St. Boniface Hospital Research has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to Research Award by the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (RFHS), University of Manitoba, a prestigious recognition presented annually to individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on the research mission of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. This year, the award celebrates the collective efforts and achievements of the entire St. Boniface Hospital Research Enterprise.
This honour marks a milestone in a nearly 40-year partnership between St. Boniface Hospital and the University of Manitoba’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. Built on a foundation of trust, collaboration, and a shared vision, this longstanding relationship has yielded tremendous results in both research and education. Thirty Principal Investigators and clinicians based at the St. Boniface Hospital campus hold appointments through RFHS, with many also serving in leadership positions across the Faculty.
Over the decades, RFHS faculty at St. Boniface Hospital have secured tens of millions of dollars in external research funding, mentored hundreds of graduate and medical students, and contributed to numerous groundbreaking clinical trials. Thousands of peer-reviewed publications have emerged from this partnership, with frequent cross-campus collaborations. Additionally, this vibrant research ecosystem has generated over half a dozen start-up companies, originating from intellectual property developed at St. Boniface.
St. Boniface Hospital’s research programs are known for their breadth and impact. With its roots in cardiovascular research, principal investigators played a leading role in identifying diabetic cardiomyopathy, long before its existence was widely accepted. Today, the program has grown to include internationally recognized research in areas such as cardiomyocyte loss, cardio-oncology, cardiac fibrosis and regeneration, and women’s cardiovascular health, both at the lab bench and in the clinic.
The site’s strength in neuroscience has also flourished, producing meaningful contributions to Alzheimer’s disease research and paving the way for a promising first-in-human drug to reverse diabetic neuropathy, now entering clinical trials. Additional advances include new investigations into autism spectrum disorder and ALS.
Additionally, the site is exploring the health-related benefits of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and natural health products. With a focus on both discovery and public education, researchers in this area conduct basic science and clinical trials to understand how natural compounds work and their relevance to human health.
“It was truly an honour to accept this award on behalf of an incredible community of scientists, clinicians, students, and support staff – past and present – who have pushed the boundaries of research,” said Dr. Michael Czubryt, Executive Director of Research, St. Boniface Hospital. “This team has established St. Boniface Hospital Research as a powerful force for the discovery of the causes of and treatments for disease. Our impact is built on critical partnerships, including RFHS and the University of Manitoba, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, countless donors, and collaborators from across Canada and around the world. We are truly thankful to Dean Nickerson and the leadership of RFHS for this recognition.”
We at St. Boniface Hospital Research are excited to see the next evolution of this powerful partnership and are honoured to be recognized for the impact our team continues to make in advancing health research in Manitoba and beyond.
Featured image: Dr. Jude Uzonna [L], Vice-Dean, Research at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, UM, presenting to Dr. Michael Czubryt [R], Executive Director of Research, St. Boniface Hospital, accepting on behalf of St. Boniface Hospital Research. Photo credit, Scott Carnegie, Sugar Cube Entertainment