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Grace Parraga

Professor

Medical Biophysics

Orcid identifier0000-0002-5619-4145
  • Professor
    Medical Biophysics
  • Western University, Department of Medical Biophysics, Department of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, 1151 Richmond Street N., London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada

BIO

Grace is a Professor of Medicine, Oncology, Biomedical Engineering and Medical Biophysics at Western University, London Canada as well as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and Scientist and Director of the Advanced Pulmonary Imaging Laboratories, at Robarts Research Institute.

She was born and raised in Sudbury, Canada, trained at the University of Washington, Seattle WA and University of Basel, Switzerland, and then joined F Hoffman La Roche AG as a Scientist, Pharma R&D in Basel. She was recruited to Western University to spearhead the development of a lung imaging research program and is currently President of the International Workshop for Pulmonary Functional Imaging, member of the Fleischner Society, fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and serves on the boards of the Canadian Thoracic Society and the Deutches Zentrum für Lungenforshung. In 2025 she was honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for service to Canada and the Canadian Thoracic Society Distinguished Lecturer award.

Her team’s research is focused on developing new imaging tools and measurements of asthma and COPD, contributing over 300 peer-reviewed publications to date. More than 250 students, residents and fellows have completed research in her program and over 2000 patients have participated in her lab’s research studies.

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Scientific Director
    Western University, Western Academy for Advanced Research, London, Ontario, Canada2025 - 2030
  • Western Research Chair
    Western University, London, Ontario, Canada2025 - 2030
  • Tier 1 Canada Research Chair: Lung Imaging to Transform Outcomes
    Western University, Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada2018 - 2032
  • MEMBER, Board of Governors
    Western University, By-laws and Governance Subcommittee 2018-2020, Fund Raising and Donor Relations Subcommittee 2020-2022, Senate Committee on University Planning 2019-2022, London, Ontario, Canada2018 - 2022
  • MEMBER, Senate
    Western University, Senate Review Board Academic 2015-2020, Senate Committee Academic Policy and Awards 2017-2019, London, Canada2014 - 2018
  • Professor
    Western University, Department of Medical Biophysics, Graduate Program Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medical Imaging (ended 2018), Department of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology (started 2018), London, Canada2014
  • Graduate Chair
    Western University, Department of Medical Biophysics, London, Canada2014 - 2017
  • Faculty (Tenured)
    Western University, Department of Medical Biophysics, London, Canada2011
  • CIHR New Investigator
    Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ottawa, Canada2010 - 2015
  • Associate Professor
    Western University, Department of Medical Biophysics, Graduate Program Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medical Imaging, Department of Oncology, London, Canada2009 - 2014
  • PhD Supervisory Privileges
    Western University, Faculty of Graduate Studies, London, Canada2007
  • Faculty
    Western University, Cross-appointed, Department of Oncology, London, Canada2006
  • Faculty
    Western University, Cross-appointed, Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, London, Canada2005
  • Scientist
    Robarts Research Institute, London, Canada2004
  • Assistant Professor
    Western University, Department of Medical Biophysics, London, Canada2004 - 2009
  • Asst. Vice President
    Robarts Research Institute, Research Development, London, Canada2001 - 2004
  • Director
    Robarts Research Institute, Research Development, London, Canada1998 - 2001
  • Consultant
    Research Analysis & Documentation Inc, Canada1994
  • Scientist
    F. Hoffman-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland1994 - 1994

DEGREES

  • MRC (Canada) Postdoctoral Fellow
    Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland1990 - 1991
  • PhD, Biochemistry
    University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States1986 - 1990
  • MSc, Biochemistry
    Western University, London, Ontario, Canada1984 - 1985
  • BSc (Hon), Biochemistry
    Western University, London, Canada1980 - 1984

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland1990 - 1991

LANGUAGES

  • English
    Can read, write, speak, understand and peer review