In mid-June, over 250 students from across the province gathered at the University of Manitoba’s Bannatyne campus for the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ annual Manitoba Student Health Research Forum (MSHRF).  

Sponsored by the MMSF, the three-day event included professional development sessions, a research symposium, student poster competition, awards and networking opportunities.

Dr. Zulma Rueda, who received MMSF funding in 2022, took home the Dr. Ed Kroeger Mentorship Award. As the Canada Research Chair in Sexually Transmitted Infection – Resistance and Control, Dr. Zulma Rueda was nominated for the prestigious award by trainees in her lab.  

MMSF-funded researchers Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin (2023) and Dr. Ciaran Lane (2025) also took home awards.

“As Manitoba continues to invest in its next generation of health researchers, events like MSHRF serve as both a launchpad and a celebration of the province’s scientific future,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine and the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. “The forum is made possible through the dedication of faculty and staff and the generous support of sponsors from across the province.”

Sikta Chattopadhyaya, a PhD candidate in physiology and pathophysiology at the Max Rady College of Medicine, received a Dr. Ed Kroeger Travel Award, an MMSF Poster Award and the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation Major Award.  

“I’m grateful, and this motivates me to work harder. These awards boost our confidence,” said Chattopadhyaya, who works to repurpose commonly prescribed medicines to treat cardiac fibrosis.

“Science can be bumpy — we have highs, then sometimes have stretches of lows. When recognitions like these come, they’re the bright lights…that keep us going in our research.”

Read more in UM Today.

About the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation

Since 1971, the MMSF has awarded over $24 million to cutting-edge research and education to benefit the health of Manitobans and those around the world. In partnership with educational and research institutions and other foundations throughout Manitoba, the MMSF has contributed to the incredible work of local researchers who have changed the health landscape.  

Since inception, Manitoba Blue Cross has been the primary supporter of the MMSF – providing both financial and administrative support. Manitoba Blue Cross’s deep commitment to health and wellness makes it a strong ally in MMSF’s mission to improve health outcomes for all Manitobans.

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