Image: Fraser Health / L-R: Anica Reimer, RN, Courtney Wedemire, Clinical Dietitian, and Mark McDonald, RN, using ultrasound to measure muscle mass.

By Alyssa Conti

RESEARCH AWARD

Abbotsford dietitian receives Michael Smith award for muscle loss research

Oct 19, 2025 | 10:01 AM

ABBOTSFORD — An Abbotsford researcher has now been honoured with a prestigious award for his work on researching muscle loss and critical illness.

This year’s 2025 Michael Smith Health Research BC Health Professional-Investigator award, worth $450,000 over five years, has gone to Courtney Wedemire with the Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

“This award gives me the time and capacity to grow my research program and answer questions that matter to patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit,” said Wedemire.

Her research looks at improving the quality of life for ICU patients, whose weakness and muscle loss often go overlooked. The new funding will help Wedemire expand her work on the effects of pre-existing sarcopenia and malnutrition on recovery.

“Research is important, research is another way of delivering health care,” she added.

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“As clinicians, we are focussed on delivering care to patients at the bedside, leaving little time to contribute to research and help improve outcomes for all patients, so I’m incredibly grateful to Michael Smith Health Research BC for this opportunity to further my research and I hope it will have implications for patient care province-wide.”

Her studies are set to be conducted at Abbotsford Regional and Surrey Memorial in partnership with Fraser Health dietitians and the University of British Columbia.