Arthritis Research Canada Welcomes Three New Scientists
Vancouver (February 2, 2026) – Arthritis Research Canada recently welcomed Dr. Jean-Sébastien Roy, Dr. Maziar Badii, and Dr. Natalie McCormick to the organization’s growing research team. Each of them brings unique expertise and a shared commitment to improving the lives of people living with arthritis.
Dr. Jean-Sébastien Roy joins Arthritis Research Canada as a research scientist. He is a Professor at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Université Laval, with more than 25 years of experience as a physiotherapist and researcher. Dr. Roy’s work focuses on understanding what causes musculoskeletal pain to become chronic and to lead to loss of physical function, and on developing and testing innovative rehabilitation strategies for people with musculoskeletal and rheumatic conditions.
Dr. Maziar Badii joins the organization as a clinician investigator. He is a rheumatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Badii’s clinical and research interests include innovative treatments for osteoarthritis, back pain, and other degenerative conditions. He collaborates with interventional radiology to study novel procedures and technologies in rheumatology to improve treatments for people with arthritis.
Joining as an affiliate scientist is junior faculty member Dr. Natalie McCormick, an Instructor at Harvard Medical School, and Investigator in the Rheumatology and Allergy Clinical Epidemiology Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Her research focuses on using ‘multi-omic’ data (such as genetics, genomics, biomarkers, gut microbiome) from large groups of people who were followed over time to understand what factors contribute to the risk of developing gout, and of gout flares once people have gout.
“We are excited to welcome Drs. Roy, Badii, and McCormick to our research team,” said Dr. Diane Lacaille, Scientific Director at Arthritis Research Canada. “They bring new expertise to our team, and their innovative work aligns with our mission to transform the lives of people living with arthritis through research and engagement.”
