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RESEARCH

Research Scholarships

Applications are now open for PHA Canada’s Pulmonary Hypertension Research Scholarships

Are you passionate about making a difference in the world of pulmonary hypertension research? Here’s your chance! The Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada’s Research Scholarships provide a financial stipend to outstanding trainees to promote and support their research into pulmonary hypertension in Canada. In 2026, we are awarding:​

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  • One Paroian Family Pulmonary Hypertension Research Scholarship of $10,000 to support pulmonary hypertension (PH) research.

  • One Bell Family Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Research Scholarship of $10,000 scholarship to support research into pediatric pulmonary hypertension.

 

Application deadline: 11:59 PM Pacific time, Sunday, October 4, 2026

In the world of pulmonary hypertension, the word "research" is filled with hope, potential, and excitement. It holds the key to a better understanding of the illness, leading to the development of novel therapies, robust treatments, and more sophisticated tools to care for patients. Research also holds the promise of a better and longer life, better management of symptoms, and ultimately a cure. ​

How PHA Canada contributes to critical pulmonary hypertension research 

PHA Canada’s scholarship program awards up to $10,000 to outstanding trainees in support of their research into the field of pulmonary hypertension. This research program allows emerging pulmonary hypertension researchers—whose projects will contribute to the better understanding or treatment of pulmonary hypertension—to fully delve into their scientific studies.

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PHA Canada currently supports up-and-coming pulmonary hypertension researchers in Canada through four named pulmonary hypertension research scholarships: the Paroian Family PH Research Scholarship, the Mohammed Family PH Research Scholarship, the Loretta Chu Memorial PH Research Scholarship, and the Bell Family Pediatric PH Research Scholarship.

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Named Research Scholarships 

The Paroian Family PH Research Scholarship was founded in 2015, thanks to a major donation by Phil Paroian in honour of his sister, Sherry Paroian. Since 2015, the Paulin Family (Brampton, ON) has raised nearly $50,000 in support of this scholarship through their Annual GolPH for PH Tournament. 

The Mohammed Family PH Research Scholarship was founded in 2017, thanks to funds raised by siblings Renae and Joseph (Ajax, ON), in honour of their mom, Judy Mohammed. The Mohammed Family's popular Annual Ajax Walk/Run for PH Research has since raised over $40,000 for this scholarship.

The Loretta Chu Memorial PH Research Scholarship was created in 2021 to honour Loretta Chu and her many contributions to the pulmonary hypertension community, including during her many years as the co-leader of the Toronto support group. This special memorial scholarship was funded thanks to a major donation by PHA Canada Founder and Eternal PHriend, Darren Bell, and the fundraising efforts of the pulmonary hypertension community. 

The Bell Family Pediatric PH Research Scholarship is a research scholarship specifically to support pediatric pulmonary hypertension research, thanks to the generous donation of Darren Bell in memory of his son Dylan, who passed away from pulmonary arterial hypertension in 2007. 

 
Learn more about our Fundraising & Donor Relations Policy.

For more information on how you can acquire a named research scholarship, please view our Donor Directed Gift Policy.

Scholarship Recipients 

As of 2025, PHA Canada has awarded $220,000 worth of scholarships (22 awards at $10,000 each) through its PH Research Scholarship Program.

Elmira Safaie Qamsari
Elmira Safaie Qamsari

TARGETING CANCER-LIKE ENDOTHELIAL CELL GROWTH IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION USING CAR-NK CELL IMMUNOTHERAPY

Mahnaz Nazari
Mahnaz Nazari

INVESTIGATING THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELL-BASED THERAPY FOR NEONATAL PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

Lindsay Jefferson
Lindsay Jefferson

INVESTIGATING THE IMMUNOMETABOLISM OF MACROPHAGES IN THE RIGHT VENTRICLE IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (PAH)

Yann Grobs
Yann Grobs

EXPLORING THE ROLE OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS AND REV-ERB IN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (2024)

Yongneng Zhang
Yongneng Zhang

A CRITICAL CONTRIBUTION OF A GENETIC VARIANT IN THE TRANSITION FROM NORMAL FUNCTION TO FAILURE OF THE RIGHT HEART IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Sarah-Eve Lemay
Sarah-Eve Lemay

THE ROLE OF HYPUSINE SIGNALLING IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Pierce Colpman
Pierce Colpman

EPIGENETIC UPREGULATION OF DYNAMIN 2, A REGULATOR OF MITOCHONDRIAL FISSION, PROMOTES HUMAN AND EXPERIMENTAL PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Rachel Bentley
Rachel Bentley

WHY DO TWO KEY FETAL BLOOD VESSELS, THE DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS AND THE PULMONARY ARTERIES, HAVE OPPOSITE RESPONSES TO THE RISE IN BLOOD OXYGEN THAT OCCURS WITH THE NEWBORN’S FIRST BREATH?

Austin Read
Austin Read

MECHANISMS OF FETAL OXYGEN SENSING AND THE ROLE OF THE ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAIN IN THE PULMONARY ARTERY AND DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS

Géraldine Vitry
Géraldine Vitry

INVOLVEMENT OF NUDIX PROTEINS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Dr. Ruaa Al-Qazazi
Dr. Ruaa Al-Qazazi

THE ROLE OF THE NLPR3 INFLAMMASOME AND MACROPHAGES IN RIGHT VENTRICULAR FAILURE IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Karima Habbout
Karima Habbout

IMPLICATIONS OF EZH2 IN PAH

Dr. François Potus
Dr. François Potus

LINKING INFLAMMATION AND THE PROGRESSION OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Dr. Ping Yu Xiong
Dr. Ping Yu Xiong

SIGNIFICANCE OF ELEVATED RIGHT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC PRESSURE ON ECHOCARDIOGRAM

Sylvia Rinaldi
Sylvia Rinaldi

NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS WITH PH

Alice Bourgeois
Alice Bourgeois

ROLE OF FOXM1 IN DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE AND CELL CYCLE PROGRESSION IN PAH

Virginie F. Tanguay
Virginie F. Tanguay

METABOLIC SYNDROME AND PH

PHA Canada

408 - 55 Water Street

Office 8928

Vancouver, BC, V6B 1A1

Email: info@phacanada.ca

Phone: 604-682-1036

Toll Free: 1-877-774-2226

Charitable Registration # 872050224RR0001

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