WCVM scientists receive SHRF funding for osteoarthritis and Lyme disease research
Three faculty members at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) have received funding support for their health research efforts through the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF).
By WCVM TodayThe provincial health research funding agency recently awarded about $120,000 to 12 health-based projects during the first round of its Align Grant program (2025-26). The foundation's aim is to use advanced health research technologies, infrastructure and expertise to create healthier communities.
Dr. Ali Honaramooz, a professor in the WCVM’s Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, is part of a University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team focused on osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that affects over four million Canadians and results in health care and indirect costs of $33 billion. The team’s project, “Bioprinting novel constructs for articular cartilage engineering,” received $10,000 in funding support. Led by Dr. Daniel Chen, other USask team members include Honaramooz, Brian Eames, William Dust and Ning Zhu.
Osteoarthritis is a progressive erosion of the articular cartilage and management is difficult as cartilage has limited abilities to repair itself. Since current treatments can’t repair the damaged cartilage, the USask team is working to develop engineering constructs using bioprinting that will help repair damaged articular cartilage. This project will help to launch a long-term research collaboration in cartilage tissue engineering.
Drs. Emily Jenkins and Maarten Voordouw, faculty members in the WCVM Department of Veterinary Microbiology, received $10,000 for their project, “Surveillance for blacklegged ticks in Saskatchewan.” The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) can transmit Lyme disease and infects animals and humans alike. Researchers at USask and the WCVM have spent the last 15 years collecting surveillance data on the trending public health problem of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Saskatchewan. The project’s goal is to answer three questions:
- Have Saskatchewan residents encountered more blacklegged ticks in the last 15 years?
- Are blacklegged ticks more often seen in regions of Saskatchewan where aspen trees and other deciduous tree species grow?
- Has the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens changed in blacklegged ticks over the past 15 years?
SHRF’s Align Grant program aims to fund projects that increase research relevance, increase the competitiveness of research funding applications, an support learning experiences for research and health professional trainees.
Other topics covered by Align Grant recipients included the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and supporting youth to attend post-secondary education. Click here to view the complete list of projects and recipients.