At the 125th Annual Meeting held in London, Ontario, on 30 May 2025, IODE Canada announced the recipients of three IODE War Memorial Scholarships for doctoral study. Each award is valued at $15,000 for the 2025/2026 academic year.
IODE Canada established the IODE War Memorial Scholarship program in 1918 to commemorate Canadians who sacrificed their lives or were permanently disabled while serving their country. Today, applicants must be Canadian citizens in at least the second year of a doctoral program at a Canadian or Commonwealth university and are selected based on academic achievement and potential.
IODE Canada established the IODE War Memorial Scholarship program in 1918 to commemorate Canadians who sacrificed their lives or were permanently disabled while serving their country. Today, applicants must be Canadian citizens in at least the second year of a doctoral program at a Canadian or Commonwealth university and are selected based on academic achievement and potential.
Stefanie Valbon, Université de Montréal
Stefanie Valbon completed her BSc and MSc in Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University, working under the supervision of Dr. Martin Richer. Her research focused on understanding how chronic viral infections influence the development of critical immune cells. During this time, Stefanie developed a deep curiosity about the complex mechanisms that enable the immune system to provide the correct level of protection.
Stefanie is currently pursuing her PhD at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Heather Melichar. Her research focuses on immune tolerance mechanisms that prevent immune cells from mistakenly attacking healthy organs, which can lead to autoimmune diseases. Stefanie aims to apply her findings to enhance therapies for cancer patients. In cancer immunotherapy, immune cells are activated to target and kill cancer cells, but this often results in unintended off-target effects. Stefanie’s work seeks to identify new mechanisms that could help prevent autoimmune complications in patients undergoing these treatments.
Stefanie aspires to become an immunology professor and lead an academic lab, dedicating her time and creativity to developing more targeted therapeutic approaches for autoimmune disorders. In addition to her research, Stefanie is passionate about making immunology more accessible to the broader community. She founded the ImmunoThoughts Blog, where she advocates for a more inclusive approach to explaining immunological concepts. Stefanie hopes to inspire young scientists, regardless of their background, to become the next generation of innovators in the field.
Stefanie is currently pursuing her PhD at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Dr. Heather Melichar. Her research focuses on immune tolerance mechanisms that prevent immune cells from mistakenly attacking healthy organs, which can lead to autoimmune diseases. Stefanie aims to apply her findings to enhance therapies for cancer patients. In cancer immunotherapy, immune cells are activated to target and kill cancer cells, but this often results in unintended off-target effects. Stefanie’s work seeks to identify new mechanisms that could help prevent autoimmune complications in patients undergoing these treatments.
Stefanie aspires to become an immunology professor and lead an academic lab, dedicating her time and creativity to developing more targeted therapeutic approaches for autoimmune disorders. In addition to her research, Stefanie is passionate about making immunology more accessible to the broader community. She founded the ImmunoThoughts Blog, where she advocates for a more inclusive approach to explaining immunological concepts. Stefanie hopes to inspire young scientists, regardless of their background, to become the next generation of innovators in the field.
Peiyao Wang, University of British Columbia
Peiyao Wang is a fourth year MD/PhD student at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, where she attended McMaster University to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Science. Specializing in Biochemistry and minoring in Statistics, Peiyao gained an appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of research and explored a variety of research topics, including the surveillance of patients with cancer who received curative surgery and the risk factors predictive of vertebral fractures in children with bone-related diseases. She completed her honours thesis investigating the effects of cannabis smoke on viral immune response in the lung, which seeded her passion for lung health.
In culmination of her research interests and experiences, Peiyao is pursuing her MD/PhD at UBC to understand the role of outdoor air pollution in lung cancer initiation and development in patients who have never smoked. Supervised by Dr. William Lockwood at the BC Cancer Research Centre, Peiyao is studying pollution exposures in tissue culture in parallel with analyzing the genomic and epigenomic profiles of lung adenocarcinoma patients who have never smoked and have defined levels of cumulative pollution exposure in British Columbia.
Her research is supported by the Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded in 2023 and she has contributed to her research field through multiple publications as well as conferences on both the local and international stage. Peiyao aspires to become a clinician scientist at a university-affiliated hospital in Canada, bridging the lab and the clinic with the ultimate goal to improve outcomes and experiences for people with lung disease.
In culmination of her research interests and experiences, Peiyao is pursuing her MD/PhD at UBC to understand the role of outdoor air pollution in lung cancer initiation and development in patients who have never smoked. Supervised by Dr. William Lockwood at the BC Cancer Research Centre, Peiyao is studying pollution exposures in tissue culture in parallel with analyzing the genomic and epigenomic profiles of lung adenocarcinoma patients who have never smoked and have defined levels of cumulative pollution exposure in British Columbia.
Her research is supported by the Canada Graduate Scholarship awarded in 2023 and she has contributed to her research field through multiple publications as well as conferences on both the local and international stage. Peiyao aspires to become a clinician scientist at a university-affiliated hospital in Canada, bridging the lab and the clinic with the ultimate goal to improve outcomes and experiences for people with lung disease.
Jasmine Zhang, University of Waterloo
Jasmine Zhang received her Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (2020) from McMaster University. She went on to complete her Master of Arts (2022) at the University of Waterloo, where she is currently a third-year Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology. Her research explores the impacts of digital media use on the mental health of children, youth, and caregivers through a family-wide lens. She is also leading two international projects that seek to understand the implications of technological developments for child and family well-being. These focus on how microtransactions and in-game spending affect family functioning, and the integration of artificial intelligence in mental health services for children and youth. To date, she has presented her research at various national and international conferences, published several first-author peer-reviewed journal articles, and written multiple book chapters. She has also mentored undergraduate and graduate students in the FamilyPsycle Lab. In 2024, Jasmine joined the inaugural cohort of Impact Fellows at the Children and Screens Institute of Digital Media and Child Development to further contribute to research and policy movements in her research area.
Jasmine has also received advanced training in providing psychological assessment and intervention services for children, youth, and adults. She completed placements in various settings, including private practices, the Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment at the University of Waterloo, the Waterloo Region District School Board, and Hamilton Health Sciences. Upon completing graduate studies, Jasmine hopes to pursue a career that combines clinical work and research activities.
Jasmine has also received advanced training in providing psychological assessment and intervention services for children, youth, and adults. She completed placements in various settings, including private practices, the Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment at the University of Waterloo, the Waterloo Region District School Board, and Hamilton Health Sciences. Upon completing graduate studies, Jasmine hopes to pursue a career that combines clinical work and research activities.
