Dr. Peter Thompson was awarded for his project, “Exploring origins and treatments for sick beta cells in type 1 diabetes” Dr. Thompson is Assistant Professor in the Physiology & Pathophysiology, Endocrine & Metabolic Diseases division at the University of Manitoba. He is also Principal Investigator in the Childhood Diseases Foundation at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

While most research on type 1 diabetes focuses on how to restore the immune system, Dr. Thompson’s team has found that sick beta cells can accelerate formation of the disease. While the reason is unknown, the team’s animal model studies suggest that drug therapies that target sick beta cells can slow the development of type 1 diabetes. Sick beta cells also accumulate during the development of type 1 diabetes in children and young adults, but we currently do not have a way to translate drug therapy from animal models to humans.

In this project, Dr. Thompson’s team will investigate how healthy beta cells become sick during type 1 diabetes and identify new drug targets for sick beta cells in human tissue samples. Taken together, these studies will move us closer towards therapies that will improve beta cell health in people with type 1 diabetes and prevent type 1 diabetes by targeting sick beta cells.

Dr. Sylvain Lother’s work on pneumonia has merited the MMSF Dr. F. W. Du Val and John Henson Clinical Research Professorship Award for 2025-2028.

During the three-year award term, the MMSF will contribute $55,000 per year towards the salary (including benefits) of the awardee. A grant-in-aid to the appointee of $40,000 will also be made during the first year of the appointment.

Dr. Lother is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, sections of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care, as well as an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases – both at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Lother is a leading expert and rising star in pneumonia research. His focus is to use new clinical trial designs to test treatments that could improve outcomes from lung infections.  

Pneumonia is a potentially life-threatening infection of the lungs. It is the most common reason for hospital admission in the world, and it affects all kinds of people. It can lead to significant impacts on health that can lead to hospital care. Breathing failure can require oxygen, organ failure can require life support in intensive care settings, and other complications can occur – including heart attacks, stroke and increased vulnerability to future infections.  

Despite the impact of pneumonia, treatment has not changed for more than 30 years. The diversity of those affected, as well as the variety of organisms that cause pneumonia, means that pinpointing which treatment helps which patients can be complicated.

Using cutting edge study designs, Dr. Lother and his team are leading a platform clinical trial testing multiple treatments in hospitalized patients with pneumonia. They aim to accelerate recovery, reduce organ failure and improve survival. The platform trial, called GUARD (the Global United Adaptive Research in Infectious Diseases) provides ongoing infrastructure, including a network of hospitals from around the world, where multiple treatments can be studied. New techniques are being used to test the impact of treatments within different groups of patients, so we can better understand who benefits most from new treatment strategies.

The professorship will provide Dr. Lother and his team support to expand the impact of his work by introducing a new treatment into the GUARD trial. The BEAT-CAP (best effective antibiotic treatment) trial will evaluate commonly used antibiotics – and certain combinations of these antibiotics – to evaluate which strategy works best in different types of patients with pneumonia.  

Another focus of Dr. Lother’s research is to ensure studies are informed by patients, so that patients can get involved and contribute to the discovery process. This also means that research findings will be meaningful and impactful.  

In this context, Dr. Lother has embedded another study within the GUARD platform called CAPTIVATE. This involves testing the use of a simple video information process to inform and gain consent from trial participants, with the aim to replace the historic paper-based consent form. This consent process is novel and breaks barriers to make research more accessible to a diverse range of participants. It could revolutionize how research is accessed in the years to come.

Dr. Spiwak's work with social determinants of health has merited the Shaun Lamoureux and Kerry Bittner Clinical Research Professorship in Population Health Award for 2025-2027.

The award is given for a period of two-and-a-half years, during which the MMSF will contribute $55,000 per year towards the salary (including benefits) of the awardee. A one-year term grant-in-aid to the appointee of up to $40,000 may be made during the first year of the appointment.  

Dr. Spiwak is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. She is an Adjunct Scientist in the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy as well as a collaborator with the Manitoba Population Mental Health Research Group—both within the Max Rady College of Medicine.

She completed her PhD in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She also obtained a Master of Science from the Department of Family Social Sciences in the Faculty of Human Ecology.

Frostbite, a serious cold-related injury, can lead to long-term damage and even the loss of fingers or limbs. Although it's preventable, some people are more at risk than others. Dr. Spiwak and her team are looking at how different life circumstances—like income level, housing, mental health, and even whether someone grew up in government care—can influence the chances of someone getting frostbite. These are known as social determinants of health, and they have a large impact on people’s overall health and well-being.

To figure this out, Dr. Spiwak and her team will examine health and social data from the past 50 years. They'll compare:

• 600 adults who were hospitalized due to frostbite
• 800 adults who had burn injuries
• 3,000 adults from the general population who weren't hospitalized for injuries

By comparing these groups, researchers hope to pinpoint which social factors increase frostbite risk, especially during vulnerable times. They’ll use statistical tools to spot patterns and design strategies to prevent frostbite—particularly among communities that need more support.

This project brings together experts from many fields, including medicine, social sciences, and community partners, to create real-world solutions that could make an important difference in public health and safety.

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