McMaster Engineering professor Leyla Soleymani has been awarded a Dorothy Killam Fellowship for her research on next-generation wearable devices for early disease detection and prevention.

The award, administered by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), recognizes leading researchers whose superior, ground-breaking and transformative research stands to positively improve the lives of Canadians. It is one of eight Fellowships awarded this year.

Soleymani is at the forefront of a revolution in health-care technology, developing next-generation wearable biosensors that could redefine personalized health management.

Specifically, her research focuses on miniaturized biological sensors designed to monitor an individual’s health or disease status in real time, opening new possibilities for preventive medicine and early intervention.

Describing herself as “naturally curious” and “endlessly amazed” at uncovering new things, the Canada Research Chair in Miniaturized Biomedical Devices says the award will allow her to fully focus on her research.

“I am incredibly honoured and equally excited to have the opportunity to work with my amazing trainees to advance our biosensor technologies,” she says.

“There is so much potential for this research and I’m keen to move our made in Canada solutions to the market, create jobs and prosperity, and have a positive impact on the health and well-being of Canadians and people around the world.”

It’s no surprise that Soleymani was recognized with such a prestigious award, says Andy Knights, acting vice-president, Research.

“Leyla epitomizes the very description of a Killam Fellow,” says Knights. “In addition to driving research that has the potential to be game-changing for Canadians, she is committed to ensuring that research advances Canada’s economy. She’s the real deal and we’re all so proud of her.”

Soleymani’s groundbreaking work utilizes bio-inspired materials, such as DNA switches, to overcome the challenges of real-time health monitoring. These innovations enable continuous monitoring of critical biomarkers such as proteins associated with heart attacks and cancer recurrence.

The potential impact is profound — her technology could predict heart attacks while they are still reversible, detect cancer recurrence early enough to prevent metastasis, and empower individuals to monitor the effects of their diet and exercise with unprecedented accuracy.

Soleymani is most deserving of this award, and the ripple effect of this investment will be significant, says Heather Sheardown, dean of Engineering.

“Leyla’s dedication to training the next generation of researchers ensures that her work will drive innovation, advance Canada’s research and development efforts and, ultimately, improve lives,” Sheardown says. “I have no doubt she’s exactly the type of person Dorothy Killam had in mind when establishing the Fellowship.”

Soleymani’s research is not only advancing wearable sensor technology but also paving the way for Canada to become a global leader in this rapidly growing field.

By combining scientific excellence with a strong focus on real-world applications, she is ensuring that these life-saving innovations can be effectively integrated into health-care systems and made accessible to those who need them most.

“It is an incredible honour and privilege to review the exceptional submissions to these prestigious prize and fellowship programs,” said Maydianne Andrade, Chair, National Killam Selection Committee. “Killam scholars hail from regions across the country, from diverse linguistic and socio-cultural backgrounds, representing the best-in-class scholarship.”

The 2025 Killam laureates contribute to increasing the scientific achievements of Canadian institutions, said Bernard F. Miller, managing trustee of Killam Trusts.

“Now, more than ever, their research is needed to help build Canada’s future, foster innovation and encourage multidisciplinary collaboration, which are core pillars of the Killam values.”

Dorothy Killam Fellowships provide support to scholars of exceptional ability by granting them time to pursue research projects of broad significance and widespread interest within the disciplines of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, health sciences, engineering or studies linking any of these disciplines.