Dr. Erin Mulvihill’s (BMI/UOHI) research explores the tight mechanistic links between metabolic disorders like obesity, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Her lab investigates peptide hormones and lipid-handling pathways that regulate communication among the gut, pancreas, liver, and heart, aiming to understand how disruptions in these systems drive inflammation, dysglycemia, and cardiac injury. Using mouse genetics, peptide biology, and mechanistic studies of cardiac and vascular tissues, her work seeks to identify shared biological pathways that can be targeted to treat diabetes and prevent cardiovascular complications.

From Ph.D. discovery to translational impact

Her journey into this research began during her Ph.D. training in Murray Huff’s laboratory at the University of Western Ontario. There, she saw firsthand how lipid metabolism and inflammation shape cardiovascular disease progression. Support from CIHR and Heart & Stroke training programs deepened her appreciation for the translational potential of mechanistic research.

That focus sharpened during her postdoctoral fellowship with Daniel Drucker at Mount Sinai Hospital. Working at the forefront of incretin biology, she witnessed how discoveries in peptide hormones could quickly transform therapies, moving interventions beyond glucose control to influence weight, inflammation, and cardiovascular outcomes. Seeing the real-world impact of GLP-1R agonist therapies reinforced her belief that understanding fundamental physiology can directly shift approaches to preventing and treating cardiometabolic disease. 

Values that shape her science and mentorship

Dr. Mulvihill credits her parents for instilling a strong sense of community service, integrity, and pride in a job well done. Their guidance continues to shape her approach to science, research, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Advice for emerging scientists

For those entering the field, she emphasizes that science is not just about having brilliant ideas; it is about having the discipline to turn ideas into robust observations. “Proper controls, thoughtful interpretation, and a balance of preparation with active experimentation are critical,” she notes. She also encourages researchers to add value to every team and project, leaving collaborations and communities stronger regardless of the size of their role.

Lessons from the pitcher’s mound

A side of her you won’t find on her résumé: she grew up as a softball pitcher, and this past summer, she coached her 10-year-old son’s team to an unexpected and exciting consolation championship. It was a vivid reminder of the values she carries into the lab: perseverance, mentorship, and building community. 

Dr. Deborah Siegal’s (Medicine/OHRI) research is driven by a practical and pressing question: how can we reduce the harms of bleeding while ensuring patients continue to benefit from life-saving anticoagulant therapies? Her program focuses on improving anticoagulant safety and optimizing transfusion practices—two areas that sit at the core of modern medical care but remain fraught with risk.

Using pragmatic clinical trials, large-scale clinical data, and close collaboration with patients and health system partners, Dr. Siegal generates evidence designed to move quickly from research into practice. Her work directly informs clinical decision-making and policy, with the goal of making care safer, more effective, and more sustainable for patients and the health system alike.

A clinician’s view of an unmet need

Dr. Siegal’s path into this research area was shaped by what she saw at the bedside. As a hematologist, she has witnessed firsthand the serious and sometimes devastating consequences of bleeding complications related to anticoagulant use. Despite how commonly these medications are prescribed, there remains a critical gap in evidence to guide their safest use—particularly when it comes to preventing and managing bleeding.

She is equally focused on transfusion practices. Blood products are a limited and essential resource, needed by patients undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, and other intensive treatments. For Dr. Siegal, reducing unnecessary transfusions is not simply about efficiency; it is about minimizing avoidable harm to patients while ensuring blood products remain available for those who truly need them. Novel approaches to reducing transfusion, she emphasizes, have the potential to improve outcomes while also easing strain on the health system. 

Mentorship grounded in purpose and perspective

When reflecting on mentorship, Dr. Siegal points to the many individuals—across medicine, science, and life—who have shaped how she approaches her career. These mentors encouraged her to ask clinically meaningful questions, to challenge the status quo thoughtfully and with humility, and to stay curious even when answers were not immediately clear.

They also modelled the importance of collaboration—expanding opportunity and impact through shared knowledge—while helping her develop a clear professional identity. Perhaps most importantly, they reinforced the value of thinking strategically without losing sight of the ultimate goal: producing research that makes a real difference for patients.

Advice rooted in the clinic

Her advice to the next generation of researchers and clinician-investigators is direct and grounded in experience: the most impactful research starts with the patients we see every day. The unanswered questions in routine care, she notes, often hold the greatest potential for meaningful change—if we take the time to listen closely and respond with rigor.

Life on a very busy leash

Outside of research and clinical work, Dr. Siegal’s caring instincts don’t switch off. She shares her home with three dogs—a trio that keeps her schedule full, her routines grounded, and her sense of balance firmly intact. It’s a different kind of responsibility, but one that offers daily perspective, structure, and no shortage of movement beyond the hospital and the lab. 

Dr. Kerri-Anne Mullen’s (SEPH/UOHI) research sits at the intersection of epidemiology, implementation science, and cardiovascular disease prevention. She focuses on improving prevention strategies, advancing women’s cardiovascular health, and strengthening smoking-cessation interventions-an area where evidence, access, and outcomes often fall short. Her work aims to close these gaps by ensuring that prevention efforts are grounded in rigorous science and truly responsive to the needs of diverse patient populations.

Where prevention begins

Her passion for prevention first took shape during her undergraduate studies, but it was her “first big person job” that set the direction for her career. Working as a research coordinator at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s Division of Prevention & Rehabilitation, she discovered a deep commitment to cardiovascular disease prevention, particularly smoking cessation.

Her interest in women’s heart health expanded with the launch of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre. Seeing the persistent disparities—delayed diagnoses, under-recognition of symptoms, and gaps in research participation—solidified her resolve to champion science that better serves women.

The people who shaped the journey

Dr. Mullen is quick to acknowledge the wide network of mentors and partners who have influenced her work and worldview.

• Her big sister and her husband, Dr. Bob Reid, have provided grounding, encouragement, and critical perspective.
• Dr. Andrew Pipe, former Chief of the Division of Prevention & Rehabilitation, helped shape her early passion for smoking cessation.
• “The Dougs”—Dr. Doug Manuel, her PhD supervisor, and Dr. Doug Coyle, her health economics mentor—guided her through the complexities of population health and economic evaluation.
• Dr. George Wells,  brilliant, humble, and deeply kind mentor, fuels her analytical side and has influenced how she thinks and approaches problems.
• Dr. Donna Pettey, community mental health leader, broadened her perspective and strengthened her pursuit of social justice.
• Dr. Thais Coutinho and Dr. Sharon Mulvagh, leaders in women’s heart health and pivotal collaborators in research and advocacy.
• And importantly, numerous patient partners—Helen Robert, Marion Martell, Jennifer Monaghan, and Jackie Ratz, to name a few—whose lived experience continues to shape her research questions, priorities, and approach.

It’s a community of colleagues, loved ones, and patient partners who, together, anchor her commitment to prevention science.

Guiding principles for emerging researchers

Her advice for the next generation is simple and steady:
Stay relentlessly curious and grounded in the real experiences of the people you aim to serve. 

Scientific tools and trends evolve, but the core of meaningful work—listening deeply, approaching problems with humility, and allowing provider, patient, and community experiences to guide the research agenda—will always remain relevant.

Practicing what she studies

A fun fact off the record: She has been an active commuter for nearly twenty years, making her way to work on foot, by bike, or by running. Rain, snow, sunshine—she’s logged the miles. It’s both a lifestyle and a quiet daily commitment to the very prevention principles she studies.