Announcing the Winners of the Mid-Career Excellence in Women’s Health Research Award
Celebrating leadership and innovation in women’s health research across Canada.
The Partnership for Women’s Health Research Canada (PWHR) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Mid-Career Excellence in Women’s Health Research Award. This national, non-monetary award honours outstanding mid-career investigators who are leading rigorous, ground-breaking research to improve the health of women, trans and non-binary people.
Each winner represents one of PWHR’s partner institutions and is recognized for their significant contributions to research in one or more of the four Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) theme areas: biomedical research, clinical research, health systems and services, and social, cultural, environmental and population health.
“These exceptional leaders are advancing cutting-edge science, transforming health systems and practices to better promote the health of women, trans and non-binary people, and mentoring the next generation of researchers to do the same,” says Dr. Tamil Kendall, Director of PWHR. “We’re proud to recognize their contributions and amplify their impact on health equity in Canada.”
Meet the 2025 Award Recipients
Dr. Nichole Fairbrother
Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI), British Columbia
Dr. Fairbrother is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia and a registered psychologist. She leads the UBC Perinatal Anxiety Disorders Research Lab, one of the only labs in Canada dedicated to perinatal anxiety. Her research also addresses the highly stigmatized and misunderstood area of intrusive thoughts, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and infant safety. Her work is transforming how we screen, understand, and support perinatal mental health.
Dr. Stephanie Montesanti
Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI), Alberta
A Professor and Canada Research Chair in Health System Integration at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health, Dr. Montesanti is internationally recognized for her leadership in equity-focused health systems research. Her work centers Indigenous and rural communities and builds partnerships that co-design community-based health policies and services. Through the CARE Lab, she is advancing a bold, equity-centered vision for health system transformation.
Dr. Lihi Eder
Women’s College Hospital Research and Innovation Institute, Ontario
Dr. Eder is a Clinician-Scientist at Women’s College Hospital Research Institute and Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. As Director of the Psoriatic Arthritis Program at Women’s College Hospital and Co-Director of the Cardio-Rheumatology Program at the University of Toronto, her work has shaped global standards in psoriatic arthritis research, with a strong focus on sex and gender differences in disease outcomes. Her leadership continues to advance clinical care, imaging, and gender-responsive rheumatology.
Dr. Natalie Rosen
A Full Professor at Dalhousie University in the Departments of Psychology/Neuroscience and Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Dr. Rosen is an internationally recognized leader in sexual health research. Her work focuses on sexual dysfunction and well-being during life transitions, including the perinatal period. A pioneer in couples-based approaches, she has translated her findings into evidence-based interventions that are changing lives and improving care.
These four outstanding researchers are shaping a more inclusive and responsive research landscape that reflects the lived experiences, priorities, and health needs of women, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people across Canada. Each award winner will present their research during the PWHR 2025-2026 Women’s Health Research Seminar Series—stay tuned.
As PWHR continues to grow a national platform for collaboration, inclusion, and research excellence, we are honoured to celebrate these mid-career investigators and their powerful contributions to women’s health.
Learn more about the PWHR Mid-Career Excellence Award.
The Partnership for Women’s Health Research Canada uses the term women to refer to all people who identify as women. We use trans and non-binary as umbrella terms to refer to people with a wide range of gender identities that are different from the gender they were assigned at birth.
This is a living document and we welcome feedback. For more information or to provide input, please contact communications@pwhr.org
Follow Us:
Copyright © 2025 Partnership for Women’s Health Research. All rights reserved.