive reserve — the brain’s ability to remain resilient and maintain cognitive function despite age-related changes associated with dementia.
Anderson’s research explores why factors such as multilingualism, education and physical activity can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms. By combining advanced brain imaging technologies, behavioral research and computational modeling, his team is investigating how changes to the brain and its networks contribute to resilience against cognitive decline.
Sanjeena Dang, Canada Research Chair in Data Science and Analytics
Math and Statistics professor Sanjeena Dang’s Canada Research Chair has been renewed, supporting her to continue advancing statistical methods for analyzing increasingly complex biological datasets.
As biomedical data grows in scale and complexity, Dang is developing new approaches that combine statistical analysis and machine learning to bring together different types of biological information. Her work will strengthen Canada’s leadership in statistics, artificial intelligence and interdisciplinary research, with applications spanning academic institutions and federal agencies.
Maria Rogers, Canada Research Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health and Well-being
Psychology professor Maria Rogers’ Canada Research Chair has renewed to supports a five-year research program examining chronic school absenteeism and its connections to family mental health across Canada.
Through large-scale surveys, longitudinal research involving 1,400 children and youth, community-engaged focus groups and national consensus-building studies, Rogers’ research will provide the first comprehensive Canadian evidence on chronic absenteeism and its mental health impacts. The findings will help educators, policymakers and clinicians develop more effective strategies to support children’s educational success and well-being.
