CAGS Research Awards
The Canadian Association of General Surgeons is the only national organization representing the interests of Canadian General Surgeons, including promoting, supporting, and recognizing research excellence in the field of General Surgery in Canada. The CAGS Research Awards are designed to recognize Canadian General Surgeons whose research in any domain, from discovery to implementation and education, has made, or has the potential to make, an impact in the field of General Surgery.
Applications for 2026 are closed.
The next round of applications will open in 2027.
CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award: Awarded to an individual who has, over their career, made an exceptional contribution to research, in any domain, related to the field of general surgery.
Nomination Criteria:
- Must be a CAGS member in good standing
- Must be a Canadian General Surgeon or a General Surgeon who has worked in Canada for a minimum of 10 years
- The individual will have demonstrated a sustained commitment to research over their career and their research findings should have demonstrated impact, or the potential to impact, the field of general surgery.
- While traditional metrics, such as grants, publications, trainees, impact (h-index), research leadership, will be considered, non-traditional metrics, including originality of the research, evidence of collaboration, impact (or potential impact) for general surgeons and their patients, and patient advocacy and engagement will also be considered.
CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award: Awarded to an individual who, within the first decade of their career (from completion of fellowship and excluding any career interruptions*), has made an exceptional contribution to research, in any domain, related to the field of general surgery.
Nomination Criteria:
- Must be a CAGS member in good standing
- Must be a Canadian General Surgeon or a General Surgeon who has worked in Canada for the majority of their career.
- The individual will have demonstrated a sustained commitment to research over their early career and their emerging research program should have demonstrated impact, or the potential to impact, the field of general surgery.
- While traditional metrics, such as grants, publications, trainees, impact (h-index), research leadership, will be considered, non-traditional metrics, including originality of the research, evidence of collaboration, impact (or potential impact) for general surgeons and their patients, and patient advocacy and engagement will also be considered.
Award Acceptance: In order to allow the award recipients the opportunity to accept the award in person, an honorarium to a maximum of $1500 will be awarded for travel, accommodation and/or registration fee to the Canadian Surgery Forum (CSF).
Nomination Submission Requirements:
The following items will need to be submitted with the nomination submission:
- A full CV
- A detailed letter of support for the nominee that includes how they meet the Nomination Criteria laid out above.
Nominations should be emailed as a single PDF file to: cags@cags-accg.ca
Award Adjudication: The nominations will be adjudicated by members of the Research Committee, with final approval by the CAGS Executive Committee
*Career interruptions are defined as bereavement, medical and parental leave. Administrative, sabbatical and study leaves do not qualify. The eligible leave is credited as twice the time of the leave (i.e. a leave of 6-months is credited as one additional year)
For further information please contact:
Dr. Guillaume Martel
CAGS Research Committee Chair
Email: gumartel@toh.ca
Recipients
CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award Recipient
Dr. Paul Karanicolas has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to surgical research, his leadership in advancing surgeon-led clinical trials in Canada and internationally, his commitment to mentoring the next generation of surgical researchers, and his collaborative approach to research that delivers meaningful impact.
A surgeon-scientist and full professor at the University of Toronto, Dr. Karanicolas is a hepatopancreatobiliary surgical oncologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. His research focuses on multicentre clinical trials and perioperative care, with particular emphasis on developing and conducting clinical trials in surgical oncology. In 2011, he established the HPB CONCEPT Team, bringing together HPB surgeons, methodologists and patient advocates to develop a consensus-based framework for liver and pancreas cancer research. This work led to the design and completion of the HeLiX trial, which enrolled 1,400 patients and examined the impact of tranexamic acid on blood transfusion in patients undergoing liver resection.
In 2017, Dr. Karanicolas established the IMPACTS program, an innovative, multicentre, patient-centred approach to conducting high-quality pragmatic randomized controlled trials in surgery. Through this program, he has helped identify and address important uncertainties in surgical and perioperative care, including the CIHR-funded CLEAN Wound trial, which completed accrual of 2,500 patients. His research portfolio encompasses numerous influential clinical trials addressing perioperative interventions, surgical oncology, patient outcomes and quality of care. He has authored nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications, including research published in leading medical journals, and has an H-index of 54.
Beyond his individual research achievements, Dr. Karanicolas has demonstrated exceptional leadership in building research capacity and engaging the broader surgical community. As Medical and Scientific Director of the Centre for Clinical Trial Support at Sunnybrook Research Institute, he works to strengthen the development, design and institutional support of investigator-initiated clinical trials. He has also held numerous national and international leadership roles, including with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, the Ontario Ministry of Health Surgical Innovation Program, the CIHR RCT Committee and the Americas HPB Association.
Mentorship is another defining element of Dr. Karanicolas’s career. He is actively involved in general surgery residency and HPB and surgical oncology fellowship training, supervises graduate students in clinical epidemiology and clinical trial methodology, and has supported junior surgeons as they establish their research careers. His commitment to mentorship has been recognized through the Dr. Charles Tator Surgeon Scientist Mentoring Award and the Eugenie Stuart Best Thesis Supervisor Award, among other honours.
Dr. Karanicolas also exemplifies the collaborative spirit of surgical research. His willingness to support research beyond his own areas of specialty has helped strengthen clinical trials across Canada. The nomination highlights his contribution to the PERIOP-01 trial, where his decision to open the study at Sunnybrook and encourage participation by colleagues helped the trial continue to successful completion and publication.
Through a sustained record of practice-changing research, national and international research leadership, mentorship and collaboration, Dr. Karanicolas has made a significant contribution to advancing surgical research and improving patient care. His career exemplifies the excellence recognized by the CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award.
CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award Recipient
Dr. Boris Zevin has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to surgical research, education and innovation. In less than a decade as a faculty member, Dr. Zevin has established an internationally recognized research program focused on transforming how surgical education, assessment and performance are approached.
As a SEAMO Medical Education Scholar and Associate Professor at Queen’s University, Dr. Zevin’s interdisciplinary research brings together surgery, medical education, artificial intelligence, computer vision and large language models. His work has explored innovative approaches to procedural skills assessment, simulation-based training, operative video review and the quality of feedback provided to surgical trainees. His research includes the development of AI-enabled technologies to support competency-based medical education and the use of real-time computer navigation to improve surgical skills training.
His research productivity and impact are reflected in more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and four book chapters, with nearly 2,000 citations and an h-index of 22. His work has been published in leading journals including Annals of Surgery, British Journal of Surgery, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Journal of Surgical Education and Surgical Endoscopy. His research program has attracted more than $3 million in peer-reviewed and industry funding, including support from CAGS, SAGES, NSERC and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Zevin has also demonstrated a strong commitment to building research capacity and mentoring the next generation of surgeon-scientists. He currently supervises PhD and Master’s trainees and has guided more than 40 medical students and residents toward research awards at national and international conferences. His contributions to mentorship and medical education have been recognized through honours including the Ron Wigle Mentorship Award and the CAME Certificate of Merit.
His research portfolio demonstrates a sustained progression from foundational work in surgical skills assessment and simulation to innovative applications of AI and digital technologies in competency-based surgical education. His numerous peer-reviewed grants include a CAGS Operating Grant supporting research into AI-enabled operating-room video capture and assessment technology, as well as funding for an open-source AI-driven competency-based training and assessment platform for open surgical skills.
Through the originality, productivity and impact of his scholarship, together with his commitment to mentorship and advancing surgical education, Dr. Zevin exemplifies the emerging generation of academic surgeon-scientists. His work is helping shape the future of surgical training and assessment in Canada and internationally, making him a highly deserving recipient of the CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award.
CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award Recipient
Dr. Rebecca Auer has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to surgical oncology research, her leadership in advancing translational and clinical research, and her sustained commitment to improving outcomes for patients with cancer.
As a surgical oncologist, scientist and Professor at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Auer has established an internationally recognized research program focused on the relationship between surgery, the immune system and cancer recurrence. Her work has advanced understanding of surgery-induced immune dysfunction and explored innovative approaches to preventing postoperative cancer metastases, including perioperative immunotherapy, oncolytic viruses and strategies targeting immune suppression. Her research consistently bridges laboratory discovery and clinical application, with a clear focus on bringing new approaches from the bench to the bedside.
Dr. Auer has demonstrated exceptional success in securing competitive research funding, serving as principal investigator on major grants and clinical trials. Her research funding as principal investigator totals more than $22 million. Her portfolio includes the development and clinical testing of cancer immunotherapies, pragmatic clinical trials, perioperative interventions and platforms designed to improve research and patient care. Her work has also contributed to large national and international research collaborations, including major initiatives in cancer immunotherapy and clinical trials.
Her scholarly record reflects the breadth and impact of this work, with 121 refereed journal publications, 11 book chapters and more than 3,400 citations, with an h-index of 33. Her research has been published in leading journals and has generated national and international attention.
Beyond her own research achievements, Dr. Auer has made significant contributions to Canada’s surgical research community. She has chaired the CAGS Research Committee, served on numerous national and international research and clinical trial committees, and contributed to peer review and grant adjudication for organizations including CIHR, the Canadian Cancer Society and CAGS.
Mentorship is also a defining feature of Dr. Auer’s career. She has supervised and mentored a large number of undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees, including 31 completed BSc students, nine MSc students, five PhD students and two postdoctoral fellows. Many of her trainees have pursued research careers of their own, contributing to the continued growth of surgical and translational research.
Through her sustained record of innovative research, successful clinical translation, research leadership, collaboration and mentorship, Dr. Auer has made an important and lasting contribution to surgical research in Canada. Her career exemplifies the excellence, leadership and commitment to advancing patient care recognized by the CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award.
CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award Recipient
Dr. Andrea MacNeill was selected as the 2025 recipient of the CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award in recognition of her innovative and influential research at the intersection of surgical care and environmental sustainability. Since completing her surgical oncology fellowship in 2016, Dr. MacNeill has established a distinctive research program that is reshaping how healthcare systems and surgeons approach environmental sustainability while maintaining high-quality patient care.
A landmark contribution to her field was her 2017 study of the carbon footprint of operating rooms, published in The Lancet Planetary Health. This work established foundational methods for assessing the environmental impact of healthcare and was followed by research quantifying the environmental footprint of the Canadian healthcare system. Dr. MacNeill subsequently developed the “Planetary Healthcare Framework,” providing a practical approach to transforming healthcare systems toward greater sustainability while maintaining quality of care.
Her research leadership extends well beyond her publications. In 2021, she founded the UBC Planetary Healthcare Lab, bringing together experts from multiple disciplines to develop evidence-based solutions for sustainable healthcare. She also co-founded CASCADES, a pan-Canadian network focused on accelerating the transition to sustainable healthcare, supported by a $6 million grant from Environment and Climate Change Canada. In addition, she co-chairs the UBC-Yale Lancet Commission on Sustainable Healthcare, leading an international group of more than 40 scholars working to develop guidance for sustainable health-system transformation.
Importantly, Dr. MacNeill’s research is grounded in real-world implementation. As Regional Medical Director of Planetary Health at Vancouver Coastal Health, she has helped embed environmental sustainability into healthcare operations and established a Sustainable Clinical Services team. Her work has included initiatives addressing hospital food systems, perioperative warming, low-carbon surgical care and appropriate use of healthcare resources.
Her scholarly contributions demonstrate both breadth and sustained productivity. Her research spans sustainable surgery, healthcare emissions, perioperative care, resource stewardship and planetary health, with publications in leading journals including The Lancet Planetary Health, JAMA Surgery, The BMJ, Health Affairs and the British Journal of Anaesthesia.
Dr. MacNeill is equally committed to mentorship and knowledge sharing. She supervises graduate trainees and has worked extensively with medical students and residents on research projects, many of which have resulted in presentations, competitive awards and peer-reviewed publications. Her CV also documents an extensive record of national and international invited lectures and educational activities focused on sustainable healthcare.
In just eight years following fellowship, Dr. MacNeill has built an innovative and highly collaborative research program addressing one of the defining challenges facing healthcare. By combining rigorous research with interdisciplinary collaboration, policy development, education and implementation, she has demonstrated the originality, leadership and potential for lasting impact that exemplify a CAGS “Rising Star” in Research.
CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award Recipient
Dr. James Shapiro was selected as the inaugural recipient of the CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award in recognition of more than four decades of groundbreaking research, international leadership and mentorship in transplantation and diabetes research. A Professor of Surgery, Medicine and Surgical Oncology at the University of Alberta and an internationally acclaimed surgeon-scientist, Dr. Shapiro has dedicated his career to improving the lives of people living with diabetes.
Dr. Shapiro’s most transformative contribution has been his leadership of the Edmonton Protocol, which revolutionized islet cell transplantation for people with Type 1 diabetes. The protocol achieved insulin independence in more than 90% of patients in its landmark clinical trial and helped establish islet transplantation as a viable treatment option. Since 2000, thousands of patients worldwide have undergone islet transplantation, with Dr. Shapiro’s Edmonton group reaching more than 400 transplants—more than one-third of the global experience at the time of his nomination.
His research program has continued to push the boundaries of cellular and regenerative medicine. Dr. Shapiro was the first in Canada to initiate clinical trials using human stem cell-derived insulin-secreting cells and subsequently led a first-in-human clinical trial of CRISPR gene-edited stem cell islet progenitors without immune suppression. He has also led or co-led major international multicentre trials aimed at further improving the effectiveness and accessibility of cell-based therapies for diabetes.
The scale and sustained impact of Dr. Shapiro’s research are reflected in his extensive funding and scholarly record. He has brought more than $100 million in research funding to the University of Alberta, including major peer-reviewed and philanthropic support, and has maintained a program spanning basic science, translational and clinical research. His work has appeared in leading journals including The Lancet, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nature and Nature Biotechnology.
His leadership extends beyond his own research program. Dr. Shapiro has played prominent national and international roles in transplantation research, including leadership of major multicentre trials and the Canadian National Transplant Research Project. He has also helped build research infrastructure at the University of Alberta, including the Alberta Diabetes Institute, and has leveraged substantial research and philanthropic resources to advance diabetes and transplantation research.
Dr. Shapiro has also made mentorship a defining component of his career. He has supervised or co-supervised numerous postdoctoral fellows, PhD and MSc students, international fellows and surgical trainees, helping develop the next generation of clinician-scientists and surgical leaders. His impact as a mentor extends well beyond the University of Alberta, with former trainees going on to academic, leadership and policy roles.
His contributions have been recognized through numerous national and international honours, including Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the Hunterian Medal and Professorship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Gold Medals from the Governor General of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Paul E. Lacy Memorial Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Diabetes Canada.
Through landmark discoveries, sustained research excellence, international leadership, knowledge translation and an extraordinary commitment to mentorship, Dr. Shapiro has had a profound and lasting impact on transplantation science and the care of people living with diabetes. His career exemplifies the innovation, influence and dedication to advancing surgical research that the CAGS Career Excellence in Research Award was established to recognize.
CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award Recipient
Dr. Kelly Vogt was selected as the inaugural recipient of the CAGS “Rising Star” in Research Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to acute care surgery research and her leadership in advancing evidence-based emergency general surgery and trauma care in Canada. Since joining the faculty at Western University in 2014, Dr. Vogt has established herself as a highly productive clinician-scientist whose research addresses important questions in quality, outcomes and health-system delivery.
A defining contribution to her research career has been her leadership in developing the Canadian Collaborative on Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS). Through this national clinical and research platform, Dr. Vogt has brought together multidisciplinary researchers and clinicians to advance research in acute care surgery across Canada. Her work through CANUCS has generated more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, including three randomized controlled trials, and has helped establish Canada as a leader in acute care surgery research.
Dr. Vogt has also demonstrated an impressive ability to secure competitive research funding. Her portfolio includes numerous grants as principal investigator and co-investigator, including a $263,372 AMOSO grant to develop and implement a national acute care surgery registry and a CIHR-funded program examining access and outcomes among marginalized patient populations. She has also contributed to major multicentre clinical trials and was a co-applicant on CIHR grants totalling more than $1.5 million.
Her scholarly productivity is equally notable. Dr. Vogt has co-authored more than 52 publications and served as senior author on more than 25, with research published in leading surgical and medical journals. Her work encompasses emergency general surgery, trauma, surgical outcomes, health services research and patient-important outcomes, with multiple studies designed to directly inform clinical practice and healthcare delivery.
Beyond her individual research accomplishments, Dr. Vogt has made significant contributions to building research capacity within surgery. As Faculty and Resident Research Director for General Surgery at Western University and Chair of the Department of Surgery Research Committee, she oversees resident research, supports faculty grant development and fosters research collaboration and mentorship. Her commitment to developing future researchers is reflected in her extensive mentorship of colleagues and trainees, extending from study development through presentation and publication.
Dr. Vogt’s research leadership has also been recognized through multiple honours, including the Western University Clinician Scientist Award, three Department of Surgery Academic Merit Awards for Researcher/Scientist, and the CAGS Innovator Award in 2017.
Through her innovative research, national collaboration, sustained scholarly productivity and commitment to mentorship, Dr. Vogt has made a significant contribution to the development of acute care surgery research in Canada. Her record of achievement and continued leadership exemplify the qualities of a CAGS “Rising Star” in Research.
