UHN researchers have secured more than $20.7 million in total funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Spring 2026 Project Grant Competition. This round of funding will support 26 projects advancing discoveries and innovations at UHN. 

Nationally, 439 research grants were awarded, representing a total investment of approximately $412 million. In addition, 19 priority announcement grants, totaling $1.9 million, and 9 supplemental prizes, totaling $305,000, were awarded.  

At UHN, this research will explore new treatments and ways to improve patient outcomes. Funded projects include investigating the use of blood tests to analyze treatment resistance in small-cell lung cancer (led by Dr. Benjamin Lok) and the ability of brain imaging to predict whether patients with Parkinson disease will benefit from deep brain stimulation (DBS) (co-led by Dr. Alexandre Boutet). Another study will use AI-driven methods to optimize lab-grown heart tissues to help reduce inflammation and support less invasive treatments for repairing damage heart muscle (led by Dr. Milica Radisic). 

Additional studies will focus on advancing health outcomes across diverse populations through innovative and targeted research. One research team is aiming to improve patient surveys for First Nations Peoples to better reflect their lived experiences (co-led by Dr. Istvan Mucsi). Another upcoming project will evaluate whether specific drug combinations can improve kidney health in people with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria, a condition in which excess protein (albumin) leaks into the urine and can indicate kidney damage (co-led by Dr. David Cherney). Other research will test balance function in older adults with hearing loss, providing deeper insights into age-related changes in hearing and balance (co-led by Dr. Jennifer Campos). 

This funding will support UHN's commitment to research and innovation, enabling discoveries that drive meaningful advancements in health care and contribute to A Healthier World. Thank you to CIHR for its support and congratulations to all awardees! 

See the full list of the awarded projects here.