NAR Grant Recipients

COVID-19 and Aging Grant 2020

NAR awarded funding to six diverse projects involving investigators from across all six faculties, one affiliated college and a student club at the University of Waterloo.

• Managing multiple vulnerabilities: Aging and COVID-19 in Sub Saharan Africa. Principal Investigator: Susan Elliott (Environment)
• MoveStrong@Home. Principal Investigators: Lora Giangregorio (Applied Health Sciences), Heather Keller (Applied Health Sciences) Co-Investigator: Marina Mourtzakis (Applied Health Sciences)
• COVID-19 and cardiac and diabetes medications in older adults. Principal Investigator: Anita Layton (Mathematics) 
• Understanding and supporting the social connections and digital connectivity of older Canadians during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal Investigators: Kim Lopez (Applied Health Sciences), Catherine Tong (Applied Health Sciences). Co-Investigators: Jen Boger (Engineering), enTECH Computer Club  
• Co-designing supports to enhance the wellbeing of persons living with dementia and care partners during COVID-19 and beyond. Principal Investigators: Carrie McAiney (Applied Health Sciences), Jen Boger (Engineering). Co-Investigators: Laura Middleton (Applied Health Sciences), Sherry Dupuis (Applied Health Sciences), Jane Kuepfer (Arts), Heather Keller (Applied Health Sciences), Kim Lopez (Applied Health Sciences)
• Breath analysis based rapid screening method for COVID-19. Principal Investigator: Janusz Pawliszyn (Science)

Catalyst Grants 

The following 11 faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in April 2019

• Project title: "Changes in neuronal cellular membrane composition in aging and Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigators: Michael Beazely (Pharmacy) & Ken Stark (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Zoya Leonenko (Physics and Astronomy; Biology) & Morgan Robinson (Pharmacy) 
• Project title: "Evaluation of an intergenerational and technological intervention for social isolation". Principal Investigators: Karla Boluk (Recreation and Leisure Studies) & Kelly Grindrod (Pharmacy). Co-Investigator: Uzma Rehman (Psychology)
• Project title: "Utilization of social robots for the care of people with dementia". Principal Investigators: Kerstin Dautenhahn (Systems Design Engineering) & Moojan Ghafurian (Computer Science). Co-Investigator: Jesse Hoey (Computer Science) 
• Project title: "Do sex differences in reactive oxygen species production influence post-exercise glucose control in older men and women". Principal Investigator: Michaela Devries-Aboud (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Kayleigh Beaudry (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Designing aerobic exercise to protect knee cartilage in older adults with knee osteoarthritis". Principal Investigator: Monica Maly (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Michael Noseworthy (McMaster University, Electrical and Computing Engineering) 
• Project title: "Aging with a brain injury: Impact on visuomotor function and community participation". Principal Investigators: Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo (Kinesiology) & Lisa Christian (Optometry and Vision Science). Co-Investigator: Robin Duncan (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Optimizing remote measurement of activity and sleep for health assessment in older adults". Principal Investigator: Karen Van Ooteghem (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: William McIlroy (Kinesiology)

The following ten faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in July 2018

• Project title: "Barriers to safer sex communication in older adults". Principal Investigator: Uzma Rehman (Psychology)
• Project title: "Virtual reality exergames to improve access to strength and range of motion exercise among people living with dementia". Principal Investigators: Jennifer Boger (Systems Design Engineering) & Laura Middleton (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Shi Cao (Systems Design Engineering), Lora Giangregorio (Kinesiology), & Michael Barnett-Cowan (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Social support availability and cognitive function in middle- and older-aged adults". Principal Investigators: Mark Oremus (School of Public Health & Health Systems) & Jane Law (School of Planning). Co-Investigators: Colleen Maxwell (School of Pharmacy) & Suzanne Tyas (School of Public Health & Health Systems)
• Project title: "Healthy aging for all: A case study in Uganda". Principal Investigators: Susan Elliott (Geography and Environmental Management) & Rhona Hanning (School of Public Health and Health Systems). Co-Investigator: Andrea Rishworth (Geography & Enviornmental Management)
• Project title: "An exploration of how stress might help to set the foundation for Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigator: John Mielke (School of Public Health and Health Systems)
• Project title: "The financialization of seniors' housing in Canada: Impacts on age-friendly communities". Principal Investigator: Martine August (School of Planning). Co-Investigators: Samantha Biglieri (School of Planning) & Nick Revington (School of Planning)
• Project title: "Mobility aid for prevention of freezing of gait episodes in older adults with Parkinson’s disease". Principal Investigator: Jonathan Kofman (Systems Design Engineering). Co-Investigators: Scott Pardoel (Systems Design Engineering) & Edward D. Lemaire (Systems Design Engineering) 

The following three faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in March 2018:

• Project title: "Phonological indicants of very early dementia". Principal Investigator: Randy Harris (English Language and Literature) 
• Project title: "Efficacy of a smartwatch for exercise performance evaluation during conservative management of rotator cuff tears". Principal Investigators: Stewart McLachlin (Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering) & Clark Dickerson (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: David Burns (Sunnybrook Research Institute) & Michael Hardisty (Sunnybrook Research Institute) 

The following nine faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in June 2017:

• Project title: "Identifying and characterizing poor muscle health in an aged population: exploring new uses for ultrasonography". Principal Investigator: Marina Mourtzakis (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Alexander Wong (Systems Design Engineering) & Jack Callaghan (Kinesiology) 
• Project title: "Predictors of cognitive state trajectories in longitudinal studies of aging". Principal Investigators: Suzanne Tyas (School of Public Health and Health Systems) & Colleen Maxwell (Pharmacy).  Co-Investigators: Maryam Iraniparast (Public Health and Health Systems) & Leilei Zeng (Statistics and Acturial Science; University of Waterloo)
• Project title: "The role of lipid membrane and melatonin protection in amyloid toxicity and Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigator: Zoya Leonenko (Physics and Astrology; Biology). Co-Investigators: Morgan Robinson (Biology) & David Cory (Chemistry)  
• Project title: "Macro-and tissue-level investigation into the effects of age and disease on bone quality, bone collagen connectivity, fracture toughness and hip strength". Principal Investigators: Thomas Willett (Systems Design Engineering) & Andrew Laing (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Raymond L. Legge (Chemical Engineering), Marina Mourtzakis (Kinesiology), & Dan Martel (Kinesiology) 
• Project title: "Examining effects of acute exercise on cortical resilience among older adults". Principal Investigator: Peter Hall (Kinesiology). Co- Investigators: Kirk Erickson (Psychology; University of Pittsburg) & Richard Staines (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "Alcohol use among older adults in Ontario: Individual and community factors related to problematic use". Principal Investigator: Chris Perlman (School of Public Health and Health Systems). Co-Investigator: George Heckman (School of Public Health and Health Systems)  
• Project title: "An exploration of the cellular mechanisms underlying stroke-related injury in the brain". Principal Investigator: John Mielke (School of Public Health and Health Systems) 

The following ten faculty members were awarded catalyst grants in January 2016:

• Project title: "Exploring weight and body image concerns in older adults and their contributions to weight management and fracture prevention". Principal Investigator: Lora Giangregorio (Kinesiology). Co-Investigators: Jenna Gibbs (Kinesiology), Heather Keller (Kinesiology), & Peter Hall (School of Public Health and Health Systems)
• Project title: "C.H.O.I.C.E- a relationship-centred mealtime training intervention for long-term care: Proof-of-concept study". Principal Investigator: Heather Keller (Kinesiology). Co- Investigator: Sarah Wu (Kinesiology) & Hilary Dunn (Research Institute for Aging) 
• Project title: "Dynamic balance recovery in older adults - Predictors of stability restoration after a simulated trip". Principal Investigator: Andrew Laing (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Tyler B. Weaver (Kinesiology)
• Project title: "The effect of religious involvement on cognition in middle-to old-age adults: A life-course perspective". Principal Investigator: Mark Oremus (School of Public Health and Health Systems). Co-Investigators: Shera Hosseini (School of Public Health and Health Systems), Martin Cooke (School of Public Health and Health Systems), & Ashok Chaurasia (School of Public Health and Health Systems)
• Project title: "Autophagic mechanisms in exercise-mediated muscle health". Principal Investigator: Joe Quadrilatero (Kinesiology). Co-Investigator: Darin Bloemberg (Kinesiology) 
• Project title: "Curbing ageism: Prejudice mechanisms and anti-ageism intervention". Principal Investigator: Ian McGregor (Psychology). Co-Investigators: Harrison Oakes (Psycology) & Igor Grossmann (Psychology) 
• Project title: "Regulating PEPCK activity as a novel approach to the design of new cancer therapeutics". Principal Investigator: Todd Holyoak (Biology). Co-Investigator: Matthew J. McLeod (Biology)
• Project title: "Development of novel inhibitor drug for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigator: Zoya Leonenko (Physics and Astrology; Biology). Co-Investigators: Morgan Robinson (Biology), Francis Hane (Physics & Astronomy), & John Mielke (School of Public Health and Health Systems) 
• Project title: "Development of novel therapies for Alzheimer's disease". Principal Investigator: Praveen P Nekkar Rao (Pharmacy). Co-Investigators: Tarek Mohamed (Pharmacy) & Elham Satvat (School of Public Health and Health Systems) 
• Project title: "Adaptive recognition and promotion of physical activity for older adults, including stroke survivors". Principal Investigator: Pascal Poupart (Computer Science) 

Emerging Scholar Mentorship Grant

The following eight faculty members were awarded seed grants in May 2015: