IMHA On The Move - May 2012

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Message from the Interim Scientific Director

May is National Physiotherapy Month. Physiotherapy is an important part of MSK rehabilitation, which is an important part of IMHA's mandate. In fact, our next Cafe Scientifique being held in Kingston Ontario on May 30th2012 entitled: Broken, Busted and (a Bit) Worn Down – Rehab science supporting movement for improved health and aging will be on the topic of rehabilitation and aging. We have an exciting panel of researchers from Queen's University and the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research lined up and hope that many of you will be able to attend. You will find more information about this event and other upcoming events on the CIHR Café Scientifique blog and Café Scientifique Facebook page.

Planning is also underway for our next Institute Advisory Board (IAB) meeting which will take place May 31 & June 1, 2012 in Kingston, Ontario. A significant portion of the agenda will be dedicated to strategic planning. To help us establishour research priority areas we have recently distributed a survey to over 4300 researchers who in the past have received IMHAstrategic funding or any CIHR funding in areas related to our mandate. We will be distributing a similar survey to our stakeholders and partners whose collaboration and support is also very important. Consumers and the general public will be given the opportunity to provide their input as well. The feedback that we receive will be used to help develop our next strategic plan (2014-2018).

If you are a researcher (whether CIHR funded or not) and did not receive the survey invitation by e-mail, or received the e-mailbut haven't had the time to complete, we invite you to complete the Researcher Consultation Survey online.

Congratulations to the recipients of the IMHA Studentship Awards. In all, IMHA and the Institute of Aging funded 48 outstanding students to complete summer placements in established research labs across the country. Supporting the next generation of researchers is an important part of IMHA's mandate; we hope that these summer placements will provide valuable learning opportunities which will inspire young researchers to continue their work in IMHA relevant research areas.

Thank you to our many volunteers!

April 15-21, 2012, was Canada's National Volunteer Week and we could not allow it to go by without recognizing the invaluable contributions that many of you make. In so many ways, you are responsible for IMHA's success and for helping to make health research in Canada the best it can be.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you personally for your commitment, advice, guidance, and collegiality throughout the past year. In appreciation of your many and varied contributions, a most sincere 'thank you'!

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

Did You Know?

The Walk to Fight Arthritis takes place in 21 communities across Canada. Last year's walk attracted 8,000 participants (up from 3,000) and raised over $1.3 million (up from $960,000) for arthritis programs and research. The 2012 Walk is the 3rd annual event. To date, the Arthritis Society has raised over $2.2 million through the Walk to Fight Arthritis!

Research Profiles - Skin research: healthy all over

When it comes to our skin, we tend to think in purely aesthetic terms. Is it youthful and glowing, or wrinkled and aged? Smooth or blemished? Covered up or exposed?

But your skin is so much more than something you wear. It is the largest organ in your body. It is your first line of defence against invading viruses and bacteria. It keeps you hydrated and helps regulate your body temperature. In other words, it keeps you alive.

Injuries and diseases that compromise skin can be devastating and difficult to treat. But researchers are exploring betterways to help restore this life-saving barrier for burn victims, cancer patients and skin-disease sufferers.

The following profiles describe the work of CIHR-funded skin researchers.

Avoiding rejection: Dr. Aziz Ghahary at the University of British Columbia is developing a biological skin substitute that may solve the problem of skin-transplant rejection.

Promoting regrowth: Dr. Jeff Biernaskie at the University of Calgary explores the potential applications of dermal stem cells for improving skin grafts.

Turning back the clock: Dr. David Granville at the University of British Columbia is studying an enzyme that might be a treatment target for skin damage and blood vessel disease.

Partner Corner

The Walk to Fight Arthritis

Each year in communities all across Canada, teams of families, friends, co-workers and corporations come together to raise funds for The Walk to Fight Arthritis presented by the makers of TYLENOL® to bring help and hope to people living with arthritis. An event filled with inspiration, the Walk is The Arthritis Society's major fundraising event.

Funds raised by teams and individual walkers provide:

  • Research to improve quality of life and find a cure for arthritis
  • Free educational materials and events for those living with arthritis and their supporters
  • Local programs and services to help people with arthritis become better informed on facing challenges and living well with arthritis
  • Comprehensive, personalized assistance through the Arthritis Self-Management Program

Last year's Walk attracted 8,000 participants and raised over $1.3 million for arthritis research and care. Almost thirty per cent of participants were people who have arthritis. This year we hope to make an even bigger impact.

"It's a very family friendly day. We encourage people to bring out family and friends to support them when they are walking," says Tanya Henry, Senior Manager of Events at The Arthritis Society. "It is inspiring to see so many people participate, especially when you know it's for such an important cause."

The Walk to Fight Arthritis is an event filled with inspiration. During the walk, a community of caring individuals bands together, bringing hope to those whose lives have been affected by this disease. Join us on June 10th throughout Canada and May 27th in Montreal. We hope to see you there!

For details on the Walk, visit the Walk to Fight Arthritis website.

Share your news with the IMHA community

Do you have a story that has helped sustain health and enhance quality of life by eradicating the pain, suffering and disability caused by arthritis, musculoskeletal, oral and skin conditions? Are you planning an event that might be of interest to the IMHA community? Is your organization launching a funding opportunity? IMHA would like to celebrate our partners' and stakeholders' success stories, events, and funding opportunities in our monthly newsletter. Please make your submissions to imha.iala.cihr.irsc@utoronto.ca. We look forward to sharing you information with the IMHA community!

IMHA Events

Cafe Scientifique

Broken, Busted and (a Bit) Worn Down – Rehab science supporting movement for improved health and aging

Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 5 p.m.
Confederation Place Hotel
237 Ontario Street
Kingston, Ontario
RSVP: emily.neff@utoronto.ca

Getting older can involve slowing down, but hopefully not to a resting stop. Unfortunately, chronic bone and joint diseases and broken bones from falls can severely reduce mobility. A lack of physical activity can also put people at risk for chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes. Come listen to how advances in rehabilitation science are helping keep older Canadians injury free and freely moving.

This free event is hosted by the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis and Queen's University. Space is limited.

Experts

Brenda Brouwer, PhD
Vice-Provost and Dean, School of Graduate Studies
Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy
Queen's University

Trisha L. Parsons, BScPT, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy
Queen's University

Nandini Deshpande, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy
Queen's University

Alice B. Aiken, CD, PhD, PT
Director, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research
Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy
Queen's University

Moderators

Joy MacDermid, BScPT, PhD
Professor, Rehabilitation Science
McMaster University

Debbie Feldman, PT, PhD
Professor, School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine
Université de Montréal

Cafe Scientifique Program

Start the discussion: The call for applications to the 2012-2013 CIHR Café Scientifique program is now underway. This is your chance to potentially hold an informal event between experts and the general public about a particular health research subject of popular interest. Applications are due no later than 8 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on May 31, 2012. For further information, please visit the Café Scientifique program website.

Other News

2nd International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium

The 2nd International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium (ISTS2012) is being held September 27-29, 2012 at the University of British Columbia / Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. It will consist of 1.5 days of keynotes, oral presentations by senior scientists as well as poster sessions. There is also a pre-symposium roundtable discussion, and a post-symposium clinical workshop.
This year's programme contains the following scientific sessions:

  • Pathophysiology of tendinopathy
  • Frontiers in medical management
  • Innovations in rehabilitation
  • Imaging

Early registration at reduced fees is available for the first 75 tickets; you can access registration forms and abstract submission details online.

Funding Opportunities

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

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. The application deadline for this competition is May 28, 2012.

Priority Announcements

Priority Announcements offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific CIHR research priority areas or mandates. In these competitions, CIHR-IMHA will provide funding for applications that are determined to be relevant to: Physical Activity, Mobility and Health; Tissue Injury, Repair and Replacement; Pain, Disability and Chronic Disease. The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $25,000 per annum for up to one year. The application deadline for this competition is June 15, 2012.

Meetings of Interest

Canadian Pain Society Annual Conference
May 23-26, 2012
Whistler, BC

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference
June 6-9, 2012
Québec City, QC

Canadian Connective Tissue Conference
June 8-10, 2012
Toronto, ON

2012 Canadian Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting
June 8-10, 2012
Ottawa, ON

IMHA Young Investigator Forum
June 10-12, 2012
King City, ON

Canadian Biomedical Engineering Conference
June 19-22, 2012
Halifax, NS

5th International Workshop on Advances in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Bone Disease
June 27-30
Oxford, UK

Canadian Dermatology Association 87th Annual Conference
June 28 - July 1, 2012
Ottawa, ON

The ASBMR 2012 Topical Meeting, Bone and Skeletal Muscle Interactions
July 17-18, 2012
Kansas City, MO

2nd International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium 2012
September 27-29, 2012
Vancouver, BC
The abstract submission deadline is June 7, 2012.

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Annual General Meeting
October 10-13, 2012
Regina, SK

Canadian Skin Patient Conference
October 12-14, 2012
Toronto, ON

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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