Faculty profile

Russell de Souza

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Associate ProfessorDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and ImpactMcMaster University

Russell de Souza

Associate Professor

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact

Faculty of Health Sciences

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

In this role since 2014

ORCID

Supervision signals

Professors usually supervise graduate students in their department's programs.
Teaches 1 graduate course, most recently in 2026.
144 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Senior (last) author on 12 recent papers, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 7 research grants (7 CIHR), most recently in 2022.
Supervisor on 4 trainee awards (4 CIHR), most recently in 2023.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

390

Publications

19,141

Citations

h-index

177

Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the publications linked to this profile. Citations and the h-index appear when the source records them.

Other departments

Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) (Joint Institute)

Research institutes

Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research (MODR)
Chanchlani Research Centre
Global-Glocal Research Centre (G2RC)
Schroeder Allergy and Immunology Research Institute (SAIRI)

Education

ScD, RD

Profiles and links

University Profile Search on Google Scholar iDORCID OpenAlex

Find them onX · LinkedIn · Bluesky · YouTube

Signals and details

Research

Read how they describe their research on their McMaster University profile.

Research areas, by share of publications

Nutritional Studies and DietMedicine
Diet, Metabolism, and DiseaseMedicine
Diet and metabolism studiesMedicine
Liver Disease Diagnosis and TreatmentMedicine
Birth, Development, and HealthMedicine

Research areas are derived from OpenAlex topics of their publications.

Latest papers

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perceptions of the Eco‐Bio‐Social Determinants of Dengue Transmission in São Paulo, Brazil: A Mixed‐Methods Study
Tropical Medicine and International Health · 2026
Low- and no-calorie sweeteners and health: unravelling the evidence and controversy
Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism · 2026
Co-Designing Physical Activity Programs With Immigrant Children and Families: A Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!) Research Study
Health Promotion Practice · 2026

All 390 publications

Latest funding

Analysis of Pre-pregnancy and Pregnancy-Related Obesity on Adult and Child Health (APPROACH)
CIHR · 2026 · Co-investigator
$428,400
Inflammation, Microbiome, and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects: the IMAGINE-SPOR chronic disease network.
CIHR · 2025 · Co-investigator
$2,000,000
Creating a justice-centered knowledge mobilization hub for climate action across the life-course
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$119,026

All 37 grants and awards

Researchers with similar interests

Andrew Mente

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact

Nutritional Studies and Diet, Diet and metabolism studies

Nadira Husein

Department of Medicine

Diet and metabolism studies, Nutritional Studies and Diet

Ryan Hogg

Department of Family Medicine

Nutritional Studies and Diet

Sandi Azab

Department of Medicine

Nutritional Studies and Diet, Birth, Development, and Health

Laura Anderson

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact

Nutritional Studies and Diet, Birth, Development, and Health

Jeremy Walsh

Department of Kinesiology

Diet and metabolism studies

From the 150 most recent of 390 publications.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perceptions of the Eco‐Bio‐Social Determinants of Dengue Transmission in São Paulo, Brazil: A Mixed‐Methods Study

Barkhad A, de Almeida Santos G, Campos SRC, Braz LMA, Freitas LP, Zinszer K, de Souza R, Waldron I, Loeb M, Luna E

Tropical Medicine and International Health20264 citations

DOI: 10.1111/tmi.70050

Low- and no-calorie sweeteners and health: unravelling the evidence and controversy

Ayoub-Charette S, Nguyen M, Chiavaroli L, Mattes RD, de Souza RJ, Khan TA, Higgins KA, Saxena N, MacKay D, Panahi S

Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism20264 citations

DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2025-0440

Co-Designing Physical Activity Programs With Immigrant Children and Families: A Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!) Research Study

Ross N, Vij S, Zahid A, Abdalla N, Desai D, de Souza RJ, DiLiberto D, Kandasamy S, Montague P, Sherifali D

Health Promotion Practice20263 citations

DOI: 10.1177/15248399251350925

Transforming healthcare: the PEACH Approach to reducing emissions and achieving net-zero

Qian C, Parascandalo F, Khakban I, Kandasamy S, de Souza R, Sergeant M

BMJ Leader20262 citations

DOI: 10.1136/leader-2025-001244

Associations between exposure to air pollution and obesity and related anthropometric measurements in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Munir M, Mushtaq S, Khan A, Azab SM, Bangdiwala SI, Kurmi O, Doiron D, Brook JR, Banfield L, de Souza RJ

Environmental Research20262 citationsSenior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123476

Implementation of a peer mentorship program for type 1 diabetes in Canada: A qualitative analysis of peer mentor perspectives

Mackett K, Greenway M, Sherifali D, de Souza RJ, Jarvis C, Pesek JL, Santesso NA

Patient Education and Counseling20261 citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109508

Meta-analyses of dietary exposures must consider energy adjustment: recommendations from a meta-scientific review

Ortega N, Tennant PWG, Greenwood DC, Pano O, Dahm CC, de Souza RJ, Ibsen DB, MacDonald C, Tobias DK, Tomova GD

American Journal of Epidemiology20261 citations

DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwag188

Designing and implementing nature-based interventions in community settings: a scoping review

Bhopa S, Banfield L, Memon P, Watson A, Afach G, Apatu E, Wahi G, Sherifali D, Sansanwal S, Kandasamy S

Cities and Health20261 citations

DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2025.2566572

Rationale and design of a parallel randomised trial of a plant‐based intensive lifestyle intervention for diabetes remission: The REmission of diabetes using a PlAnt‐based weight loss InteRvention (REPAIR) trial

McKay B, Chaar DE, Paquette M, Vallis M, Sherifali D, Oh P, Marzolini S, Dasgupta K, Booth G, Lean M

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism20261 citations

DOI: 10.1111/dom.70510

Social determinants of health and risk of lower extremity amputation in patients with peripheral artery disease in Canada: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Chowdhury A, Sheikh F, Azab SM, de Souza RJ, Banfield L, Balakrishnan N, Anand SS

BMJ Open20261 citations

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-109126

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 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Nutritional Studies and Diet Dear Professor de Souza, 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 "Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perceptions of the Eco‐Bio‐Social Determinants of Dengue Transmission in São Paulo, Brazil: A Mixed‐Methods Study" (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 "Air pollution and cardiovascular disease: Investigating pre-clinical and clinical effects of low levels of air pollution on ectopic adipose tissue, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive function" (2022), 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]

Profile data last refreshed on September 25, 2026 from the university directory, publication records and CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding.

Something wrong or missing on this profile? Suggest a correction

Russell de Souza

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Researchers with similar interests

Andrew Mente

Nadira Husein

Ryan Hogg

Sandi Azab

Laura Anderson

Jeremy Walsh

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perceptions of the Eco‐Bio‐Social Determinants of Dengue Transmission in São Paulo, Brazil: A Mixed‐Methods Study

Low- and no-calorie sweeteners and health: unravelling the evidence and controversy

Co-Designing Physical Activity Programs With Immigrant Children and Families: A Strengthening Community Roots: Anchoring Newcomers in Wellness and Sustainability (SCORE!) Research Study

Transforming healthcare: the PEACH Approach to reducing emissions and achieving net-zero

Associations between exposure to air pollution and obesity and related anthropometric measurements in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Implementation of a peer mentorship program for type 1 diabetes in Canada: A qualitative analysis of peer mentor perspectives

Meta-analyses of dietary exposures must consider energy adjustment: recommendations from a meta-scientific review

Designing and implementing nature-based interventions in community settings: a scoping review

Rationale and design of a parallel randomised trial of a plant‐based intensive lifestyle intervention for diabetes remission: The REmission of diabetes using a PlAnt‐based weight loss InteRvention (REPAIR) trial

Social determinants of health and risk of lower extremity amputation in patients with peripheral artery disease in Canada: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Courses taught

Frequent collaborators

Sonia Anand

Joseph Beyene

Gita Wahi

Diana Sherifali

Koon Teo

Laura Chiavaroli

Lehana Thabane

Sujane Kandasamy

Sandi Azab

Padmaja Subbarao

Katherine Morrison

Shrikant Bangdiwala

Constantine Samaan

Stephanie Atkinson

Philip Britz Mckibbin

Laura Banfield

Malcolm Sears

Dena Zeraatkar

Salim Yusuf

Zainab Samaan

Andrew Mente

Guillaume Pare

Paul Moayyedi

Fatimah Jackson-Best

Liz Darling

Deborah Cook

Robert Brian Haynes

Ryan Van Lieshout