Two Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) researchers have been named Canada Research Chairs. Guillaume Paré and Gita Wahi are among the Fall 2026 recipients of this national honour from the Government of Canada recognizing their research excellence and leadership.
Guillaume Paré | Canada Research Chair in Precision and Molecular Medicine, Tier 1
Guillaume Paré
Paré has been named Canada Research Chair in Precision and Molecular Medicine (Tier 1). The chair provides $200,000 a year for seven years.
Paré is a senior scientist at PHRI. He directs the Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory (GMEL), part of the Clinical Research Laboratory and Biobank (CRLB). He is also a professor in the departments of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, and Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact.
His clinical interests include lipoprotein disorders, obesity and preventing cardiovascular disease. His research covers cardiovascular genetics, biomarker development and pharmacogenomics. Paré screens large numbers of biomarkers and combines the results with genetics, bioinformatics and epidemiology. The goal is to spot heart disease risk early and find better ways to prevent and treat it for each person.
Gita Wahi | Canada Research Chair in Child Health Equity, Tier 2
Gita Wahi
Wahi has been named Canada Research Chair in Child Health Equity (Tier 2). The chair provides $100,000 a year for five years.
Wahi is an associate investigator at PHRI and an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. Her research aims to improve the health and well-being of children and families. She focuses on children who are at risk of obesity or already living with it. She works with families to promote health and develop effective treatments.
Her research looks at how common childhood obesity is, what causes it and how to treat it. She also looks at health gaps and focuses on groups that are often left out of research. Wahi works with communities so the approaches she develops fit their needs.
Her research is closely tied to her clinical work. That means her findings can be used directly to improve patient care. She also works with a range of organizations to help more people benefit from her research.
A total of 220 chairholders were included in this announcement. Together, they received $187.1 million.
The Canada Research Chairs Program invests up to $311 million a year. It aims to attract and keep some of the world’s most promising and accomplished researchers. It supports research in health, engineering, sciences, social sciences and humanities.
