Kinesiology researcher receives Canada Foundation for Innovation grant

Dr. Andrew Ramsook, a professor who joined the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in 2025, has received a $100,000 grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) for research into advanced respiratory muscle mechanics.

JELF grants offer researchers the opportunity to acquire infrastructure to undertake innovative research. The funding will support a suite of equipment for testing the respiratory system, from the lungs and airways to the muscles that allow individuals to breathe. 

“Combining these measurements with the current capabilities of the lab will advance the pursuit of improving health and well-being through integrative exercise physiology,” Ramsook said.

“Respiratory health is a growing concern for Canadians,” he wrote in his proposal. “Lung disease is estimated to cost Canadians $24 billion by 2030, a result of an aging population, increasing environmental risks such as wildfire smoke and rising e-cigarette/vaping use among youth.

“Of all parts of the respiratory system, only the breathing muscles have been shown to improve with training. Recent advancements have shown that the breathing muscles can communicate with the rest of the body and change factors such as blood flow, heart rate and blood pressure. However, the process that starts this communication is still not clear.”

The new integrated laboratory will help Ramsook understand how breathing muscles can signal changes throughout the body. His team will first test how breathing muscles tire during and after periods of intense breathing work, such as exercise, then measure how active these breathing muscles are during these activities. Finally, all measurements will be brought together to measure lung function, including how big the lungs are and how well they work to transfer oxygen to the blood.

JELF applicants must be recognized leaders or have demonstrated the potential for excellence in their proposed research fields and are embarking on research or technology development that is innovative and of high quality.