Aboriginal Health Research News - August 2012

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Message from Dr. Malcolm King, IAPH Scientific Director

Tuberculosis and the CIHR Pathways Initiative

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the four major priority areas of the Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples Signature Initiative. For most people in Canada, including many Aboriginal people, TB is a thing of the past. However, TB has not been eliminated from Aboriginal Canada – far from it. For Inuit, the incidence of TB has been increasing in recent years, and TB has only reached a plateau in First Nations. Overall, the new case incidence is 30-150 times the rate for the Canadian-born non-Aboriginal population. The Aboriginal TB incidence increases with remoteness and in northern latitudes. In all Aboriginal popula­tions, TB is remarkably focal, meaning that it is concentrated in a relatively small number of high incidence communities. This represents both a concern and an opportunity – a concern because of the ongoing cycle of transmission that keeps TB alive in these communities, and an opportunity, because by devoting resources and energy to these high incidence communities, inroads against TB can be made.

Pathways presents an opportunity for Canadian researchers and communities to finally come to terms with TB in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. The issues are not unsolvable – TB is treatable and curable. The issues involved in tackling the TB epidemic are not trivial, however. People need to access TB services – screen­ing, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The healthcare system needs to be able to deliver these services more efficiently and in culturally appropriate ways. The stigma of TB needs to be overcome, or otherwise it will remain under­ground. People need to enter the TB care cascade and to continue with it. The cycle of transmission needs to be broken. The opportunity of imple­mentation research and scaling up of knowledge presented by Pathways will allow us to make a real difference in this age-old scourge.

Thanks to Dr. Richard Long (University of Alberta) for access to materials prior to publication.

Application deadlines coming up!

Doctoral Research Awards and Fellowships

Remember that Doctoral Research Awards and Fellowships now have increased funding! IAPH has increased the number of awards to be funded, as well as the research allowance amount to help cover the costs of travel and attendance to various meet­ings hosted or designated by IAPH.

Also, each Award type offers 3 different IAPH-related oppor­tunities to apply for: Aboriginal Research Methodologies, Quantitative Research, and IAPH mandate-related research.

Application Deadlines:

Fellowships: October 1, 2012
Doctoral Research Awards: October 15, 2012

Population Health Intervention Research

In this first funding opportunity to be launched as part of the Pathways Signature Initiative, IAPH will fund population health intervention research applications that are relevant to Suicide, Obesity, Tuberculosis, and Oral Health.

Application Deadline: September 14, 2012

Project Profile

Aboriginal eMentoring BC: Building pathways to health careers for Aboriginal Youth

Aboriginal eMentoring BC (eMentoring), funded through CIHR’s Aboriginal Health Intervention program, aims to increase Aboriginal enrollment in post-secondary health sciences programs. Aboriginal people are underrepresented in the post-secondary education system and in healthcare professions, such as phys­icians, nurses and pharmacists. The specific purpose of eMentoring is to develop an online mentoring program for Aboriginal youth and evaluate its effectiveness in supporting high school graduation and successful transitions into post-secondary health science programs.

eMentoring is a community-university partnership between UBC’s eHealth Strategy Office and its five Community Partners: Akisq’nuk First Nation; Adams Lake Band; Sto:lo Nation; School District 36 (Surrey); and, School District 23 (Central Okanagan). Mentees (Aboriginal students in grades 6-12) are connected with Mentors (post-secondary health science students) who provide them with the knowledge, support, and confi­dence they need to complete high school and pursue a post-secondary health sci­ence program.

Mentees and mentors commit at least 1 hour per week over one academic year to complete an online Personal Quest together. During eMentoring’s first year, 66 mentees and 58 mentors enrolled in the program.

eMentoring is about keeping the poten­tial open for Aboriginal students and offering them the chance to positively impact their lives and communities. It is also about changing the way academic institutions think about access to health science programs by making it more about real opportunities for success.

Webinar for Applicants

Partnerships for Health System improvement (PHSI) 2012-13

Wednesday, September 12, 2012
English (Register): 12:00 – 1:00pm EST
French (Register): 10:00 – 11:00am EST

This webinar will include:

  • An overview of the current PHSI funding opportunity;
  • Tips for success;
  • Highlights of priority research areas like the Fostering Innovation in Health Care Initiative; and
  • An opportunity to get answers to your pressing PHSI questions.

The intent of the PHSI program is to strengthen Canada’s healthcare system through collaborative, applied and policy-relevant research. View the funding opportunity on the CIHR website or if you have questions, you can e-mail PHSI-PASS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

“Speaking of Aging” Tour

This year, the CIHR Institute of Aging (IA) began a strategic planning process that will enable it to define its priorities for the next five years (2013–18). They will be engaging in a dialogue with stakeholders interested in research on aging through a number of townhall meetings across Canada where Dr. Yves Joanette, Scientific Director of IA, will share highlights of their new draft strategic plan and encourage partici­pants to share their comments.

You are invited to participate in these meetings which are intended not only for those who are already involved in research on aging, but also for anyone whose focus of study or interest touches on aging, be it on a professional or personal basis.

For more details on these events including a list of the different cities to be visited, and to RSVP please visit the Tour’s website.

2012 CIHR/CMAJ Top Achievements in Health Research Awards

CIHR is currently accepting applications to the CIHR/Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Top Achievements in Health Research Awards competition. Through this award, CIHR and the CMAJ recognize important contributions and say thank you for the work done.

The deadline for submissions is September 28, 2012.

More information can be found on the CIHR website or by e-mailing jasmine.lefebvre@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Write to us!

IAPH welcomes researchers, partners and other stakeholders to share news stories that relate to areas of our mandate. If you have interesting research results or developments, are organizing a conference or workshop, or wish to report on a past event, we would like to feature them in our newsletter or other communication materials.

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