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Research to Action Fellowship

Transforming Research Into Meaningful Change

The Research to Action Fellowship empowers patient partners to turn research into action, driving real-world impact in diabetes care. Fellows work in pairs, collaborating with leading organizations to bring research beyond the page—creating practical, community-driven solutions that make a difference.
Research to Action Fellowship
2026 Research to Action Fellowship Application
2025 Fellows & Partners Organisations
2024 Fellows & Partner Organizations
Resource Library

  • Empowering Patient Partners to Transform Diabetes Care

    The Research to Action Fellowship is a dynamic, nine‐month program that empowers Patient Partners to drive meaningful change in diabetes care. 

    Working side‐by‐side with leading organizations, fellows transform research findings into tangible, community‐driven initiatives—ensuring that diabetes care becomes more accessible, equitable, and reflective of real-world experiences.

    Fellows work in pairs, teaming up with leading organizations to take research off the page and into their communities.

  • The Research to Action Fellowship is a nine‐month, $3,000 paid program that:

    • Engages patient partners to turn research into action.
    • Supports fellows in co‑creating impactful projects with partner organizations.
    • Provides mentorship and training from DAC’s team of patient engagement, knowledge mobilization, and communications specialists.
    • Includes key events such as the DAC Workshop and the Diabetes Canada Conference.
    • Offers unique leadership opportunities, allowing fellows to lead a co‑design session, be featured on dedicated podcast episodes, and contribute thought leadership pieces through published blogs and articles.

  • Co‑Designing Impactful Projects with Community Voices

    Every resource in our Resource Library is developed through a truly collaborative process. In addition to working closely with partner organizations, our Fellows hosted four dedicated co‑design sessions that engaged over 60 community members. These sessions gathered vital feedback on design, content, and cultural relevance, ensuring each project meets community needs and is as effective as it is innovative. All participants in these sessions were compensated for their expertise.

    We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the following community members who chose to be credited for their outstanding input:
    Anna Whaley, Christina Marie Mulchandani, Dana Greenberg, Destaalem Araya Tesfay, Pascual Delgado, Rina Sen Gupta, Sally Nystrom, Shayla Hele, Theresa Okafor, Virtue Bajurny, Wendy Reaser, and Zoe Hilton.

    Note: These names represent only some of the many valuable contributors whose anonymous feedback also helped shape these resources.

  • Insights into the Co‑Design participants on their experience:

    “The session was clear, informative, and respectful of diverse perspectives—it truly felt like a community effort.”

    “I appreciated how our input directly shaped the final designs, making the projects both practical and engaging.”

    “The co‑design process was empowering, with a perfect blend of creative freedom and valuable guidance.”

    “Developed for community, by community—this experience reinforced the power of collaborative innovation.”

  • We use terms throughout this application that might be new to some applicants. Below are definitions to help you understand the language we use in the Research to Action Fellowship:

    • Patient Partner: An individual with lived or loved experience of a health condition who collaborates with researchers, organizations, and healthcare professionals to shape research, policy, and healthcare improvements.
    • Knowledge Mobilization (KM): The process of sharing research findings with the people and communities they impact. This includes translating research into practical tools, policies, or resources that improve healthcare.
    • Knowledge Product: A tangible outcome of knowledge mobilization. This can be a video, infographic, comic, blog series, self-advocacy tool, educational workshop, or any creative way to make research accessible and actionable.
    • Co-Design: A collaborative approach where people with lived, learned, loved, or laboured experience work together to shape research and create solutions that reflect diverse perspectives.
    • Lived, Loved, Learned, Laboured (4L) Experiences: A model that acknowledges the different ways people engage with healthcare:
      • Lived: Personal experience of a health condition.
      • Loved: Experience caring for a family member or friend with a health condition.
      • Learned: Academic or professional training related to healthcare.
      • Laboured: Working in the healthcare system, advocacy, or policy.

Resource Library

Click the thumbnail’s to download the resources today.

Brit Hancock and Fizza Abbas translated lived and loved experience into a practical nursing education toolkit focused on how language in diabetes care can either hurt or heal. The toolkit includes a recorded workshop, facilitation, and reflection guide designed for use in nursing education and training. Drawing on real stories, the project explores how shame and stigma show up in clinical encounters.

Jeremy Auger and Anmol Budhiraja designed a series of pocket cards for clinic visits to help people understand their rights in healthcare settings, know what questions to ask, and recognize symptoms that may be related to diabetes. The cards are designed to support more informed conversations with healthcare providers and help people access appropriate follow-up care.

Maryann Maloney and Wajeeha Cheema created a free e-book featuring stories from women and gender-diverse people living with diabetes in more than eight countries. Spanning many life stages, the e-book explores personal experiences through prompts such as “What I wish my younger self knew,” and “What helped me most,” offering insight and support for others in the diabetes community.

Alex St. John and Emily Burke-Hall designed a series of plain-language infographics explaining islets, type 1 diabetes, and islet cell transplantation. The resources are grounded in testimonials from more than 12 transplant recipients, highlighting the real-life impact of these procedures and making complex information more accessible.

Najeeb Ashraf and Amanda Knight developed an AI Diabetes Technology Chatbot to help people better understand and compare insulin pumps and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. The chatbot provides side-by-side comparisons of device features and practical day-to-day considerations. If you want the poster to promote this AI chatbot, click here to download for free. 

Toolkit Coming Soon!

Abbas, F., & Hancock, B. (2025). Diabetes Stigma Nursing Education Toolkit.  The Australian Centre for Behaviour Research in Diabetes, in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

Download the Pocket Cards

Auger, J., & Budhiraja, A., (2025). Right Diagnosis Advocacy: A Tool for Indigenous Communities, Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

E-book Coming Soon!

Cheema, W., & Maloney, M. (2025). Women’s Health & Diabetes Storybook. Tidepool in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

Download the Infographic

Burke-Hall, E., & St. John, A. (2025). Cell Therapy 101: Demystifying Cell Research & Treatment Infographic. Alberta Diabetes Institute in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

Connect with Chat Bot

Ashraf, N., & Knight, A. (2025). Al-Powered Diabetes Tech Guidance Chatbot. Children with Diabetes in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

Al Martin and Matt Larsen translated lived experience into a comic that explores how everyday interactions in healthcare can impact people living with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Through illustrated, real-life scenarios, the comics highlight experiences of stigma, bias, and communication in clinical settings, while offering practical suggestions for more compassionate, person-centred care in clinics, homes, and research settings.

Ryan Hooey and Rosan Wesley designed a practical self-advocacy resource designed by and for Indigenous people living with diabetes. The toolkit includes eight colour-coded flashcards with plain-language prompts that help people communicate their needs and navigate healthcare appointments with greater confidence. Co-created with Indigenous community members, the project supports safe conversations between patients and healthcare providers.

Natalie Mangialardi and Jeremy Storring created an infographic that helps people understand the connection between time in range and overall wellbeing. Designed in plain language, the resource explains how time in range can influence daily life beyond blood glucose numbers, while encouraging meaningful conversations between people living with diabetes and their healthcare providers about personalized diabetes management.

Senaya Karunarathne and Cindy Lufuluabo crafted a collection of community-centred vignettes that explore the realities of living with diabetes in Black and South Asian communities. Through relatable stories and reflection questions, the resource highlights how culture, identity, and healthcare experiences shape diabetes care, while encouraging more culturally responsive, person-centred conversations among healthcare providers, researchers, and community members.

Download the Comics

Larsen, M, & Martin, A. (2024). Comics on Patient Healthcare Interactions. Obesity Canada, in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

Download the Flashcards

Hooey, R., & Wesley, R. (2024). Self-Advocacy Flash Cards for Indigenous Communities. National Indigenous Diabetes Association, in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

Download the Infographic

Mangialardi, N. & Storring, J. (2024). Time in Range Wellbeing Infographics. diaTribe Time in Range Coalition, in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

Download the Vignettes

Karunarathne, S. & Lufuluabo, C. (2024) Black and South Asian Community Vignettes. Access Alliance, in collaboration with Diabetes Action Canada. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://diabetesaction.ca/research-to-action-fellowship/

2025 Resources 

Our fellows are busy preparing their resources to share with you in  Spring 2026. To register your interest and receive the resources direct you your inbox complete the form below. 

Send Me the Resources

2026

Fellows 

Meet our incredible Fellows! Click the thumbnail to learn more about their inspiring journeys and impact.

  • Anna Whaley

  • John Joseph

  • Joss Stoodley

  • Kaushal Kabariya

  • Kurinche Thiyagarajah

  • Lee Anne White

  • Mallory Solomon

  • Michael Hogan

  • Shay Erlich

  • Zahida Rahemtulla

2025

Fellows 

Meet our incredible Fellows! Click the thumbnail to learn more about their inspiring journeys and impact.

  • Jeremy Auger

    Jeremy is a person living with Type 1 diabetes who brings insight from lived experience and community-based diabetes projects in Calgary. He is motivated to help others avoid the challenges he has faced and is passionate about Indigenous health and education.

  • Najeeb Ashraf

    Najeeb is a medical communications expert and the CEO of SciVoc Consulting with over 35 years of lived experience with Type 1 diabetes. He brings a deep commitment to advocacy, health equity, and elevating patient voice in science and research.

  • Fizza Abbas

    Fizza is a racial equity advisor and community organizer whose work is grounded in decolonizing healthcare and honouring lived experience. She is passionate about storytelling, trauma-informed practice, and building systems rooted in dignity and collective care.

  • Anmol Budhiraja

    Anmol is a mental health and crisis response worker rooted in harm reduction and community advocacy. They are passionate about addressing systemic barriers in healthcare through co-created tools and grassroots storytelling.

  • Alex St. John

    Alex is a diabetes researcher and athlete focused on making physical activity safer and more accessible for people with Type 1 diabetes. He translates complex science into plain-language tools to empower the diabetes community.

  • Emily Burke-Hall

    Emily is a recent Queen’s University graduate with a background in life sciences and a personal connection to Type 2 diabetes. She is passionate about supporting families and children affected by chronic illness.

  • Brit Hancock

    Brit is a Type 1 diabetes advocate and policy strategist who uses storytelling to challenge stigma and improve access. Her lived experience drives her commitment to reshaping public understanding and healthcare systems.

  • Amanda Knight

    Amanda is a caregiver and mom who became immersed in Type 1 diabetes advocacy after her son’s diagnosis. She is passionate about supporting other families navigating similar journeys.

  • Maryann Maloney

    Maryann is a long-time patient partner with 47 years of lived experience with Type 1 diabetes. She brings a powerful commitment to equity, storytelling, and creating more inclusive health systems

  • Wajeeha Cheema

    Wajeeha is a Type 1 diabetes advocate and researcher whose lived experience fuels her work to advance equitable, culturally relevant care. She partners with leading research institutes to amplify patient voices and drive innovation for underrepresented communities.

Partner Organizations 

Click the organizations name to learn more about their mission and impact.

  • Tidepool is a nonprofit creating open-source software to help people manage insulin-requiring diabetes.

  • DCB is a Swiss foundation that supports research and innovation to improve diabetes technology.

  • The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes studies the psychological and social impacts of living with diabetes.

  • The Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle promotes diabetes wellness through culturally relevant programs for Indigenous communities.

  • CwD provides education, community, and events for families living with type 1 diabetes

  • Canada’s largest diabetes research institute, translating research into better prevention and care.

Project Themes

Each year, fellows work on research-informed projects to address critical gaps in diabetes care, awareness, and advocacy. Discover the 2025 themes.

  • This project aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge cell therapy research and the diabetes community. Fellows will co-design with community members to uncover key questions and concerns about this promising but complex field. Using these insights, they will create a clear, accessible resource that explains how cell therapy works and what people can realistically expect. The final product could be a plain-language guide, a webinar series, or a video that makes this information understandable and meaningful for people living with diabetes.

  • This project will help people with diabetes better understand and manage hormonal changes throughout different life stages. Fellows will co-design with community members to uncover gaps in current resources and pinpoint what support is most needed. They will then create an accessible, practical resource that empowers people to adjust their care and advocate for better treatment. The final product could be a digital tool, a guide, a workshop series, or another format that makes this information clear and easy to use.

  • This project will help people with diabetes understand Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) systems and decide if they are right for them. Fellows will co-design with community members to uncover common questions, barriers, and knowledge gaps about AID. They will then create an accessible resource that explains AID options, how they work, and how to get started. The final product could be a guide, video, or step-by-step tool that makes navigating AID systems clearer and less overwhelming.

  • This project aims to help Indigenous people in Canada get accurate diabetes diagnoses and culturally safe care. Indigenous fellows will co-design with community members to uncover the best ways to share information about diabetes types and navigating the healthcare system. They will create a tool that empowers people to ask the right questions and advocate for proper testing and treatment. The final product could be a practical guide, a storytelling resource, or a video series that supports self-advocacy and better health outcomes.

  • This project will tackle the stigma that negatively affects people with diabetes in their daily lives and healthcare experiences. Fellows will co-design with community members to identify the most harmful misconceptions and find effective ways to challenge them. They will create a resource that helps shift narratives, educate others, and support self-advocacy. The final product could be a public campaign, a training tool, or a storytelling project that reduces shame and promotes understanding.

2024 

Fellows 

Meet our incredible Fellows! Click the thumbnail to learn more about their inspiring journeys and impact.

  • Rosan Wesley

    Rosan Wesley is a Cree mental health therapist from Ontario and a 2024 fellow. A type 2 diabetes patient and daughter of a residential school survivor, she uses her lived experience to support Indigenous communities.

  • Ryan Hooey

    Ryan Hooey is a passionate type 1 diabetes advocate with over 30 years of experience and diabetic retinopathy. As a patient partner and member of the Keeseekoowenin First Nation, he champions accessible care and equitable resources.

  • Al Martin

    Al works as a heavy haul trucker, is a husband and father of two teenagers. He is an advocate and patient partner with Diabetes Action Canada and Obesity Canada.

  • Matt Larsen

    Matt is a Masters student in the area of health services research at the University of Calgary. He is also a person with lived experience of homelessness and has type 2 diabetes.

  • Cindy Lufuluabo

    Cindy Lufuluabo is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at the University of Montreal, focusing on health equity and improving health outcomes for marginalized communities. As the daughter of Congolese immigrants, Cindy believes that culture is a vital factor in health.

  • Senaya Karunarathne

    Senaya Karunarathne is an undergraduate student pursuing her Honours Bachelor of Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She is a passionate advocate with a particular interest in the disproportionate impact of type 2 diabetes on Black and South Asian populations.

  • Natalie Mangialardi

    Natalie Mangialardi is a Toronto-based fellow who leverages her experiences with type 1 diabetes and mental illness to support young adults. A Queen’s University graduate and current Master of Social Work student, she advocates for community engagement and health equity.

  • Jeremy Storring

    Jeremy Storring is a Saskatoon-based research fellow with 12 years of type 1 diabetes experience. He co-develops supportive resources, contributes to open-source insulin pump technology, and advocates for improved diabetes care.

Partner Organizations 

Click the organizations name to learn more about their mission and impact.

  • NIDA supports Indigenous communities across Canada in preventing and managing diabetes through culturally relevant resources and programs.

  • Obesity Canada is Canada’s leading organization for obesity research, education, and advocacy, working to improve the health of those living with obesity.

  • Access Alliance provides health and social services for immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities, promoting equitable access to care.

  • This coalition focuses on improving diabetes care by helping people and healthcare providers understand and prioritize “time in range” with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).