IMHA On The Move - December 2011

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Table of Contents

A Message from the Interim Scientific Director

Phillip Gardiner

Welcome to the December issue of IMHA - On the Move!

At the beginning of November, we held our fall board meeting in Winnipeg. We engaged in discussion about our Inflammation in Chronic Disease Initiative and several other projects that IMHA is working on. We also had a very dynamic researcher round table discussion in which invited researchers and trainees from the University of Manitoba had the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered by the IMHA staff and advisory board. These questions will be featured in the Ask the SD section of this and future newsletters.

On the first evening of our board meeting we held a Café Scientifique, entitled Oral Health: More than bad breath! in partnership with the University of Manitoba. It was a very lively Café with lots of interesting discussion. We will be posting some footage from the Café on the CIHR YouTube channel and will let you know once it goes live. Many thanks to our expert panel Dr. Tony Iacopino, Dr. Hani El-Gabalawy, Dr. Michael Glogauer, and Dr. Robert Schroth; our moderator Dr. Jeff Dixon; and everyone who attended!

The IMHA Advisory Board at the November 2011 meeting in Winnipeg.

I am pleased to announce that at the board meeting it was confirmed that my Interim position as the Scientific Director of IMHA has been extended until the summer of 2013. This will allow us to move ahead full steam on the projects that we have been discussing this fall. I really look forward to being able to continue to work with the entire IMHA community!

As always, IMHA welcomes your comments and questions. Please feel free to contact us at imha.iala.cihr.irsc@utoronto.ca.

Phillip Gardiner PhD, Interim Scientific Director
Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis

Good News Stories

CIHR Douglas Kinsella Doctoral Award for Research in Bioethics

On October 21, a small luncheon was held in Montreal to honor the 2011 CIHR Douglas Kinsella Doctoral Award for Research in Bioethics award winner. IMHA would like to extend our congratulations to this year's winner Dr. Cyndie Dubé-Baril.

Dr. Dubé-Baril has a doctorate in dental medicine with a specialty in pediatric dentistry and has practiced 15 years in various healthcare settings. She is also a licensed lawyer, and holds two Master of Laws degrees: one in health law and the other in international law and international policy. In her current research for her Doctor of Laws degree, Dr. Dubé-Baril is seeking a better understanding of the organizational structures and processes and the personal behaviours that affect the quality of patients' consent to treatment. She is studying the objective conditions for obtaining informed consent and, more particularly, the practical methods that dentists must use to ensure that patients have an adequate understanding of the information disclosed.

With all of these accomplishments under your belt, and no signs of slowing down, we have to ask you, what is it that keeps you motivated?

"It is the desire to make a difference that motivates me." Says Dr. Dubé-Baril, and goes on to elaborate:

From a personal perspective, being indebted to society for all the education that I have benefited from, my career goal is to share my knowledge through teaching and to continue to do research in order to actively contribute to the development and evolution of our wonderful society. My parents taught me that we are society and that all of the charitable acts benefit society as a whole.

From an academic point of view Dr. Dubé-Baril was greatly influenced by Dr. Limoges, an anesthesiologist at Hôpital Sainte-Justine whom she worked with during an internship. "His humility, his zest for life, his passion for his work and his compassion for his patients influenced me greatly and defined what I perceive as a good teacher." Dr. Limoges passed away a few years ago and she still regrets not having properly thanked him for everything that he taught her. She has since made it a point to show her appreciation to the people in her life that have influenced her development both personally and professionally.

"I aspire to become one of those professors, researchers, or individuals that make a difference in someone's life."

From left to right: Dr. Émmanuelle Bernheim,
Dr. Dubé-Baril, and Dr. Éric Racine.

Canada's Health Researcher of the Year

Dr. Paul Kubes

Dr. Paul Kubes has given us a whole new view of the immune system. He has made great strides in the study of leukocyte recruitment – the chemical signals in the body that attract white blood cells to sites of inflammation. Using a specialized microscope, Dr. Kubes and his colleagues have been able to look inside the body in a minimally invasive way and track the movement of leukocytes. As lead researcher of the Alberta Sepsis Network, Dr. Kubes has been examining the role that leukocytes play in preventing and reversing sepsis – a potentially fatal condition in which the blood becomes infected by harmful bacteria. His findings will be of vital importance as the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria grows and we need to find alternatives for treating infection. His research is also providing insights into the immunological effects of stroke, and why stroke victims have an elevated risk of sepsis. Now he hopes to collaborate with physicians and the private sector to translate his findings into treatments. "If you've got a good idea that you think is going to work, you really have to go for it. Even if it means taking a chance," says Dr. Kubes." Read more about Paul Kubes in the Globe and Mail, on the CIHR website, or check out the University of Calgary video clip.

Ask the Scientific Director

We invite you to send questions that you have about IMHA to imha.iala.cihr.irsc@utoronto.ca. Each month, this section of the newsletter will feature the answer to one of these questions. This month, we answer the following question: How do you know which peer review committees to suggest as your first and second choice when applying to the Open Operating Grant Program?

It can be difficult to decide which peer review panel might be most appropriate for reviewing your grant application. Here are a few tips from the IMHA advisory board and CIHR's Knowledge Creation Program Deputy Directors:

When applying to the Open Operating Grant Program you can suggest up to two committees to review your application, and CIHR staff in consultation with the committee Chairs and Scientific Officers make the final decision regarding the committees to which applications are assigned. The assignment process is based on the research summary submitted at the time of registration, so ensure that your registration summary is an accurate reflection of the proposed research (topic, methodology, intended outcomes, etc.).

Some researchers have trouble deciding whether to apply to CIHR or NSERC. In the case of biomedical engineering for example, research might not be explicitly health related and researchers might be worried that they will be turned away. When applying to CIHR it might be helpful to use a multidisciplinary approach and combine with a clinician to ensure that there is a clear connection between your research and health outcomes for our population.

Upcoming IMHA Events

Young Investigators Meeting

From June 10-12, 2012, IMHA is planning a Young Investigators Meeting at the Kingbridge Conference Centre in King City (Toronto). This meeting aims to bring young investigators together to interact with one another, learn about upcoming CIHR initiatives, and attend workshops. It will be held in conjunction with the Canadian Connective Tissue Conference (CCTC) which will be held at the University of Toronto June 8-10, 2012. For more information on the CCTC meeting please visit the meeting website.

Did You Know?

IMHA will soon be publishing online the results of our evaluation of the Catalyst Grant: Skin Diseases and Conditions program. Six excellent biomedical research projects were funded for a period of one year, and together aimed to better understand, develop treatment for, and/or prevent a wide range of skin conditions ranging from skin cancer, skin diseases involving inflammation and viral infection, wound healing, and skin aging and hair loss. We look forward to sharing another IMHA Report with you!

Other News

Inflammation in Chronic Disease Update Consensus Conference Report

In May 2011, CIHR hosted an Inflammation in Chronic Disease Consensus Conference in order to consult over one hundred and fifty researchers, clinicians and other stakeholders about opportunities for research and collaboration in this area. The program included a keynote address, ten oral presentations, and breakout sessions to identify the important issues, challenges and unmet needs in the area of inflammation research within the broader theme of chronic disease.

With input from our working group and steering committee we have recently finalized our conference report summarizing the proceedings of the two-day conference. The report covers the welcoming remarks from CIHR's president, Dr. Alain Beaudet, and Scientific Directors of the co-leading institutes (IMHA and III); the keynote address from Alan Silman, Arthritis Research UK; summaries of the ten presentations including highlights from the subsequent question and answer periods; and outcomes from the breakout sessions.

Consensus was reached on several points including: the importance of long-term commitment and collaboration – both across disciplines and sectors to the Initiative; the need to focus on applying a prevention paradigm as well as a diagnosis/intervention paradigm; the breakdown of disease and discipline silos; and the enhancement of multi-sectoral partnerships.

The report provides an overview of the progress we have made towards identifying research questions and opportunities where inflammation research has a realistic prospect of bettering the health of Canadians. All this will aid in the further development of the CIHR Roadmap Signature Initiative in Inflammation and Chronic Disease.

Show me the Evidence!

On behalf of Canadians, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) invests in more than 14,000 highly talented health researchers. No aspect of health, from cellular communications to health care economics, is left untouched by their investigations. CIHR believes that findings from such research directly contribute to improved health and health care. Show me the Evidence focuses on telling stories about how and where health research evidence produced by CIHR-supported researchers is being used.

This Fall 2011 issue highlights research on the standardized examination of the knee and hip to detect osteoarthritis being done by Dr. Jolanda Cibere at the University of British Columbia. To learn more about this research please visit CIHR website.

Partner Corner

B.C. Scientist Lands Prestigious Arthritis Research Chair

The Arthritis Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Diane Lacaille to the distinguished Mary Pack - Arthritis Society Chair in Rheumatology in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

"Dr. Lacaille is a worthy recipient of such a vital position," says Steven McNair, President and CEO of The Arthritis Society. "Arthritis Society Chairs are held by senior researchers, linked with an academic institution, who strive for excellence in arthritis research. This announcement underlies our continuing commitment to funding our country's best researchers in their search for more treatments and an ultimate cure for a disease that impacts nearly 4.5 million Canadians." For more information please visit The Arthritis Society website.

The Arthritis Society is Canada's principal arthritis health charity empowering the nearly 4.5 million Canadians with arthritis to live their lives to the fullest by combating the daily limitations of arthritis. In the last 60 years, The Society has invested more than $175 million towards arthritis research to develop better treatments and, ultimately, find a cure.

The Arthritis Research Centre of Canada

The Arthritis Research Centre of Canada has a new webpage highlighting the work of Dr. John Esdaile and his team on the IMPAKT-HiP project. To learn more about femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip osteoarthritis please see their webpage.

Funding Opportunities

For information on current funding opportunities, please visit IMHA's Funding Opportunities.

Network Catalyst Grant
This funding opportunity directly supports the third priority of CIHR's 2009-2014 Strategic Plan, Health Research Roadmap, by presenting a platform through which researchers and knowledge users can leverage KT and partnerships to accelerate the capture of the health and economic benefits of health research. The application deadline for this competition is December 15, 2011.

Undergraduate Studentship in mobility, musculoskeletal health and arthritis across the lifespan
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide undergraduate and health professional students with opportunities to undertake research projects with established health researchers in an environment that provides strong mentorship. The application deadline is January 16, 2012, with funding to begin in May.

Master's Award - Winter 2012 Priority Announcement (Dental Hygiene)
Priority Announcements on Canada Graduate Scholarships Master's Awards competitions offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates. The application deadline is February 1, 2012, with funding to begin in September.

Knowledge Translation Prize
The CIHR Knowledge Translation Prize honours and supports the exemplary knowledge translation efforts and activities of an exceptional individual, team, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to increasing the application of research findings, improving the health of individuals, improving health services and products, or strengthening the health-care system. The application deadline is February 15, 2012 with funding to begin in November.

Please visit our funding opportunities website for the launch of the following programs in mid-December.

Dissemination Event
The specific objective of this funding opportunity is to support events/activities that contribute to the dissemination, exchange and uptake of research evidence. Applications will be due in February 2012 with funding to begin in June 2012.

Operating Grant Priority Announcement - Musculoskeletal Health, Arthritis, Skin and Oral Health
Operating Grants provide operating funds to support research proposals in all areas of health research including randomized controlled trials. The application deadline for this competition will be in March 2012, with funding to begin in October 2012.

Travel Awards
Through the Institute Community Support (ICS) Program, the CIHR Institutes are launching the ICS Travel Awards competition for students, postdoctoral fellows, new investigators and knowledge users to present their own research at national and international meetings and/or conferences. Applications will be due in January 2012 with funding decisions to be announced in April 2012.

Meetings of Interest

GTA Rehab Network's Annual Best Practices Day
(February 27, 2012) Toronto ON.

Advances in Skeletal Muscle Biology in Health & Disease Conference
(February 22-24, 2012) Gainesville FL.

Contact Us

CIHR - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Department of Molecular Genetics
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
The Banting Institute
100 College St., Room 207B
Toronto, ON, M5G 1L5
Tel: 416-946-7243
Email: imha.iala.cihr.irsc@utoronto.ca

If you would like to subscribe to IMHA On The Move please email imha.iala.cihr.irsc@utoronto.ca and write "subscribe to newsletter" in the subject line. You will receive all future IMHA newsletters.

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