Our laboratory is supported by over $2.95 million in competitive external research funding from national funding agencies, charitable organizations, industry partners, and provincial innovation agencies. These grants support innovative research focused on cardiovascular health, smoking and vaping cessation, chronic disease prevention, digital health, atrial fibrillation, Long COVID, and implementation science.

Current & Recent Funded Research

• Varenicline, Cytisine, or Placebo for Vaping Cessation in Adult Exclusive E-Cigarette Users: A Triple-Blinded, Multi-Centre Randomized Controlled Trial(2026–2031)
  Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant
  Amount:$891,225
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of varenicline and cytisine for vaping cessation among exclusive e-cigarette users.

• Exercise Training in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Randomized Controlled Trial(2026–2027)
  Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant
  Amount:$100,000
  Role: Co-Applicant (Principal Investigator: Dr. Jennifer Reed)
  Objective: To evaluate the impact of structured exercise training on outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation.

• Semaglutide for Smoking Cessation in Patients with Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial(2025–2026)
  Funding: Canadian Cardiovascular Society Cardiometabolic Award
  Amount:$35,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To investigate the potential role of semaglutide as a smoking cessation therapy in individuals living with diabetes.

• CanQuit: A Comprehensive National Smoking Cessation Program(2024–2027)
  Funding: Sun Life Insurance
  Amount:$600,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To develop and evaluate a comprehensive, evidence-based national smoking cessation program.

• Better Health Through Evidence-Based Smoking Cessation in Indigenous Communities (BREATHE)(2024–2027)
  Funding: Canadian Cancer Society Challenge Grant
  Amount:$525,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To implement and evaluate culturally appropriate smoking cessation strategies in Indigenous communities across Canada.

• Dapagliflozin for Long COVID Syndrome(2024–2025)
  Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant
  Amount:$100,000
  Role: Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator: Dr. Ian Patterson)
  Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of dapagliflozin in the management of Long COVID syndrome.

• Smartphone Application for Emergency Cardiac Communication(2023–2024)
  Funding: Ontario Centre of Excellence (OCE) – Innovating Digital Health Solutions
  Amount:$500,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To develop and implement a smartphone application that enhances emergency cardiac communication between the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Ottawa Hospital.

• An Interactive Smartphone Application to Motivate Smokers to Quit(2022–2025)
  Funding: Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  Amount:$200,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To develop and evaluate a smartphone-based smoking cessation program designed to motivate and support individuals in quitting smoking.

Our laboratory has secured over $911,000 in internal research funding from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the University of Ottawa, Hamilton Academic Health Sciences Organization, and institutional innovation and precision medicine funding programs. These grants support early-stage clinical trials, digital health innovation, cardiovascular prevention, vaping and smoking cessation research, precision medicine, and hypertension management.

Current & Recent Funded Research

• Semaglutide for Smoking Cessation in Patients with Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial(2025–2026)
  Funding: University of Ottawa Heart Institute Innovations Grant
  Amount:$73,350
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of semaglutide as a smoking cessation treatment for patients with diabetes.

• Understanding the Biological Effects of E-Cigarettes: A Translational Research Approach from Bench to Bedside(2025–2027)
  Funding: University of Ottawa
  Amount:$50,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To investigate the biological effects of e-cigarette use through translational research.

• Vaping Cessation Using the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation(2024–2027)
  Funding: University of Ottawa Heart Institute Innovations Grant
  Amount:$73,852
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To implement a systematic vaping cessation program incorporating counselling, follow-up, and pharmacotherapy.

• Digital App Development for Smoking Cessation and Hypertension Self-Care and Self-Management(2024–2027)
  Funding: Brain-Heart Interconnectome Core Prediction Analysis Program
  Amount:$283,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To develop innovative digital tools that support smoking cessation and hypertension self-management.

• Telehome Monitoring Program for Virtual Hypertension Management(2021–2026)
  Funding: University of Ottawa Heart Institute Innovations Grant
  Amount:$66,675
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To evaluate a remote blood pressure monitoring program for improving hypertension management in patients receiving virtual care.

• A Precision Evaluation in the Face of Expanding Cardiac Rehabilitation(2023–2025)
  Funding: ORACLE Precision Medicine Funding, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  Amount:$49,845
  Role: Co-Applicant (Principal Investigator: Dr. Jennifer Reed)
  Objective: To examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

• E-Cigarette Cessation Using the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial(2023–2025)
  Funding: University of Ottawa Heart Institute Catalyst Grant
  Amount:$50,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To evaluate counselling, follow-up, and pharmacotherapy for vaping cessation using the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation.

• HER CROWN (Reexamining Her Cardiovascular Risk – Ottawa Women's Cohort)(2022–2024)
  Funding: ORACLE Precision Medicine Funding Opportunity, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  Amount:$100,000
  Role: Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator: Dr. Kerri-Anne Mullen)
  Objective: To develop a novel, women-specific cardiovascular risk prediction algorithm to improve prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

• Patterns of E-Cigarette Use and Interest in Cessation(2021–2024)
  Funding: University of Ottawa Heart Institute Innovations Grant
  Amount:$30,000
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To characterize e-cigarette use patterns and inform the development of nicotine replacement therapy interventions for vaping cessation.

• Enhancing Strategic Management of Acute Reperfusion and Therapies in Acute Myocardial Infarction Using a Novel Smartphone Application (SMART-AMI APP)(2021–2023)
  Funding: Hamilton Academic Health Sciences Organization Innovations Grant
  Amount:$133,412
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To develop and evaluate a smartphone application that enhances communication between healthcare teams during STEMI activation.

• ADVOCATE Study: Using a Smartphone Application to Improve Access to Social Assistance Programs for Patients in Financial Need(2015–2018)
  Funding: Canadian Society of Internal Medicine Research and Education Fund
  Amount:$1,500
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Objective: To evaluate whether a smartphone application can improve access to social assistance resources for patients experiencing financial hardship.