CAHR-CANFAR Excellence in Research Awards
CAHR-CANFAR Excellence in Research Awards are bestowed annually to mid-career researchers who while at the prime of their careers have achieved a track record of excellence and demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of those living with HIV with or at risk.
Awarded since 2017, the recipients are honoured each year at the opening ceremony of the CAHR Conference to highlight the achievements of investigators in all pillars of HIV research.
2025 Winners
Basic Sciences
Paul McLaren (University of Manitoba)
Clinical Sciences
Melanie Murray (University of British Columbia)
Epidemiology-Public Health
Lawrence Mbuagbaw (McMaster University)
Social Sciences
Amaya Perez-Brumer (Dalla Lana School of Public Health)
Community-Based Research
Renee Masching
2024 Winners
Basic Sciences
Nicolas Chomont (Université de Montréal)
Clinical Sciences
Alice Tseng (University Health Network)
Epidemiology-Public Health
Kate Salters (Simon Fraser)
Social Sciences
Daniel Grace (Dalla Lana School of Public Health)
Community-Based Research
James Watson (St. Michael’s Hospital)
2023 Winners
Basic Sciences
Zabrina Brumme (Simon Fraser University)
Clinical Sciences
Bertrand Lebouché (McGill)
Epidemiology-Public Health
Nathan Lachowsky (University of Victoria)
Social Sciences
Carmen Logie (University of Toronto)
Community-Based Research
Marilou Gagnon (University of Victoria)
2022 Winners
Basic Sciences
Mohammad Ali Jenabian
Clinical Sciences
Cecilia Costiniuk
Epidemiology-Public Health
Angela Kaida
Social Sciences
Adrian Guta
Community-Based Research
The Thrive PRA Team (Sharyle Lyndon, Antonio Marante, Patience Magagula, Claudette Cardinal)
2021 Winners
Basic Sciences
Dr. Lena Serghides, PhD, Toronto General Hospital Research InstituteClinical Sciences
Dr. Patrick O’Byrne, RN-EC PhD, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Health SciencesEpidemiology-Public Health
Dr. Claire Kendall, Bruyere Research Institute, C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research CentreSocial Sciences
Dr. Robert Lorway, Canada Research Chair, University of Manitoba, Centre for Global Public Health Department of Community Health ServicesCommunity-Based Research
Dr. John Kim, National Laboratory for HIV Reference Services, JC Wilt Center for Infectious Diseases, PHAC
2020 Winners
Basic Sciences
Dr. Lena Serghides, PhD, Toronto General Hospital Research InstituteClinical Sciences
Dr. Patrick O’Byrne, RN-EC PhD, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Health SciencesEpidemiology-Public Health
Dr. Claire Kendall, Bruyere Research Institute, C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research CentreSocial Sciences
Dr. Robert Lorway, Canada Research Chair, University of Manitoba, Centre for Global Public Health Department of Community Health ServicesCommunity-Based Research
Dr. John Kim, National Laboratory for HIV Reference Services, JC Wilt Center for Infectious Diseases, PHAC
2019 Winners
Basic Sciences
Blake Ball, Chief of the National Laboratory for HIV Immunology, National HIV and Retrovirology Laboratories at the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba.Clinical Science
Kelly O’Brien, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Episodic Disability and Rehabilitation in the Department of Physical Therapy at University of Toronto.Epidemiology-Public Health
Sharmistha Mishra, Clinician and Scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital.Social Sciences
Trevor Hart, Member of CANFA’s Scientific Advisory Council, OHTN Chair in Gay and Bisexual Men’s Health, Director of the HIV Prevention Lab and Professor in the Department of Psychology at Ryerson University.Community-Based Research
Peer Research Associates (PRAs) for the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS).
2018 Winners
Basic Sciences
Dr. Adam Burgener, PhD, B. Sc, Head of the Proteomics Group, National HIV and Retrovirology Labs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Associate Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Visiting Scientist, Karolinska Institute, SwedenClinical Sciences
Dr. Darrell Tan, MD, FRCPC, PhD, Clinician-Scientist in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Scientist at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Affiliate Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute, Staff Physician and the Toronto General Hospital Immunodeficiency Clinic.Epidemiology-Public Health
Dr. Ann Burchell, PhD, MSc, Research Director at the Department of Family and Community Medicine, Canada Research Chair in Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention, Scientist with the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital, TorontoSocial Sciences
Dr. David Brennan, PhD, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of TorontoCommunity-Based Research
Dr. Winston Husbands, PhD, BA, MPhil, Associate Professor, Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Senior Scientist at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network.