Black Research Network members receive new or renewed Canada Research Chairs 

Four members of the Black Research Network have been awarded Canada Research Chairs in recognition and support of their research.  

New Canada Research Chairs include Husam Abdel-Qadir, an associate professor in the department of medicine and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME); Jude Kong, an assistant professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Enid Montague, an associate professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Vincent Kuirre, an assistant professor in the department of geography, geomatics and environment at U of T Mississauga, received a renewed position. 

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Research Chair positions recognize academic research and training excellence in engineering, the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. The goal of the award is to fuel and promote research excellence at Canadian universities and strengthens the country’s international competitiveness. 

In total, 42 faculty members from the University of Toronto were awarded with Canada’s prestigious research honour.  

Learn more about BRN members’ research. 

New Canada Research Chairs

Husam Abdel-Qadir 
Tier 2 in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Outcomes 

Abdel-Qadir is a cardiologist at the Women’s College Hospital and Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in the University Health Network. The primary focus of Abdel-Qadir research program explores the long-term cardiovascular health of breast cancer survivors. This research is being supported by a Chair in Heart and Brain Health from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  He is an alum of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and graduated in 2007 with a Silver Medal. 

Jude Kong 
Tier 2 in Community-Oriented Artificial Intelligence & Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases 

Kong’s principal research program focuses on developing and deploying innovative AI, mathematical and data science methodologies and technologies for decision-makers in communities, public health, government and industry. The goal of his research is to provide important insights into local and global-scale socio-ecological challenges. He is the  
director of the Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modeling lab (AIMM lab), housed at U of T’s Mathematics Department, where he is cross appointed.  

Enid Montague 
Tier 2 in Human-Centered Automation 

With expertise in human-automation interaction in health care, Montague’s research highlights how new technologies can be utilized to address inefficiencies and inequities in health care systems, with a focus on increasing access to healthcare. Montague is the director of the University of Toronto’s Wellness and Health Enhancement Engineering Laboratory (WHEEL), a research group that uses experimental and design methods to understand human-automation interaction. She became the Black Research Network’s director in July 2024. 

Renewed Canada Research Chair

Vincent Kuirre  
Tier 2 in Immigrant Well-being and Global Health 

Kuirre’s research examines immigrant integration dynamics in Canada, particularly the various forms of immigration transnational activities. His research interests include health geography, environment and health, non-communicable diseases and healthcare disparities in sub-Saharan Africa.   

As a 2019 Canada Research Chair, Kuuire’s research explores the links between migration, well-being and population health. His research program aims to improve migration and health policies.