Author: Linxi Mytkolli

L’équipe du programme de formation et de mentorat pour favoriser la recherche d’Action diabète Canada est heureuse d’annoncer le choix des titulaires des bourses 2019-2020 pour les stages étudiants intercentres pour la recherche axée sur le patient portant sur le diabète et ses complications. Félicitations aux titulaires, qui ont obtenu chacun une bourse de 10 000 $ pour un an de travaux.

Les bourses pour les stages étudiants intercentres pour la recherche axée sur le patient portant sur le diabète et ses complications favorisent le réseautage et l’intégration optimale de stagiaires à Action diabète Canada et à la communauté canadienne des chercheurs sur le diabète. Des chercheurs faisant partie de notre réseau ont proposé des projets collaboratifs devant être réalisés par des stagiaires qui termineront leur formation dans un centre de recherche à l’extérieur de l’établissement où travaillent les chercheurs principaux, en collaboration avec un chercheur affilié à Action diabète Canada ou un autre chercheur du réseau SRAP.

Voici les titulaires des bourses et leur affiliation

1. Celia Laur – Chercheuse universitaire postdoctorale, Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto
   • Chercheur principal : le Dr Noah Ivers – Titulaire de la chaire de recherche du Canada en mise en œuvre de pratiques fondées sur des données probantes, Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital et Université de Toronto
   • Collaboratrice dans un autre centre : la Dre Lauren Ball – Menzies Health Institute, Queensland, Université Griffith, Brisbane (Australie)
2. Heather Kewageshig – Ph. D., faculté de soins infirmiers, spécialisation collaborative en santé des Autochtones, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Université de Toronto
   • Chercheuse principale : Monica Parry – Université de Toronto
   • Collaboratrice dans un autre centre : Marie-Claude Tremblay – Université Laval

Diabetes Action Canada’s National Diabetes Repository launched its inaugural grant competition in April 2019.  Our investigators were invited to submit proposals to address meaningful patient-oriented research questions using the Secure Analytic Virtual Environment (SAVE) of the National Diabetes Repository and three research proposals awarded $15,000 each.  Applicants submitted their proposals  through our new online researcher portal www.repository.diabetesaction.ca.  Our Research Governing Committee and Scientific Advisory Committee reviewed the proposals and selected projects based on Diabetes Action Canada priorities including what matters most to persons living with diabetes, innovative use of data/techniques, and team-based research.

Grant Recipients:

Dr. Alanna Weisman and Dr. Bruce Perkins, University of Toronto

This research will determine if insulin pump use differs in adults (>18 years of age) between provinces due to differences in government funding, and whether this disproportionately affects people of lower socioeconomic status. The results will provide evidence to advocate for government funding for insulin pump therapy universally across Canada.

Dr. Braden O’Neill – North York General Hospital/University of Toronto

People with schizophrenia are at markedly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease and are more likely to have diabetes than those without this condition. Diabetes is one of the most important risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease and causes substantial morbidity as a result of macrovascular and microvascular complications if inadequately treated.  This proposal will examine the quality of care provided to patients with and without schizophrenia and with diabetes across multiple provinces.  This research addresses an important health equity issue around the care of a vulnerable population. Results from this study will guide further work to develop and implement interventions and modifications to health service provision in order to improve care for people with diabetes and schizophrenia.

Professor Huaxiong Huang and Ms. Neda Aminnejad, York University and the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences

This project aims to apply advanced mathematical modelling to the data in the National Diabetes Repository.  The model has two main objectives: to predict the entire trajectory for the progression of type 2 diabetes along with its complications and to segment the type 2 diabetes patients into three risk categories to allow for appropriate intervention. It will also highlight if a group of comorbidities or the patient’s health condition could potentially worsen.  Predicting complications of type 2 diabetes before they occur can lead to  prevention and significantly reduce the emotional and financial toll on patients and their families.

This seventh joint annual symposium of SQLNM, CMDO Network and COLosSUS congress, aimed at maintaining the efforts to improve the health of the Quebec population with respect to diabetes, dyslipidemia and cardiometabolic and vascular disorders, took place at the Hôtel Chéribourg, Magog-Orford on February 6-8, 2019.  Diabetes Action Canada sent four Patient Partners as Scientific Ambassadors to this event which also highlights the Francophone Quebec week dedicated to education on cardiometabolic health, diabetes and obesity in February each year.

For two days, the scientific ambassadors took part in four symposia which covered several themes related to cardiometabolic health, diabetes and obesity and attended presentations from Dr. Bruce Perkins and Dr. Pedro Geraldes, winner of the 2017 CMDO Network Young Investigator Award. In the report below, we will give a brief overview of the topics covered and present the various points of view expressed by the ambassadors about their experience.