Dr. Kâmil Uludağ, senior scientist in the Physical Sciences and Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program at Sunnybrook Research Institute, has been awarded a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
The CRC program is the country’s highest research honour, investing in attracting and retaining some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds. Tier 1 CRCs are awarded to world leaders in their field for a seven-year term.
“Being recognized with a Canada Research Chair is a profound honour that acknowledges not only my contributions to the field but also the collaborative efforts of my team and mentors,” says Dr. Uludağ, who is also a full professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. “This chair also strengthens my commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between imaging scientists, clinicians, and neuroscientists.”
Dr. Uludağ’s research leverages advanced 3T and 7T MRI technology to bridge the gap between fundamental neuroimaging science and clinical applications. A central aim of his research is to refine understanding of the physiological and physical mechanisms underlying the functional MRI (fMRI) signal, a crucial tool for studying brain function.
Beyond methodological advancements, his research focuses on translating high-resolution MRI techniques into clinical practice for conditions such as brain tumors, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Ultimately, Dr. Uludağ’s research has significant implications for precision medicine with its potential to facilitate more personalized, effective diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
“The Canada Research Chair provides invaluable resources to expand our research program, drive innovation in ultra-high-field neuroimaging, and strengthen collaboration across disciplines,” adds Dr. Uludağ. “This funding enables us to attract and train the next generation of researchers, clinicians, and imaging scientists. By equipping them with the expertise to integrate advanced MRI techniques into both research and clinical practice, we can drive long-term progress in the field.”
As the scientific director for Toronto’s new and first 7T MRI, Dr. Uludağ is committed to ensuring that all researchers —regardless of their background or expertise in imaging—can leverage the state-of-the-art technology to conduct high-quality clinical studies.
“Dr. Uludağ’s imaging research has significant impacts on the way researchers and clinicians understand the brain and how it is affected by different neurological conditions,” explains Dr. Kullervo Hynynen, vice-president of research and innovation at Sunnybrook. “I look forward to seeing how this recognition supports his work advancing patient outcomes through precision imaging and diagnostics.”
At SRI, Dr. Uludağ joins Tier 1 CRCs Dr. Clement Hamani, Dr. Isabelle Aubert, Dr. JoAnne McLaurin, Dr. Greg Stanisz, Dr. Bojana Stefanovic, Burton Yang, Dr. Natalie Coburn and Tier 2 chairs Dr. Angela Jerath, Dr. Amy Yu, Dr. Meaghan O’Reilly, Dr. Iacovos Michael, Dr. Jesse Chao, Dr. Mark Chiew, Dr. Maged Goubran, Dr. Walter Swardfager, Dr. Chao Wang, and Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera.