The funding for 10 UM research projects was awarded through the CIHR’s Project Grant Program, which is designed to support ideas with the greatest potential to advance health research, health-related fundamental or applied knowledge, health systems, health care or health outcomes.   

“Congratulations to the individuals from the Rady Faculty that secured funding for their important research,” said Dr. Mario Pinto, UM vice-president (research and international). “I’m thrilled to see that three of the teams were ranked No. 1 by their respective peer review committees. This demonstrates the leading-edge health research being conducted at UM.”

Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said the projects also reflect the diversity of health research taking place at UM.

“The studies are led by scientists from many different fields – from community health sciences to oral biology to pharmacology and therapeutics. This funding will help our researchers carry out their projects which will inevitably have an impact on the health of Manitobans, Canadians and people around the world,” Nickerson said.  

One of the UM grant recipients is Dr. Soheila Karimi, professor of physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine, and founding director of the Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre. She and her team received $1,143,675 over five years to study what could one day be a new treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).

“MS happens when the body’s immune system attacks and damages myelin, a protective layer around nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord. My research group has identified that Neuregulin-1, which is an important protein for proper function of the brain and spinal cord, is depleted in MS lesions. We have strong evidence that Neuregulin-1 holds promise as a potential treatment to promote myelin repair in progressive MS when repair fails, resulting in increased neurological impairments,” said Karimi, who is also a researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM).

Karimi’s project will evaluate Neuregulin-1 as a future treatment to prevent the progression of MS and support tissue repair. A new treatment is much needed, Karimi said, because Canada is home to the world’s highest prevalence of MS and current medications are minimally effective for the progressive phase of the disease.

“We are really hoping that this research will set the groundwork for conclusive findings which would justify going to clinical trials, especially for progressive MS, because there is a critical treatment gap,” Karimi said.

Learn about the other UM projects funded through the latest round of CIHR’s Project Grant Program. More information about the research teams and the work they’ll be doing is available here.

Dr. Tracie Afifi, professor of community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in childhood adversity and resilience; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Afifi will focus on updating and expanding her 10-year-old study related to child maltreatment across Canada. The team will update national and provincial prevalence of child abuse statistics and aim to understand the experiences of child abuse among those with different gender and sexual identities and how this impacts mental health and substance use outcome across age groups.

Dr. Heather Armstrong, assistant professor of internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in integrative bioscience; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $814,725 (five years)

Armstrong’s team will study the reasons why some dietary fibres are not well tolerated in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). She hopes these findings support development of personalized dietary fibre guidelines for IBD patients, based on the individual’s gut and microbiome health to ensure only safe fibres are consumed, therefore promoting improved microbe and gut health.

Dr. Prashen Chelikani, professor of oral biology, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry

Grant: $1,319,625 (five years)

Chelikani and the team will work to understand why some dental fungi are associated with tooth decay in preschool children and the local environmental factors that might influence them. This research on the dental mycobiome associated with severe tooth decay will assist with the development of new tooth decay prevention strategies for young Indigenous children.   

Dr. Keith Fowke, department head and professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $956,250 (five years)

Fowke will partner with organizations and community members in Nairobi, Kenya, to better understand the immune system among women who clear human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. The project aims to identify the immune cells that are important in the natural clearance of HPV with the goal of identifying these HPV clearance associated immune factors that are important for a therapeutic HPV vaccine to mimic.

Dr. Nathan Nickel, associate professor of community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; director and senior research scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $577,574 (three years)

In partnership with the Manitoba Métis Federation, Nickel and his team’s study will shed light on whether a Manitoba Health campaign that promoted the importance of childhood vaccinations improved childhood vaccination among Métis families. The study’s findings will support the development of strategies aimed at keeping childhood vaccination rates high in Manitoba as well as nation-specific strategies for Red River Métis citizens.

Dr. Christopher Pascoe, assistant professor of physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $784,125 (five years)

Pascoe seeks to better understand why exposure to diabetes during pregnancy makes airways twitchier in asthma. The team will learn whether reducing blood glucose levels during pregnancy is an effective way to prevent changes from occurring and this information may allow them the ability to stop asthma in children exposed to diabetes from developing before it’s a problem that requires treatment.

Dr. Joel Pearson, assistant professor of pharmacology and therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute, CancerCare Manitoba

Grant: $983,025 (five years)

Pearson will lead a study aimed at understanding the underlying causes of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and how non-small cell lung cancer can change to SCLC. This research will help them identify new and improved treatments for SCLC so patients living with this cancer will have longer lives and better outcomes.

Dr. Souradet Shaw, assistant professor of community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in program science and global public health

Grant: $883,576 (four years)

Shaw’s study seeks to develop a deeper understanding of trends, determinants and responses to sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBI) in Manitoba over a 30-year period. Collaborations between community, public health and academics will be at the forefront of this project, with the goal of co-learning and co-designing interventions to ensure no one is left behind while addressing current and future STBBI outbreaks.

Dr. Roberta Woodgate, distinguished professor of nursing, College of Nursing; Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $768,824 (four years)

Woodgate will lead a study to gather evidence to inform the co-design of policies and research priorities meant to enhance the health and well-being of young people who care for family members or other loved ones. Young carers will co-design the policy recommendations and research priorities by gathering evidence grounded in their experiences and providing them with a leadership role in the process.

“Our researchers have demonstrated excellence by securing federal support for a diverse range of innovative health studies,” said UM Vice-President (Research and International) Dr. Mario Pinto.

“Many of our UM experts will be collaborating with community members to help our research have impact and provide solutions for society.”

Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, also noted the involvement of community partners in many of the funded projects. “This is important because community members have valuable expertise to contribute,” he said.

Dr. Jonathan McGavock, professor of pediatrics and child health at the Max Rady College of Medicine in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, was a double recipient, landing two of the 10 grants to UM in the Spring 2023 round of funding.

McGavock, who is also a researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), has a key research interest in youth diabetes, with a particular focus on encouraging physical activity. The professor, who holds a PhD in exercise science, published a study last year demonstrating the cardiovascular health benefits associated with living near a multi-use activity trail.

He and his team have now received a grant of $1,453,500 to lead a five-year study of how Canadian cities can best implement urban trails that are fair for all citizens and generate the greatest possible cardiovascular health benefits. Seven cities, including Winnipeg, Brandon and Selkirk, are partners in the study.

“Our team will be working closely with city planners, and with organizations in all seven cities that support the use of trails, to create an optimal ‘recipe’ for trail creation that can inform the next wave of urban trails in Canadian cities,” McGavock said.  

The second grant to McGavock’s team is for $734,400 over four years. It will fund a randomized trial of a program for adolescents living with obesity. The program will support teens’ social, emotional and psychological needs as well as lifestyle changes, such as better sleep, daily activity and healthier eating.

“Very few treatments aimed at supporting a healthy lifestyle for adolescents with obesity incorporate skills to help regulate emotions and support positive mental health and quality of life,” McGavock said. 

“We want to determine if it’s feasible to deliver a treatment for teens living with obesity that includes emotional skills training.”

Here’s a look at the other CIHR-funded UM projects. More information on the studies and research teams is available here.

Dr. Jeremy Chopek, assistant professor, physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $975,376 (five years)

Chopek’s study seeks to better understand how electrical spinal stimulation can not only improve motor function in people with spinal cord injury, but also improve the body’s autonomic functions, such as regulating heart rate and blood pressure. The long-term goal is to increase exercise capacity, reduce obesity and improve overall health in people living with spinal cord injury.

Dr. Sanjiv Dhingra, professor, physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine; principal investigator, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre

Grant: $1,027,780 (five years)

Dhingra will focus on mesenchymal stem cells (a type of multipotent cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types) derived from bone marrow. Aiming to understand why, in treating heart disease, transplanted stem cells are rejected by the recipient, Dhingra’s team will experiment with modifying the cells to improve their survival in the heart.

Dr. Keith Fowke, professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Partnering with community members in Nairobi, Kenya, Fowke’s team will study immune cells from Kenyan women who naturally clear the human papilloma virus (HPV) in the presence or absence of HIV co-infection. Because HPV causes cervical cancer, understanding how the immune system clears it naturally is an important step toward developing a vaccine to clear HPV infection.

Dr. Lauren Kelly, associate professor, pharmacology and therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $749,700 (three years)

Kelly will lead a randomized clinical trial of cannabidiol (CBD) alone versus CBD in combination with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as a treatment to reduce seizures in children and adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. Patient-centred organizations have partnered with researchers in guiding the trial, which will involve 90 participants across eight sites.

Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum, professor, physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in molecular cardiology; director, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre

Grant: $757,350 (five years)

Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapy drug with the side effect of inducing heart failure in some cancer survivors. Kirshenbaum’s study will examine the apparent link between cancer patients’ disrupted body clocks, autophagy (the body’s process of “recycling” damaged cell parts to maintain cell quality), and the harmful effects of doxorubicin on the heart.

Dr. Deepak Louis, assistant professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $481,951 (four years, three months)

Louis will lead a three-province study of how the birth of a preterm baby affects siblings in the family. Parents of a preterm infant often experience stress, isolation, financial difficulties and mental health effects. Louis’s team will be the first to examine siblings’ risk for developing behavioural, socio-emotional, mental and physical health problems in childhood and adolescence.

Dr. Kristin Reynolds, associate professor, psychology, Faculty of Arts

Grant: $351,901 (four years)

Reynolds’ team will partner with community organizations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia to implement and evaluate the CONNECT Program, a group telehealth mental health program for older adults. Working with the organizations, the researchers will assess the program’s effects on participants’ loneliness, social connection and mental health.

Dr. Roberta Woodgate, distinguished professor, College of Nursing; Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Woodgate’s mixed-methods study will focus on vaccine uptake within families. Her team aims to understand Manitoba childrearing families’ perspectives and decisions about vaccinating their family members against COVID-19 and influenza, with the goal of providing recommendations to promote vaccine uptake.

The recently announced grants from the Fall 2022 funding round went to faculty members in medicine, nursing and pharmacy.

“This outstanding result reflects the high calibre of our health researchers,” said UM Vice-President (Research and International) Dr. Mario Pinto.

“This funding will enable UM laboratory scientists to advance knowledge in areas such as cardiovascular health, spinal cord injury, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Rett syndrome. Rady Faculty investigators will also conduct cutting-edge data research, as well as vital studies aimed at supporting mental health and well-being.”

The largest grant of more than $1.4 million went to a team led by Dr. Linda Larcombe, an associate professor of internal medicine, community health sciences and medical microbiology/infectious diseases.

Larcombe is an anthropologist whose research focuses on First Nations history, health and collaborative research. Her grant will fund a three-year project called “Connecting with cultural heritage: Land-based learning and healing through archeology in northern Manitoba.”

The study team will create and evaluate a land-based healing and cultural heritage program that will enable youth to explore archeological sites and artifacts reflecting the thousands of years of Inuit, Dene and Cree presence along the coast of Hudson Bay at Churchill, Man.

“We will determine if cultural heritage in land-based healing programming can contribute to wellness and leadership development of Inuit, Dene and Cree youth,” the researchers wrote.

Here’s a look at the other funded projects. More information on the studies and research teams is available here.

Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, distinguished professor, psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

In Chochinov’s study, health-care professionals will hold conversations with cancer patients, guided by the Patient Dignity Question: “What do I need to know about you as a person to take the best care of you possible?” The study will measure how this affects the experiences of both patients and care providers.

Dr. Ian Dixon, professor, physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine; principal investigator, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital

Grant: $1,040,400 (five years)

Dixon’s project centres on proteins and processes involved in skin wound healing, with the goal of developing treatments to speed wound closure and reduce scarring. The study will investigate how age and sex affect dermal healing. It will also examine the healing of skin damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation.

Dr. Soheila Karimi, professor, physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

Grant: $1,136,025 (five years)

Neural stem cell therapy has exciting potential for patients with spinal cord injury, but it currently faces the challenge that the cells die after they are transplanted. Karimi’s project will test an experimental treatment aimed at optimizing the use of neural stem cells for repairing spinal cord injury.

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, assistant professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in molecular pathogenesis of emerging viruses; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $750,000 (five years)

Kindrachuk’s team will investigate the circulation and transmission of the monkeypox virus in wildlife in regions of Africa where the virus is endemic, as well as surrounding areas. They will also assess the potential impact of the virus on Canadian wildlife.

Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum, professor, physiology and pathophysiology, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in molecular cardiology; director, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre

Grant: $853,931 (five years)

Kirshenbaum’s project builds on the growing evidence of a link between body-clock disruptions – like those experienced by shift workers and people with health issues such as sleep apnea – and cardiac dysfunction. He will investigate the relationship between circadian disruption and heart attack.

Dr. Lisa Lix, professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in methods for electronic health data quality

Grant: $508,725 (three and a half years)

Lix’s study focuses on using anonymized health-care databases to construct personal and family disease histories for chronic illnesses, such as heart disease. Researchers will compare two methods for creating disease histories, using data from Manitoba and Denmark, and assess their value for predicting disease risk.

Dr. Suresh Mishra, professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Mishra will explore the role of cholesterol in the body’s production of steroid hormones. He aims to develop new ways to treat altered steroid hormone levels, which can lead to infertility and illnesses such as inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Neeloffer Mookherjee, professor, internal medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Mookherjee’s team will look at differences in how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) develops in males and females. In addition to using a mouse model, her team will study human samples from close relatives of RA patients, who may show changes in their blood before the appearance of clinical RA symptoms.

Dr. Christopher Pascoe, assistant professor, physiology and pathophysiology; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Pascoe’s project aims to better understand how diabetes in pregnancy increases the risk of asthma in offspring. He will examine how maternal diabetes increases the twitchiness of airway smooth muscle in the lungs of offspring, and whether a specific enzyme co-ordinates changes in this muscle.

Dr. Mojgan Rastegar, professor, biochemistry and medical genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $990,675 (five years)

Rastegar has been working for more than 10 years to understand the pathobiology of Rett syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder in young children. This study will investigate the molecular and cellular abnormalities of the brain in this syndrome. The goal is to pave the way for therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Emily Rimmer, assistant professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $307,530 (three years)

Rimmer’s project is a pilot study in preparation for an international randomized controlled trial of therapeutic plasma exchange as a treatment for septic shock. The researchers see potential for this treatment to save lives by removing harmful substances from the blood and replacing missing blood components.

Dr. Zulma Rueda, associate professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in sexually transmitted infection – resistance and control

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Rueda’s team will look at the incidence and impact of methamphetamine use and concurrent sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in people living with HIV in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. One of the study’s goals is effective knowledge-sharing among people living with HIV, service providers and communities.

Dr. Geoffrey Tranmer, associate professor, College of Pharmacy

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Tranmer will focus on edaravone, one of the few drugs approved to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In its current form, this medication has many limitations. Tranmer’s team plans to develop improved versions of edaravone and test them in order to optimize the drug and prepare it for advanced clinical trials.

Dr. Sonia Udod, associate professor, College of Nursing

Grant: $450,000 (three years)

Udod’s research will examine how health system leaders have adapted in response to the pandemic. She aims to determine how leaders can build their own and nurses’ psychological health and well-being to ensure a healthy workforce and organizational resilience at hospitals during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

Dr. Roberta Woodgate, distinguished professor, College of Nursing; Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $776,475 (five years)

Woodgate’s youth-centred, mixed-methods study aims to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health and well-being of Manitoba youth who have come of age during the pandemic. The findings will inform recommendations to improve services and supports for this population.

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Woodgate’s team will also conduct a youth-centered, arts-based longitudinal study that will result in the creation and evaluation of a toolkit. This toolkit, co-created by youth, will be designed for use in schools to foster social connectedness and optimize youth mental health and well-being.

The annual Pinning Ceremony is organized by the UM Nursing Students’ Association (NSA) and the College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. This year, 106 new graduands received their nursing pin and recited the UM Bachelor of Nursing Pledge, which was inspired by the 1893 Florence Nightingale Pledge and has been adapted by the university.

The event, held at the Pinnacle Club at IG Field, was emceed by Dr. Netha Dyck, dean of the College of Nursing, and included greetings from the Province of Manitoba’s Hon. Jon Reyes, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration and Hon. Audrey Gordon, Minister of Health.

“The job you’re about to embark on is not an easy job. It often requires long hours imposing great physical and emotional demands. Manitoba has recognized that those challenges increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However…it is a rewarding and fulfilling career,” Gordon said.

Other speakers included Lanette Siragusa, vice-dean, education for Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Joyce Kristjansson, acting executive director of the Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba, and Class of 2022 valedictorians Zachary Rawluk and Gary Regis.

“I cannot imagine another cohort of students that has lived through what you have lived through,” Siragusa said. “Besides the pandemic, there has also been social unrest, historical trauma that has been unearthed, and now a war in Ukraine. You are graduating at a time of monumental history for all of us collectively.”

College of Nursing instructor Danielle Yaffe received her third consecutive teaching excellence award, which is awarded twice annually by the NSA.

Yaffe said, in a keynote address, that she was reluctant about online teaching when the pandemic hit and thanked the students for making the transition easier. “You changed my perspective, ultimately proving me wrong. You were the light in the darkness and reignited my passion for teaching by engaging and connecting.”

The 106 BN graduands and four master of nursing graduands received their degrees that afternoon at UM convocation at the Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Honorary degree

Jan Currie received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the convocation ceremony.

The University of Manitoba conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on retired nursing leader Jan Currie at convocation. She called the new nursing graduates “pioneers” for the way they adapted the majority of their education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“New processes, new roles and a general disruption of your education will always be what you remember that led you to today,” she said.

Currie also reflected on how interprofessionalism and gender equality have evolved in health care over the 50 years since she received her UM bachelor of nursing degree. 

She said that when she graduated, the bachelor degree program was new and it wasn’t easy for grads to get jobs in hospitals, as those facilities often had their own diploma programs and would usually hire from within.

She thanked the two “visionary nurses” – Diane Letwin and UM alumna Doris Setter – who hired her for her first position at the rehabilitation hospital at what is now Health Sciences Centre.

“They took a chance on me and influenced my success from that day on. We never know how significant it can be to give someone a chance,” Currie said.

Currie went on to administrative roles as a head nurse and program manager, and later advanced to executive roles as CEO at Deer Lodge Centre and vice-president and chief nursing officer at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. She has won many awards and remains committed to providing service to the community. She currently serves as a member of the College of Nursing Advisory Council.

The ceremony also included two Distinguished Professor Awards for College of Nursing faculty members Dr. Tom Hack and Dr. Roberta Woodgate.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The highest honour bestowed upon an individual by the Board of Governors on the basis of distinguished contributions to Manitoba.

June Marion James, O.M.

B.Sc., B.Sc.(Med.), MD(Man.)
Honoured Friday, May 19 at 10:00 AM 

June Marion James

The first woman of colour to be admitted to what was then called the UM’s Faculty of Medicine, Dr. James was an innovator in the areas of asthma and allergy. Within the Max Rady College of Medicine, James distinguished herself as a demonstrator, clinical instructor and professor.

A major achievement was her work to establish Manitoba’s first Family Asthma Program, which helped reduce the number of hospital admissions for children with asthma and increase the number of asthmatic children playing sports. She was also a founding member of the Manitoba Allergy Society.

In 2003, James broke new ground when she took on the role of president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, becoming the first Black president of a provincial medical college in Canada.

James considers her role in the development of the Harambee Housing Co-Operative, a 54-unit affordable housing complex, one of her greatest achievements. As a human rights advocate and defender, James developed and presented briefs before various provincial bodies on several issues, including affirmative action, racism in schools and gender equality.

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AWARDS

The title, Distinguished Professor, is conferred by the University of Manitoba on academic staff members who have demonstrated outstanding distinction in research, scholarship, creative endeavours, professional service and teaching.

Roberta L. Woodgate

BN, MN, PhD(Man.)
Honoured Thursday, June 9 AT 3:00 PM

Roberta Woodgate

Dr. Woodgate has been a leader in the field of child and family engagement in research for almost twenty years and is world-renowned for her research on children’s experiences of health, illness, and disability. Her work has resulted in improved health and social service delivery for children and families including in the care of Indigenous children with disabilities, enhanced engagement of child and families in health research, increased understanding of youth’s experiences of mental illness and stigma, and the advancement of psychosocial pediatric oncology services.

An empathetic teacher and innovative researcher, Woodgate became a trendsetter for her recognition of the importance of involving children and families in health research and her use of arts-based research and knowledge translation approaches to advance our understanding of what it is like to be a child living with a physical or mental illness; the impact on families; and how to advance the quality of life for these children.

Thomas Francis Leonard Hack

B.Comm.(Sask.), B.Sc.(Hons.)(Calg.), MA, PhD(Man.)
 Honoured Thursday, June 9 at 3:00 PM 

Thomas Hack

Dr. Hack has been making significant contributions to the field of psychosocial oncology research and teaching for over two decades. A world-renowned researcher and expert in psychosocial and patient-centered oncology, he conducted the largest research trials worldwide examining the utility and effectiveness of providing cancer patients with audio recordings of pivotal medical consultations, and his research resulted in the implementation of consultation recording as acceptable, routine practice at cancer centres around the globe.

Hack has held numerous national and international research posts over the course of his career, and he is currently co-leading a national study to develop a compassionate care training program for health professionals, having recently created the world’s first empirically validated patient-reported experience measure of compassionate care in patients with life-limiting health conditions.

Today Hack contributes significantly to UM and to professional societies worldwide by holding many leadership positions, including professor in the College of Nursing in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, director of Psychosocial Oncology and Cancer Nursing Research at St. Boniface Research Centre, senior scientist at CancerCare Manitoba, and current president of the International Psycho-Oncology Society.

Sandra Kouritzin

BA, MA, PhD(Br.Col.)
Honoured Friday, June 10 at 9:30 AM

Sandra Kouritzin

For over twenty years, Dr. Kouritzin has been a driving force within her discipline at the University of Manitoba. An outstanding scholar in the field of applied linguistics, specifically educational research and additional language teaching and learning, her work is infused with a strong sense of purpose, advocacy and social justice, and her groundbreaking research has initiated new fields of study, like the study of first language loss.

A beloved teacher and exceptional leader in both the undergraduate and graduate programs in the Faculty of Education, Kouritzin has dedicated her teaching career to the education of teachers in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), to qualitative research methodologies and to post-secondary education studies.

She is a prolific writer with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and has attracted over 2 million dollars in research funds to the University of Manitoba. Working in capacities as president of TESL Canada and editor of TESL Canada Journal, she has had a significant impact on the availability of quality Canadian research in second language education nationally and internationally.

PETER D. CURRY CHANCELLOR’S AWARD

Given annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the development and/or governance of the University.        

Sandra Secter

Honoured Wednesday, June 8 at 3:00 PM

Sandra Secter

For over two decades, Sandra Secter has been an ambassador and advocate of the University of Manitoba and the Jewish community in Winnipeg. A respected community volunteer and philanthropist with an affinity for encouraging and inspiring others, she has made numerous exemplary contributions to the UM community.

In the twenty years that her husband Harvey served as dean of the Faculty of Law and then chancellor, Secter was UM’s most fervent supporter. She volunteered her time at countless university events, was always there to lend an ear, and acted as ambassador to alumni and donors. She hosted dinners at her home for faculty, staff, volunteers, and other community members. In all that time, she rarely missed a convocation ceremony, proudly celebrating each new class of graduates.

A champion of UM’s Front and Centre fundraising campaign, Secter was key in establishing the Harvey and Sandra Secter Master of Human Rights Fellowships. She was dedicated to serving UM alongside her husband and brought her full value at every opportunity.

OLIVE BEATRICE STANTON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

An award recognizes an outstanding UM educator who has demonstrated continuing teaching excellence and has made contributions to advancing teaching and learning at UM.

Cameron Hauseman

BFA(York), B.Ed., M.Ed.(Nipissing), PhD(Tor.)
Honoured Friday, June 10 at 9:30 AM       

Cameron Hauseman

A passionate educator who has brought an inspiring mix of energy, creativity and innovation to his courses and other teaching responsibilities, Dr. Cameron Hauseman has been a valued member of the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba since 2018.

A respected instructional leader within his department, he has shared his expertise with the university community by supporting colleagues’ efforts to improve their teaching, mentoring a sessional instructor, and providing guidance to colleagues navigating the transition to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hauseman’s teaching philosophy encourages reflective practice and allows students opportunities for self-directed learning. He designs his courses around adult- learning principles, prioritizing research-informed approaches, implementing formative assessments, and providing all students with detailed and meaningful feedback. His research and publications inform his pedagogical practices, bringing breadth and depth to his courses.

For more information on the University of Manitoba’s upcoming Spring Convocation ceremonies, awards and schedule, visit umanitoba.ca/convocation.

As a distinguished professor in the College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, she has focused her research on improving health and social services directed at children and youth. Woodgate has secured over $46 million in grant funding as principal investigator or co-investigator, the highest in the college of nursing.

She was recently awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) project grant of $600,524 to lead a Canada-wide study to better understand the needs of young people with chronic pain in CIHR’s  Fall 2021 funding competition. Woodgate was also awarded a second CIHR project grant of $546,976.00 in the same competition to engage youth on mental health research in the COVID-19 era.  She is also a researcher at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba,

What made you want to work with young people?

 When I started researching young people, I noticed they were never given a chance to say what they needed. You learn so much from young people if you listen. They have so much to offer and I learn so much about what they need.

It’s getting better now, but for years people didn’t think young people had anything to contribute.

What are you working on right now?

This fall I’ll be leading a study that focuses on young people living with chronic pain. People haven’t been listening to what they’re saying they need or their preferred outcomes. We want to learn from them, they will be our co-researchers on this project. We have been interviewing young people with chronic pain across the country to better understand their experiences.

From there, we are going to have them create art depicting their experience and explaining what they need. They could make paintings, sculptures, collages, really anything. This will help stakeholders understand the perspective of a young person with chronic pain and articulate what they need in their care.

I’m hoping this will have an impact on the kind of care they will receive in the future.

NorWest Youth Hub is an integrated service centre which offers young people a variety of services in mental health, primary care, addictions, employment and recreational activities, and has specialized mental health professionals on staff. Given that schools are where youth spend a large portion of their daily lives, and are often the first point of contact for youth experiencing mental health challenges,  mobilization between schools and youth hubs (i.e., enhancing partnerships and direct referrals) is a promising platform for improving youth’s timely access to community resources and mental health care. 

In a community-based approach, it’s not just one step.

Both projects are youth-driven with young people advising at every step of the project either as youth co-researchers or advisors on the youth advisory committees.

Why do you think you’ve been so successful in your grant applications?

I believe the successful research funding track record I have maintained over my career can be attributed to my passion and determination for making things better for young people and their families. 

In the Fall 2021 funding competition, the CIHR awarded a total of nearly $8 million to UM in the form of 11 grants.

“This is an excellent showing by our faculty members and their research partners in obtaining support for projects that will advance vital knowledge and benefit people’s health and well-being,” said UM Vice-President (Research and International) Dr. Digvir Jayas.

“It’s impressive to see the breadth of health research taking place at UM in areas such as trauma recovery, mental health, kidney disease, HIV, cancer, diabetes and chronic pain.”

Dr. Myrle Ballard

Dr. Myrle Ballard, assistant professor and Indigenous scholar of chemistry in the Faculty of Science, is Anishinaabe from Lake St. Martin First Nation (LSMFN). She leads a research project that received a five-year grant of $2,067,415.

The LSMFN community’s traditional homelands have been uninhabitable since a human-made flood destroyed them in 2011. LSMFN members experienced trauma when they were forced to evacuate.

With input from community members, Ballard’s project will focus on implementing an Elder-Youth mentorship program to promote health and well-being.

“The post-traumatic distress suffered by LSMFN members requires culturally appropriate research interventions to lessen their grief and heal into a healthy community,” the researchers wrote.

Dr. Garry Shen

Dr. Garry Shen, professor of internal medicine in the Max Rady College of Medicine, co-leads a team with First Nations partners that received a five-year grant of $1,155,150.

A recent study by Shen and partners showed that an online and locally broadcast prenatal education program significantly increased participation rates in prenatal programs and breastfeeding when it was piloted in three First Nations communities.

The new project will enhance the program, which is community-based and incorporates both Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge about healthy pregnancy and breastfeeding. The goal is to improve pregnancy outcomes and maternal/child health in rural and remote First Nations communities.

Here’s a look at the other funded studies. More information on the studies and research teams is available here.

Dr. Tracie Afifi, professor, community health sciences/psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in childhood adversity and resilience; researcher, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

Grant: $75,000 (one year)

Afifi’s study focuses on adverse childhood experiences and peer bullying. She seeks to identify which protective factors during adolescence help to reduce the likelihood of substance use problems and mental or physical health conditions among those who have had these negative experiences.

Dr. Robert Lorway, professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in global intervention politics and social transformation

Grant: $100,000 (one year)

Lorway’s community-based study in Nairobi, Kenya aims to understand and confront the role homophobia plays in men who have sex with men not seeking treatment for HPV-related and other anal diseases until their illness is extremely advanced. 

Dr. Dylan MacKay, assistant professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $320,534 (three years)

MacKay will compare two groups of people with chronic kidney disease in a randomized feasibility trial of methods to reduce dietary acid. Half the patients will take baking soda pills, while the other half will have fruits and vegetables delivered to them to reduce acid through diet.

Dr. Lyle McKinnon, associate professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $837,675 (five years)

McKinnon’s team has previously found that vaginal inflammation increases a woman’s risk of becoming HIV-infected if exposed. His study focuses on regulatory T cells and their potential to control female genital inflammation as an HIV prevention strategy.

Dr. Gerd Prehna, assistant professor, microbiology, Faculty of Science

Grant: $596,700 (five years)

Prehna will investigate how, during an infection, disease-causing bacteria kill beneficial bacteria by loading deadly toxins onto a “crossbow-like” secretion system. A detailed understanding of this process may make it possible to “disarm” many species of bacterial invaders.

Dr. Tanveer Sharif, assistant professor, pathology, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $956,250 (five years)

Sharif’s study will build on the finding that metabolism plays a role in how a particular mutated gene promotes the spread of tumor cells in aggressive medulloblastoma brain tumors. His team will investigate using metabolism-targeting agents to suppress this process.

Dr. Roberta Woodgate, distinguished professor, College of Nursing; Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $600,524 (four years)

Woodgate will lead a cross-Canada study in which young people with chronic pain will be engaged as co-researchers. The goal is to better understand the experiences, needs and priorities of young people with chronic pain in order to provide better patient-centred care.

Grant: $546,976 (three years)

Woodgate’s team will also implement a youth mental health program in Winnipeg, partnering high schools in the Seven Oaks School Division with NorWest, a community youth hub. Multiple data collection strategies, including arts-based methods, will be used to evaluate the program.

Dr. Jennifer Yamamoto, assistant professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $609,835 (four years)

Yamamoto’s project builds on a previous study of glucose monitoring in mothers with Type I diabetes during pregnancy. It will examine the possible relationship between the blood sugar patterns of these mothers while pregnant and learning difficulties and behaviour problems in their children.

Dr. Roberta Woodgate, distinguished professor and Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare, received an award for research excellence from the association.

As the leader or co-leader of research studies, Woodgate has been involved in securing more than $46 million in grant funding since joining the college in 2000.

“There are a lot of colleagues of mine who do great work across the country, so to get this and be a part of a group of people who in the past have gotten it really feels good,” she said.

Woodgate, who is also a researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), has been a leader in engaging children and families in research, applying innovative approaches that amplify the voices of children and families most affected by the research. She has embraced a human rights-based approach that views the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right.

Woodgate has published over 150 peer-reviewed scholarly research articles and delivered hundreds of peer-reviewed papers at scientific meetings. She has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in child health and patient engagement and is valued for her expert contributions in research, service delivery and policy development at local, national, and internationals levels.

“I see awards like this as a way of really recognizing the voices of all the young people and families who have participated in my research,” she said.

Also recognized was Dr. Christina West, associate professor of nursing and researcher with CHRIM, who received an award for excellence in nursing education for a tenured faculty member.

West currently teaches advanced philosophy for nursing science, qualitative research methods, and evidence-informed practice at the master’s and doctoral levels.

The award particularly recognized a four-year program of experiential mentorship she developed and led with graduate students and faculty from the College of Nursing. She noted the contributions of Dr. Donna Martin, associate dean, graduate programs and Dr. Kendra Rieger, who is now an assistant professor at Trinity Western University.

“As part of these experiential mentorship initiatives, we simultaneously conducted three qualitative research studies to look at the experiences of graduate students and faculty, as well as to inform the ongoing development of the mentorship program,” West said.

The program has led to grad students and faculty members collaborating on two peer-reviewed publications in the International Journal of Qualitative Methods and Nursing Education Today.

“I believe we created community through this mentorship work, and I am proud to have been a part of these initiatives,” West said. “I also feel honoured to have witnessed the growth and leadership of the participating graduate students.”

“Congratulations to the successful applicants in the Fall 2020 round of funding. This is an impressive showing by UM investigators,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-dean research of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. 

“Some of these projects focus on improving the lives of people with conditions such as kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes and mental health disorders. Others are lab studies that will advance knowledge about illnesses such as Ebola, leukemia, HIV and metabolic diseases.

“Our researchers are also analyzing data to reveal new evidence about interlinked social and health factors in Manitobans’ lives. And they’re studying areas such as Indigenous-led wellness programs and children’s rehabilitation knowledge sharing in order to identify and build on strengths.”

UM Today recently reported on two of the funded projects, which relate to COVID-19: a randomized trial of a home monitoring platform for patients with chronic kidney disease, led by Dr. Claudio Rigatto, and a study of the lived experiences of families with children who are immunocompromised, led by Dr. Roberta Woodgate.  

Here’s a look at the other projects:

Dr. Clara Bohm, associate professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $439,874

Bohm’s team will conduct a randomized trial to assess whether stationary cycling during kidney dialysis treatments reduces heart “stunning” (poor pumping, which can cause heart damage) and improves symptoms such as fatigue. The trial involves participants in Canada, the U.S. and Australia.

Dr. Shay-Lee Bolton, assistant professor, psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000

Bolton will evaluate whether a psychotherapy and mindfulness program that is delivered virtually helps public safety personnel, such as police officers and firefighters, cope with stress, maintain mental wellness and remain resilient.

Dr. Dan Chateau, assistant professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; research scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP)

Dr. Marni Brownell, professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; associate director, research, and senior research scientist, MCHP; researcher, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

Grant: $432,226

Chateau’s team will use health data to investigate the effects of prescription opioid and psychotropic medication use during pregnancy, looking at patterns of prescription opioid use, short-term effects on children exposed in the womb, and longer-term outcomes for these children.

Dr. David Collister, assistant professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000

Collister’s project is a trial comparing oral and topical nabilone (a synthetic form of cannabis) to placebos to determine whether nabilone is safe and effective at reducing itching in patients who are on dialysis for kidney disease.

Dr. Shyamala Dakshinamurti, professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $784,125

This study looks at newborn pulmonary hypertension, which prevents some babies from getting enough bloodflow to their lungs. By focusing on a system of signals in the body called the adenylyl cyclase pathway, Dakshinamurti aims to help these infants’ lungs relax and hearts pump strongly.

Dr. Allison Dart, associate professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Dr. Brandy Wicklow, associate professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $1,300,500

Dart and Wicklow will study biopsychosocial risk factors for worsening kidney disease in children and teens with Type 2 diabetes. They will also test a skills-based mental health program to help Indigenous youth with Type 2 diabetes manage their emotions and their disease.

Dr. Andrew Hatala, associate professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Dr. Sabina Ijaz, family physician; Giigewigamig health advisor

Elder Dave Courchene, founder, Turtle Lodge

Grant: $1,748,025

This team will conduct an Indigenous-led study of the Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation as a model of Indigenous education, wellness and flourishing. The objectives include developing a framework for stronger relationships between Indigenous Knowledge Holders and biomedical practitioners.

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, assistant professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine; Canada Research Chair in molecular pathogenesis of emerging and re-emerging viruses; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $726,750

Kindrachuk’s project focuses on the fact that some men who have recovered from Ebola continue to carry the virus in their reproductive tracts. The study will investigate how the virus persists in the testes and is sexually transmitted. It will also look at Ebola’s long-term effects on reproductive health.

Dr. Ted Lakowski, associate professor, College of Pharmacy

Grant: $699,975

Lakowski’s study aims to develop new cancer therapies that target the specific genes involved in a type of leukemia. These treatments are expected to be more effective and cause fewer side effects than current therapies. The strategy could lead to gene-specific treatments for other cancers.

Dr. Lyle McKinnon, assistant professor, medical microbiology and infectious diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000

McKinnon will study the role of regulatory T cells, a type of immune cell, in controlling female genital inflammation. Because this inflammation puts women at higher risk of HIV infection, the study is relevant to finding better prevention strategies for women who are at risk of HIV exposure.

Dr. Suresh Mishra, professor, internal medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $100,000

Mishra will focus on prohibitin, a protein that plays an important role in sex differences in fat and immune cells. Using mouse models, he will investigate why men and women display differences in susceptibility and resistance to metabolic and immune diseases.

Dr. Rae Spiwak, assistant professor, surgery, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $60,000

Spiwak will use Manitoba data to investigate what social factors place children at greater risk for physical injury. The study will look at a cohort of children who were hospitalized for traumatic physical injury and compare them with uninjured children, examining factors such as parental socioeconomic status and education.

Dr. Elizabeth Wall-Wieler, assistant professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; research scientist, MCHP; Canada Research Chair in population data analytics and data curation

Dr. Marilyn Bennett, assistant professor, Faculty of Social Work

Dr. Marni Brownell, professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; associate director, research, and senior research scientist, MCHP; researcher, CHRIM

Dr. Marcelo Urquia, associate professor, community health sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine; research scientist, MCHP; Canada Research Chair in applied population health

Grant: $393,976

Wall-Wieler’s team will analyze Manitoba data to determine whether parents with specific health conditions are more likely to have a child taken into care, and how having a child taken into care affects parents’ health. The study will compare First Nations, Métis and all other Manitoban parents.  

Dr. Jun-Feng Wang, associate professor, pharmacology and therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine

Grant: $623,475

Wang will investigate the role of a protein, Txnip, in chronic stress-induced neuronal dysfunction. The research will use an animal model for depression, aiming to determine if inhibiting Txnip could be used in treating human depression.

Dr. Brandy Wicklow, associate professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000

Wicklow will examine beta cell and kidney function in First Nations children whose mothers were diagnosed as children with Type 2 diabetes. The offspring will be studied in early childhood and compared with children not exposed to Type 2 diabetes in the womb. The results will contribute to strategies for early intervention.  

Dr. Kristy Wittmeier, assistant professor, pediatrics and child health, Max Rady College of Medicine; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $100,000

Wittmeier’s team will study how knowledge about research and treatments is shared via networks between researchers, therapists and families of children with development or rehabilitation needs. The goal is to identify strengths and gaps in these knowledge-sharing networks and make recommendations to improve them.

Dr. Roberta Woodgate, distinguished professor, College of Nursing; Canada Research Chair in child and family engagement in health research and healthcare; researcher, CHRIM

Grant: $761,176

Woodgate’s study will involve young immigrants and refugees in co-designing culturally sensitive mental health supports for youth like themselves. Parents and community-based organizations will also participate. The researchers will develop a digital mental health self-management prototype.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Health, announced an investment of approximately $25.2 million in 52 research projects through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to further improve our understanding of COVID-19 and tackle persistent evidence gaps linked to this disease.

Two of these projects are led by University of Manitoba researchers at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences: Dr. Claudio Rigatto and Distinguished Professor Dr. Roberta Woodgate. Rigatto will be testing whether a new home monitoring technology can improve care in `patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Woodgate will be investigating the impacts of families of children who are immunocompromised.

Dr. Claudio Rigatto

Rigatto, associate professor of medicine, department of internal medicine, is receiving $562,275 for the study titled: ‘A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a chronic kidney disease (CKD) specific telemonitoring platform to minimize adverse outcomes in high risk CKD patients.’ The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way patients with CKD are cared for in Canada. Since CKD patients are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, they are being cared for via virtual visits, with telephone or video conference calls. While this helps prevent spread of the virus it makes taking care of kidney problems more difficult.

“CKD patients need careful monitoring of kidney function, blood pressure and weight; of how they feel; and they need education about their kidney disease, diet, and choices for dialysis or kidney transplant,” said Rigatto. “Simple phone or video calls is not enough for proper care. Additional home monitoring is needed to improve virtual care for CKD patients. We developed a home monitoring kit called VIEWER which is designed for CKD patients and includes an iPad, a blood pressure monitor, a weigh scale, a finger-tip oxygen monitor, and a motion tracker (like a FitBit). All of these devices talk wirelessly (by Bluetooth) to the iPad. The VIEWER app guides patients through a daily home assessment.”

The app helps patients do a symptom questionnaire once a week to monitor how they are feeling. Patients can view their information, and can text, call, or video the health team through the iPad. The health care team reviews the information to help assess changes and to guide treatments. The trial will test if VIEWER improves care, by asking patient volunteers with low kidney function (<15%) to take part. Half the patient volunteers will use VIEWER for 6 months, and half will continue with their usual care in the clinic. A computer will randomly choose which patients are assigned to each group.

“We think VIEWER will reduce how often patients visit the emergency room, are admitted to hospital, or need emergency dialysis,” says Rigatto. “If the trial results are positive, we will work to make VIEWER available to more people with CKD.”

Distinguished Professor Dr. Roberta Woodgate

Woodgate, Distinguished Professor at the College of Nursing and Canada Research Chair in Child and Family Engagement in Health Research and Healthcare, is receiving $358,594 for the study titled: ‘Making Visible the Life Stories of Families of Children who are Immunocompromised (IC) during COVID-19.’ The study involves the significant number of children worldwide who are IC and extremely vulnerable to illnesses and infections.

“This means that any time IC children or their family members leave their home, the child’s life is in jeopardy,” says Woodgate. “Families of IC children encounter many challenges and inequities, such as financial difficulties, poorer physical and psychological health, social isolation and marginalization. In spite of the large number of IC children, we have little understanding of what it is like to be a family of an IC child. Moreover, we have limited understanding of these families’ experiences during the current COVID-19 crisis from the emergence of the virus, to the various peaks and waves, to the new and changing circumstances in which they find themselves trying to adjust as part of their everyday lives.”

The goal of this 4-year study is to understand and document the lived experience of families of IC children during COVID-19. Children under the age of 18 who are IC (primary or secondary) and their families (including parents, caregivers, siblings) across Canada will be invited to take part in the study. Multiple data sources are planned to include individual and family interviews (conducted in English and French), and digital story-telling. Short-term, the study will result in advanced knowledge on the experiences of families of IC children during COVID-19 including insights into their well-being has been affected by the pandemic.

Woodgate noted that, “Recommendations to improve healthcare and social supports and services that improve their well-being for future waves of the pandemic and/or crises will be identified. Long-term, the work emerging from this program will be used to inform patient-oriented service delivery and outcomes nationwide, with implications for children who are IC and their families residing in other contexts, important for future pandemics and other public health crises.”

This latest funding builds on previous investments from CIHR and complements a recently launched competition to further address persistent research gaps in our knowledge and emerging priorities related to COVID-19.