Research Manitoba Announces $1.8M in Funding for 24 New Investigators

Research Manitoba is investing $1,790,000 through the New Investigator Operating Grant (NIOG) program to support 24 early-career researchers as they launch independent research programs in Manitoba.

This year’s recipients represent a diverse range of fields, including cancer biology, Indigenous health, neuroscience, environmental sustainability, microbiology, reproductive health, social well-being, mental health, and advanced materials research.

“We received a highly competitive pool of applications for the NIOG this year, reviewing proposals across disciplines and seeing emerging teams committed to excellent research and tangible outcomes has been inspiring and affirms the value of supporting these next-generation investigators.”

Ashley King

Program Officer, Research Manitoba

NIOG is designed to support early-career researchers within the first four years of their initial academic appointment. By providing up to two years of operating funding, the program helps new faculty establish independent research programs, build collaborative networks, and generate the results needed to compete for larger, national-level grants.

Since its launch, NIOG has funded dozens of Manitoba’s emerging research leaders, enabling them to secure additional support from agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and other provincial and federal partners. Past awardees have gone on to publish in leading scientific journals, create innovative technologies, and deliver findings that directly inform health care, social policy, and industry practices.

“By investing in Manitoba’s early-career researchers through this NIOG program, we are building a stronger research ecosystem that will drive innovation, benefit communities and position our province as a leader in discovery and impact.“

Freyja Arnason

Director, Strategy and Programs, Research Manitoba

The program is central to Research Manitoba’s mandate to strengthen Manitoba’s research ecosystem by developing local talent and fostering the discoveries that improve lives, drive economic growth, and position the province as a leader in innovation.

Among the funded projects, researchers are addressing some of Manitoba’s most pressing challenges through innovative approaches. One project is harnessing artificial intelligence to design advanced materials that remove toxic metals from wastewater, protecting ecosystems and communities. Another is developing novel organoid co-culture systems to better understand neurodevelopmental disorders, while another explores reproductive well-being and housing stability among Indigenous youth to address critical health disparities. In clean technology, researchers are also pioneering flexible solar panels using liquid crystal self-assembly, creating new possibilities for renewable energy.

The wide breadth of research supported underscores the strength of Manitoba’s research ecosystem and reflects the province’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Additional funds this year were made available to researchers as a result of the recent $5 million increase to Research Manitoba’s operating budget by the provincial government.

“We are excited to support this outstanding group of new investigators. Their creativity and passion are evident in the diverse projects they’re undertaking whether it’s improving cancer care, developing sustainable technologies, or enhancing social well-being. Providing funding at this critical stage will help jump-start life-changing research.”

Jennifer Cleary

CEO, Research Manitoba

Please join us in congratulating the recipients:

Researcher	Institution	Project Title
Health – Basic Biomedical
Lei Xing	University of Manitoba	Developing a novel organoid co-culture system to study the role of placental factors in human brain development and autism spectrum disorders
Joel Pearson	University of Manitoba	Understanding the role of a TEAD/homeobox axis in the genesis and evolution of distinct small cell lung cancer subtypes
Cedric Tremblay	University of Manitoba	Investigating the role of interferon signaling in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Alicia Berard	University of Manitoba	Investigating the role of mTOR in the vaginal microenvironment
Health – Social Population Health
Ashley Hayward	University of Winnipeg	Navigating Our Journeys: Reproductive Well-Being and Housing Instability Among Indigenous Pregnant and Birthing People
Tara Horrill	University of Manitoba	Co-development and feasibility testing of a social needs assessment tool in an outpatient oncology setting
Abishek Iyer	University of Manitoba	Artificial Intelligence-Driven Metal Sulfide-Based Ion Exchange Materials for Wastewater Treatment
Tamara Taillieu	University of Manitoba	A Population-Based Examination of the Impacts of the Legalization of Recreational Use of Cannabis on Vulnerable Children and Youth from Manitoba
Natural Sciences
Savino Longo	University of Manitoba	Exploring the Matter-Antimatter Imbalance of our Universe with the TUCAN Experiment at TRIUMF
Joshua Walsh	University of Manitoba	Breaking Symmetry, Building Function: Liquid Chromophores at the Edge of Order
Marike Palmer	University of Manitoba	Probing microbial speciation using the natural ecological “islands” of Manitoba’s saline springs
Nuria Morfin	University of Manitoba	Unraveling the honey bee pathobiome: investigating varroosis (Varroa destructor) as primary driver of colony
Brandon Goulding	University of Winnipeg	The everyday detective: exploring how children and adults infer history through mental simulation
Sanoji Wijenayake	University of Winnipeg	Determining the developmental programming potential of milk nanovesicles: Can they mitigate childhood obesity?
Social Science and Humanities
Hyunmin Shin	University of Manitoba	Does Artificial Intelligence Take Away Decision-making Capability and Autonomy? Impact of Artificial Intelligence Policy Strictness on Professional Service Providers in Healthcare
Christine Kampen Robinson	Canadian Mennonite University	Narrating Future Selves: Student Narratives of Identity and Purpose in Experiential Learning
Yetaotao Qiu	University of Manitoba	Social Mobility and Corporate Innovation
Zhenxiang Chen	University of Manitoba	Pathways to Inclusion: Exploring Immigrants’ Tolerance in Multicultural Canada
Latika Raisinghani	University of Winnipeg	Exploring Teachers’ Experiences of Piloting the Implementation of New K-10 Science Curricula in Manitoba Schools
Technology and Engineering
Ke Peng	University of Manitoba	Optical Brain Imaging-Based Evaluation of Virtual Reality as a Pain Modulation Tool
Jay Wang	University of Manitoba	AI-Enhanced Autonomous Agricultural Robotics: Advancing Safety, Efficiency, and Field Deployment
Donghoon Lee	University of Manitoba	Advancing Manitoba’s Hydropower Resilience and Water Management by Integrating SWOT Observations and Climate Forecasting
Yuejian Chen	University of Manitoba	Railway Vehicle Reliability Assurance via Dynamic Modeling and Condition Monitoring
Peng Hu	University of Manitoba	Digital Twin-Based Resilient LEO Satellite Networks and Systems

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Contact:

Freyja Arnason, Director, Strategy and Programs, Research Manitoba

P: 204-942-1948| E: [email protected] | W: researchmanitoba.ca