Congratulations to the 2026 CNS Award Recipients
2026 Fellows
Donald Duerksen, MDAssociate Professor of Medicine, Section Head - Division of Gastroenterology
University of Manitoba
Medical Director, Manitoba Home Nutrition Program
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Heather H. Keller, RD, PhD, FDC Research Chair, Nutrition and Aging, Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging
Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo
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David Kitts, PhDProfessor and Dean pro tem, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
University of British Columbia
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Career Recognition Awards
Khursheed Jeejeebhoy Award for Best Application of Clinical Nutrition Research Findings to Clinical PracticeJessie Hulst, MD, PhD
Staff gastroenterologist, The Hospital for Sick Children
Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto
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Supported by Abbott Laboratories Co.
Young Investigator Award for Outstanding ResearchJoAnne Arcand, PhD, RD
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
Ontario Tech University
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Supported by Abbott Laboratories Co.
INMD / CNS – Early Career Researcher Partnership PrizeLaura Chiavaroli, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor,Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Affiliate Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital.
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Supported by CNS and CIHR-INMD
Earle Willard McHenry Award for Distinguished Service in NutritionDavid W.L. Ma, PhD
Professor and Director
Guelph Family Health Study
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Supported by the Canadian Nutrition Society
Allied Health Award in Nutrition CarePaule Bernier, FDt.P., M.Sc., ASC
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Supported by Nestlé Health Science
James D House - President's Volunteer Leadership AwardTo be Announced at the CNS Awards Banquet
May 9, 2026
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Supported by the Canadian Nutrition Society
Trainee Awards
Canadian Nutrition Society Postdoctoral AwardRaphaëlle Jacob, RD, PhD
University of Guelph
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Supported by the Canadian Nutrition Society
PhD Dissertation Award for Outstanding ResearchJessica Murphy, PhD
Concordia University
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Supported by Centrum
Abstract Awards
Joanne Schweitzer Clinical Nutrition Research Abstract AwardYabo Chen, RD
McGill University
"Feasibility of multimodal prehabilitation to enhance glycemic levels before surgery in patients with colorectal cancer and A1C ≥ 5.7%"
Supported by the Canadian Nutrition Society
CNS Thematic Conference Abstract AwardSerena Vanessa Iannucci, BSc, MSc
University of Guelph
"Effect of almond incorporation in white chocolate and nut particle size on satiation, chewing effort, and eating time in healthy adult females"
Supported by the Canadian Nutrition Society
George Beaton Award for Student Work in Public Health NutritionJacqueline Brown, MHSc
Ontario Tech University
"The effect of a digital curriculum-based nutrition education intervention on elementary school children’s nutrition knowledge: the Foodbot Factory cluster randomized controlled trial"
Supported by the University of Toronto - Department of Nutritional Sciences
CNS Undergraduate Abstract Award Esther Ha
University of Saskatchewan
"Diet quality and bone health in Canadian children: positive associations between NRF 9.3 scores, bone mineral content, and bone density"
Supported by the Canadian Nutrition Society
APNM Abstract AwardLulu X Pei, MSc
University of British Columbia
"A high prevalence of iron deficiency in pregnant individuals in Vancouver, Canada: Inadequate iron intakes or diagnostic inaccuracy of ferritin thresholds to define iron status?"
Supported by the journal of Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism (APNM)
MyRoad Abstract AwardYasmeen Karaman, MSc
University of Guelph
"Intakes of ultra-processed and processed foods are cross-sectionally associated with a less favourable cardiometabolic profile in preschool-aged children"
Supported by MyRoad
Nutrition Graduate Student and Trainee Award /
Christine Gagnon Memorial Travel Award
Supported by Haleon
Winners
To be announced at the CNS Awards Banquet
1st Place: To be announced
To be announced
2nd Place: To be announced
To be announced
3rd Place: To be announced
To be announced
Finalists
Abstract Title
Jacqueline Brown, MHSc - Ontario Tech University
The effect of a digital curriculum-based nutrition education intervention on elementary school children’s nutrition knowledge: the Foodbot Factory cluster randomized controlled trial
Connor D.C. Buchanan, PhD Candidate - University of Guelph
Estrous cycle uncovers novel lifelong n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid effects on duration and gene markers of Cip/Kip cell cycle regulators, DNA damage response and fatty acid composition of phospholipids in the young adult mouse mammary gland
Yabo Chen, RD - McGill University
Feasibility of multimodal prehabilitation to enhance glycemic levels before surgery in patients with colorectal cancer and A1C ≥ 5.7%
Nicholas Cheng, MSc - York University
Bone biomarker responses following an acute high-intensity exercise bout with differential post-exercise nutrition in young, healthy adults: a randomized crossover study
Asha De Silva, PhD Candidate - Memorial University of Newfoundland
Parenterally fed neonatal piglets require more dietary methionine to optimize transmethylation than for protein synthesis
Lulu X Pei, MSc - University of British Columbia
A high prevalence of iron deficiency in pregnant individuals in Vancouver, Canada: Inadequate iron intakes or diagnostic inaccuracy of ferritin thresholds to define iron status?
Amy Symington, MSc - University of Toronto
The dose-response investigation of docosahexaenoic acid (DRI-DHA) trial: a randomized control trial to determine the relationship of DHA supplementation on feedback inhibition of eicosapentaenoic acid elongation
Amy Tan, BSc, MSc - University of British Columbia
Folic acid supplement use and folate status in Canada, Northern Ireland and Spain: A transatlantic perspective from regions with different policies and practices
CNS Poster Award
Supported by Haleon
Winners
To be announced at the CNS Awards Banquet
1st Place: To be announced
To be announced
2nd Place: To be announced
To be announced
3rd Place: To be announced
To be announced
Finalists
Abstract Title
Ala Alzubi, BSc (Hons) - University of Guelph
Regional differences in proximal and distal colon crypt histomorphology are modulated by n-3 PUFA during distinct estrous cycle stages
Clara Gilliland - University of Guelph
Image-based dietary assessment applications and their potential for use in population-based studies: a rapid review of validity and acceptability.
Hannah XiaoYue Glowacki - University of Guelph
Effect of lifelong exposure to omega-3 EPA and DHA on morphological and gene expression biomarkers of colonic intestinal health in a breast cancer mouse model
Adrianna Greco, MSc, RD- University of British Columbia
Association of vitamin B-12 intake and biomarker concentrations with the consumption of growing-up milk, cow’s milk, or no intervention, in 24-month-old toddlers: results from a dietary intervention trial
Hayun Jeong, HBSc - University of Toronto
Menu-FLIP: leveraging natural language processing and nutrient profiling for hierarchical classification of menu items
Yasmeen Karaman, MSc - University of Guelph
Intakes of ultra-processed and processed foods are cross-sectionally associated with a less favourable cardiometabolic profile in preschool-aged children
Thilini Kumarasinghe, BVSc, MSc, PhD Candidate - Memorial University of Newfoundland
An antioxidant-optimized parenteral nutrition formulation reduces plasma triglycerides in neonatal Yucatan piglets
Rouyi Wang, RD, MSc (c) - McGill University
A culinary medicine and exercise approach to maintain physical and cognitive function in free-living older adults: A feasibility study
Nutrigraphic Award Competition
Supported by the Canadian Sugar Institute
Winners
Announced at the CNS Awards Banquet
1st Place: To be announced
To be announced
2nd Place: To be announced
To be announced
3rd Place: To be announced
To be announced
Finalists
Nutrigraphic Title
Catherine Bigras,Rd,MSc - Université Laval
Eating for a healthy brain
Devora Goldberg, MScAHN - Mount Saint Vincent University
Are you getting enough iron during pregnancy?
Adrianna Greco, MSc, RD - University of British Columbia
Go Fish! Highlighting Fish Consumption in Early Childhood
Hayun Jeong, HBSc - University of Toronto
Nourishing the Future: Canada's National School Food Policy
Gwenn Pinel, PhD(c) - Université Laval
Yogurt matters: Supporting metabolic health during weight loss in postmenopausal women
Amanda Sherwin, BSc - University of Calgary
Dieting vs Intuitive Eating: Understanding the Difference
Helen Wong, RD, MSc, PhD - Dalhousie University
Household Foodwork
Group Submission - University of Ottawa: Jiaqian Xie, BSc, Amy Limin Zhu, BSc, and Eloïse Fanget, BSc
More Sunshine in Your Milk: Understanding the New Canadian Standard of Vitamin D Supplementation