Honouring Saskatchewan Leaders
in Health Research
SHRF's annual awards honour those in Saskatchewan’s health research community who inspire us with their drive, leadership, ingenuity and achievement. From advancing new treatments to shaping public policy, these researchers contribute to citizens' improved health, enabling a high-performing health system and building a robust culture of health research and innovation in Saskatchewan.
These awards were presented in person at the annual Santé Awards celebration,
held on January 30, 2025 at the Holiday Inn on College Drive, Saskatoon.
2024-25 Recipients
Achievement Award
The award: This award is presented to one senior researcher currently residing in Saskatchewan, whose exemplary career achievements have inspired us with their drive, leadership and ingenuity. It recognizes the recipient's work over their career to build capacity, advance knowledge, inform decision-making, and provide health, economic, and social impacts in Saskatchewan.
Selection criteria: Candidates are nominated by their peers and considered by an expert panel of local and national experts from a range of fields.
Dr. Colleen Dell
Dr. Colleen Dell, a professor in the Department of Sociology, and the co-Founder and co-Director of the PAWSitive Support Canine Assisted Learning Program, has been selected for the SHRF’s top award in recognition of her significant contributions to advancing health research in Saskatchewan and beyond. Her research spans various areas including animal assisted interventions, addictions, mental health, Indigenous wellbeing, knowledge mobilization and beyond. Her work has been influential, receiving an extensive amount of attention, including coverage in New York Times, People magazine and on CNN. This award is recognition that when you think outside the box with research, you can do impactful things. Additionally, Dr. Dell is commended for her mentorship and commitment to building capacity in the next generation of researchers. Her exemplary career achievements have inspired us with their drive, leadership and ingenuity.
College of Sociology
University of Saskatchewan
Impact Award
The award: This award is presented to a researcher who received a SHRF Establishment Grant five years ago, has submitted a 5-year follow-up report, and is currently active in Saskatchewan. The award recognizes their work which helps build capacity, advance knowledge, inform decision-making and provides health, economic and social impacts, and shows future potential to continue their impact in Saskatchewan.
Selection criteria: The winner is selected by a review panel of experts in strategy, impact evaluation, performance measurement and others. The criteria individuals are evaluated on are broken into four categories, each receiving 10 points depending on their achievements.
Dr. Amira Abdelrasoul
Dr. Amira Abdelrasoul, recipient of this year's Impact Award, has made it her mission to improve quality of life for dialysis patients, first by developing dialysis membranes that are more compatible with the human body. An Associate Professor in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department and Division of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, she is also the Principal Investigator (PI) of Membrane Science and Nanotechnology Research Center at University of Saskatchewan.
Based on the major advances she made with the Establishment Grant she received from SHRF in 2019, Abdelrasoul has gone on to secure major funding from national agencies, including two New Frontiers in Research Fund grants. Her innovations extend beyond patient care, offering the potential to lower healthcare costs and enhance the efficiency of dialysis treatments, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable healthcare system.
College of Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
Excellence Awards
The award: These awards recognize the top-ranked applications from researchers and teams in the past year's funding competitions. All applications to SHRF's funding competitions are ranked according to our rigorous peer review process by committees of active researchers and health professionals.
Selection criteria: Determined by the previous year's peer reviewed ranking from SHRF funding competitions.
Dr. Hassanali Vatanparast, Colleen Norris
Recognizing SHRF Connections Awards
The award: These awards recognize individuals and teams who have contributed significantly to Saskatchewan's research community by volunteering their time and sharing their invaluable experience and expertise, even though research is not part of their official role.
Selection criteria: Recipients are nominated by SHRF funded researchers for their exceptional contributions.
#ResearchThatMatters
