Two U of T Biomedical Engineering Professors Renew Canada Research Chairs

Two faculty members from the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) have been awarded the renewal of their Canada Research Chair (CRC) positions.

Azadeh Yadollahi, a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Cardiorespiratory Engineering, and Aaron Wheeler, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Microfluidics Bioanalysis, are among 179 researchers across Canada to receive CRC funding in this cycle. They are also among 16 University of Toronto researchers to have their CRCs renewed.

Funded by the Government of Canada, the Canada Research Chairs program supports world-class researchers and their teams in advancing knowledge, training the next generation of experts, and driving innovation that improves quality of life while enhancing Canada’s global competitiveness.

Advancing sleep and respiratory health
Professor Yadollahi is a Senior Scientist at KITE and an Associate Professor at BME. She leads SleepdB, Canada’s first sound-proof sleep laboratory, where she investigates chronic respiratory disorders that worsen during sleep, such as sleep apnea and nocturnal asthma. Her research focuses on uncovering physiological mechanisms that contribute to airway narrowing during sleep, making breathing difficult or impossible. Additionally, Yadollahi is spearheading the development and commercialization of wearable technologies to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Innovations in microfluidics for biomedical applications
Professor Wheeler’s research focuses on lab-on-a-chip techniques to revolutionize proteomics and drug discovery. By leveraging digital microfluidics (DMF), his work aims to reduce reagent consumption, shorten analysis times, and enable high-throughput bioanalysis. In DMF, discrete fluid droplets are manipulated on an electrode-coated surface, offering precise and efficient control over biochemical reactions. Wheeler is currently developing methods that integrate microchannels and DMF technologies for large-scale bioanalytical applications.

Their CRC renewals will allow both researchers to continue advancing their groundbreaking work in biomedical engineering, contributing to better health outcomes and technological innovation in Canada and beyond.