Cindy Barha, University of Calgary

Research

Cognitive Health Physical Activity Blood-Based Biomarkers Brain Health Ethnicity Menopause Neuroimaging Parity History

Latest papers

Investigating Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training Effects on Cognition and Brain Health in Men and Women with Heart Failure: The ReCARDIO Trial.
CJC open · 2026
Mapping women's health and well-being in Canada: A scoping review of findings from the Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA)
Maturitas · 2026

All 2 publications

Latest funding

Sex and estrogen-dependent cross-talk between macrophages and adipocyte progenitors during adipose remodelling in obesity.
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$707,625
Exploring biomarkers of physical activity promotion of cognition in menopause: Role of race/ethnicity
CIHR · 2023 · Nominated PI
$150,000
Prescribing movement to promote brain health in perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women
CIHR · 2023 · Nominated PI

All 6 grants and awards

2 publications.

01

Investigating Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training Effects on Cognition and Brain Health in Men and Women with Heart Failure: The ReCARDIO Trial.

Bherer L, Besnier F, Gagnon C, Vrinceanu T, Vincent T, Mohammadi H, Gauthier C, Duquesne C, Blanchette CA, Bérubé B, Said SN, Iglesies-Grau J, L'Allier P, Boulet J, Nigam A, Dionne V, Benhalima H, Dubé MP, Duchesne S, Belleville S, Brassard P, Gagnon D, Lesage F, Gayda M, Soucy JP, Bouabdallaoui N, Liu-Ambrose T, Barha C, Poirier J, Éric Thorin, Vu M, Tournoux F, Vitali P, O'Meara E, Racine N, Rouleau JL

CJC open2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2026.02.014 PMID: 42327429

02

Mapping women's health and well-being in Canada: A scoping review of findings from the Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA)

Kong C, D'Amore C, Barha C, Liu-Ambrose T, Team OBOTCLSOA

Maturitas2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2026.109041

Sex and estrogen-dependent cross-talk between macrophages and adipocyte progenitors during adipose remodelling in obesity.

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Project Grant

Principal investigators: Thompson, Jennifer A

Keywords: Adipogenesis; Adipose Tissue; Estrogen; Macrophages; Menopause; Obesity; Sex; Stem Cells

$707,625

Exploring biomarkers of physical activity promotion of cognition in menopause: Role of race/ethnicity

Nominated PICIHR2023Catalyst Grant: NWHRI: Innovation Fund - Biomedical Discovery Grants

Principal investigators: Barha, Cindy; Liu-Ambrose, Teresa Y

Keywords: Blood-Based Biomarkers; Brain Health; Cognitive Health; Ethnicity; Menopause; Neuroimaging; Parity History; Physical Activity; Race; Tau

$150,000

Prescribing movement to promote brain health in perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women

Nominated PICIHR2023Op. Gr.: BHCIA: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization Grants-Lifestyle Approaches

Principal investigators: Barha, Cindy; Culos-Reed, S.Nicole; Doyle-Baker, Patricia K; McDonough, Meghan H

Keywords: Cardiometabolic Health; Cognitive Health; Exercise; Females; Menopausal Symptoms; Perimenopause; Physical Activity; Postmenopause; Scoping Review

The Impact of Sex, Gender, and Race on Aerobic Training Efficacy and Cognition During Midlife

SupervisorCIHR2023CIHR Strategic Master's Award - Sex, Gender and Intersectionality in Health Res.

Principal investigators: Nel, Jansie H

Keywords: Aerobic Training; Biological Sex; Brain Activity; Cognitive Aging; Gender; Midlife; Neurotrophic Factors; Race; Sex Differences; Stress Axis

$17,500

Cafe Scientifique: The HeART of Women's Health- At The Intersection of Art and Science

Co-investigatorCIHR2023CIHR Café Scientifique Program - Institute of Gender and Health

Principal investigators: Dumanski, Sandi; Esler, Jacqui; Porter, Danaka M

Keywords: Art; Cardiovascular; Community Engagement; Knowledge Mobilization; Women

$6,000

Canada Research Chairs - Tier 2

Nominated PICIHR2022Canada Research Chairs - CIHR Funded - Tier 2

Principal investigators: Barha, Cindy

Keywords: Crc

$600,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact
Neurology and Neurosurgery
Physical Therapy
Physics
Institut de génie biomédical
Psychiatry
Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
Other

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Cognitive Health Dear Professor Barha, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Investigating Physical Exercise and Cognitive Training Effects on Cognition and Brain Health in Men and Women with Heart Failure: The ReCARDIO Trial." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Exploring biomarkers of physical activity promotion of cognition in menopause: Role of race/ethnicity" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]