It's been a busy month for the WHRI! Last month we hosted our Seventh Annual Women's Health Research Symposium (see below for a recap), a trainee mentorship and networking event, and a public event on perinatal health and wellness. 

March was also a busy month for our WHRI community. We encourage you to read on and join us in congratulating those members who received awards this month, were featured in the media, authored publications, and who are gearing up to host an array of exciting events in the next month. 

As always, if you have news to share with us, please send an email to whri.communications@cw.bc.ca.

Kathryn Dewar, PhD 

• Senior Research Manager | Women's Health Research Institute

Revisiting the Seventh Annual Women's Health Research Symposium

Last month we were excited to see so many of you at our annual Women's Health Research Symposium! We welcomed over 100 people in person at the beautiful Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre and over 80 people virtually.

In addition to a day of energizing presentations, the symposium featured an awards ceremony. We were pleased to celebrate Dr. Mark Ansermino (Later Career Researcher), Dr. Julia Smith (Early Career Researcher), and SANTHE (Global Partner) as three champions of women's health research to address shared global challenges.

If you weren't able to attend you can check out some of the highlights in our symposium recap or through our Twitter Moment.

The PRIME Centre has a new website!

The Skidmore Goodman Perinatal Research Imaging and Evaluation (PRIME) Centre is a new ultrasound research facility at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre that is now available for researchers to collaborate and advance health care by using cutting-edge technology.

PRIME now has a digital hub where you can find information about the facility including all the equipment, rooms, and resources that are available for use by researchers.

WHRI Research Services Office Hour

The WHRI is pleased to introduce an office hour on the second Thursday of each month to discuss your research needs.

Connect with our Digital Health Manager, Research Development Facilitator, Knowledge Translation Manager, and Communications Coordinator to learn about our services and to get support for your projects.

Drop in virtually through Zoom or in-person in the H214 meeting room at the Women's Health Research Institute offices.

Our first office hour will be held Thursday, April 14th from 10am-11am PST - join us and share your projects!

@WomensResearch x GOSH Podcast

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This month, we teamed up with Nicole Keay and Stephanie Lam, co-hosts of the Gynecologic Oncology Sharing Hub (or GOSH) podcast, for a special episode talking about storytelling, patient partnerships, and knowledge translation. 

Dr. Wendy Norman recognized by the Canadian Government

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Congratulations to Dr. Norman, who was named a Woman of Impact in STEM by the Government of Canada!

Dr. Norman's contributions to women's health are detailed in a profile on their Women of Impact website, where she joins other "courageous women who have made an impact in politics, the arts and sciences, and countless other fields."

Congratulations, Dr. Schummers!

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This month UBC announced the recipients of the Killam Research Prize, awarded annually for excellence in research. 

Dr. Laura Schummers, postdoctoral fellow with the Contraception and Abortion Research Team, was named one of two of this year's recipients.

Ismália de Sousa awarded Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award

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The Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant award recognizes Graduate Teaching Assistants who have "excelled in creating a productive learning environment for their students."

This year, Ismália de Sousa, trainee member of the Women's Health Research Institute and 2020 recipient of our Graduate and Fellowship Research Awards, was selected out of over two thousand teaching assistants for her dedication to teaching excellence.

Congratulations, Ismália!

CIHR: Ask a Scientist

Dr. Deborah Money was featured in the latest instalment of CIHR's Ask a Scientist series. 

In this short video, Dr. Money debunks some of the myths related to the COVID-19 vaccine and fertility.

Dr. Gillian Hanley and Dr. Aline Talhouk named as recipients of September 2021 Action Grants

The Canadian Cancer Society/Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2021 Action Grants Competition was held with the intention “to motivate Canadians to take ‘action’ to avoid known modifiable risk factors for cancer and to encourage the research and end-user communities to take ‘action’ towards harnessing new ideas, platforms and technologies from within and outside the cancer field to test out bold, novel interventions with the potential to prevent cancer.” 

New video from the BCC3 study team

Follow along as Shayda Swann meets researchers in the Côté Lab and learns how the BCC3 study team determines the age of immune cells!

Digital Health Innovation Learning Series

The WHRI and BCCHR are collaborating on a virtual learning series to build capacity for digital health research at our institutes. Some upcoming sessions include:

• Privacy & Ethics for Digital Health Research and Practice (April 7, 12:00-1:00pm)
• Designing Better HIT: Usability & Human Factors Evaluation, 2 Part Workshop (Rescheduled: May 5 & 12, 12:00-1:30pm)
• Developing Equitable Digital Health Technologies (Tentative - June 2, 12:00-1:00pm)

Check out our past sessions and let us know if there are topics in digital health research you want to learn more about!

Interface Health Membership

Interface Health is a digital health technology accelerator, bringing together researchers, innovators and commercial partners. The WHRI recently joined Interface Health+, meaning our members get additional benefits such as:

• VIP access to exclusive events
• 25% off events, showcases, and networking opportunities with industry leaders
• 25% professional services like product design and development and access to top digital health advisors

BMC Digital Health

BMC has announced a new series launching this Spring, BMC Digital Health. 

“The journal will consider manuscripts on mobile health applications, virtual healthcare and wearable technology, as well as the role of social media and other communications technology in digital health.” 

Share your digital health research! If you need support developing a research manuscript, be sure to reach out to the WHRI for support.

Looking for digital health support?

If you are interested in starting a digital health project or would like support for your current digital health research, contact our digital health research manager Candice to learn how we can help!

Advancing the Science of Physiologic Birth

Webinar in Preconceptual Health – COMING SOON

Funded in the latest round of UBCs Grants for Clusters of Research Excellence, the Science of Birth Research Cluster aims to develop preventive approaches and early strategies to avoid complications of labour and birth. To do this they will develop an international team to catalyze research, training, and practice and policy under three themes: preconception health, physiology of labour, and digital education strategies.

The World Health Organization defines a physiologic birth as spontaneous, occurring between 37-42 weeks of pregnancy, with the baby in a head-down position and without complications for mother or baby. In Canada today, one third of women deliver their babies by caesarean section and one third have labour artificially induced.

Cluster leads, Professors, Dr. Wendy Norman, Department of Family Practice, Dr. Saras Vedam, Midwifery Program, and Dr. Patricia Janssen, School of Population and Public Health, will launch their research cluster with a webinar in June featuring two international leaders in pre-conceptual health. Pre-conceptual factors play a significant role in predisposing to caesarean birth. 

Dr. Kirsten Black is an academic gynaecologist at the University of Sydney. She leads the Preconception Stream for a National Centre of Research Excellence in Australia. She is currently working with a European group to plan a large preconception health conference

Dr Danielle Schoenaker is an epidemiologist in the School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education at the University of Southampton, UK. She is particularly passionate about the health and wellbeing of women and men leading up to pregnancy.

The Gynecologic Cancer Initiative is now accepting abstracts for their annual trainee research day! 

This is an annual event to showcase and celebrate trainees in British Columbia who are conducting research on gynecologic cancers. This year, the event will be hosted as a hybrid event at Jim Pattison Pavilion: Paetzold Health Education Centre. The event will feature trainee presentations, keynote presentations, various panel presentations, and professional development sessions.

All graduate trainees, undergraduate trainees, medical students, medical residents, clinical fellows, and post-doctoral fellows conducting gynecologic cancer research are encouraged to submit an abstract. 

Those interested in submitting can learn more here: https://gynecancerinitiative.ca/trainee-research-day-2022-call-for-abstracts/ 

Canada Biomedical Research Fund: Call for Hub Proposals

HealthCareCAN has announced that the competition to select research hubs under the Canada Biomedical Research Fund has launched. 

Hubs are expected to be multidisciplinary, pursuing research programs that cut across the mandates of the three federal research funding agencies to drive innovation and include multiple partners (institutional, not-for-profit, private and/or public sectors). Proposals must demonstrate the research hub’s ability to significantly advance one or more of the Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy’s research priorities and be well positioned to scale up rapidly and compete globally.   

This is a two-stage competition: 

Stage 1 - Research hubs selection Applicants submit a Notice of Intent by May 19th, with applications due July 21st to the Canada Biomedical Research Fund. Three to five hubs will be selected and are eligible to receive up to $500,000 per year. Hub applicants must indicate how the funding requested would support their ability to significantly advance the Strategy and the strategic objectives of the funding opportunity. 

Stage 2 - Infrastructure requests for the selected hubs Selected research hubs can apply for funding between $500,000 and $5 million per year for infrastructure from the Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund to cover expenses related to collaborating and convening within their hub and across the hubs in Canada. This stage of the competition will launch in the summer. 

For more information on the Canada Biomedical Research Fund call for hub proposals, please click here.

We're looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow

BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre and Women’s Health Research Institute are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCP) led by Dr. Luis Nacul for a 1-year term with a possibility of extension subject to funding. The position will be physically located at BC Women’s Hospital Campus as part of Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia.

Join the Ogilvie lab!

The UBC School of Population and Public Health is seeking a Research Assistant for a 12-month appointment. The position will involve performing a variety of research activities in a research environment focused on cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) related diseases.

Duties include: data collection and data entry in various settings, ensuring participant compliance with study protocols, tracking of participants and results, review of research data collection protocols; assisting in preparation of various project and program documents, preparing presentations and literature reviews.

The Research Assistant will work under the supervision of the Program Manager and Principal Investigator and will work with other members of the HPV Related Diseases Research Team. The incumbent will have a work space at the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI), which is located at the BC Women's Hospital campus.

The primary activities of the Research Assistant include:

• Performs data collection, data entry and data management with competence and knowledge of study protocols, including ability to troubleshoot problems;
• Trains partners in the community on project protocols and procedures and monitors study progress in partner sites;
• Assists senior level team members with literature reviews, presentation preparations, and grant applications;
• Maintains and participates in the creation of research related documents (standard operating procedures, instructional material etc and databases);
• Assists with trainee and other program organization in the Ogilvie Laboratory;
• Enters data according to established protocols in a timely manner and facilitates compliance of project protocols for participants and community partners;
• Performs literature research and generates a variety of reports;
  Performs basic statistical analyses according to established protocols;
• Carries out any other related duties as required in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of positions in this classification.

View the full posting here. The posting closes at 11:59pm on April 12th.

Applications now open for 2022 Health Professional-Investigator competition

WACH program accepting applications

The UBC Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Pediatrics are collaborating on the development of an umbrella program for graduate student training in Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences (WACH). The term Women+ embraces women, transgender, and non-binary individuals.

Applications are now open - visit their website to learn more about the program and application process.

14th Annual Lectureship in Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery 2022

The University of British Columbia Lectureship in Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery was founded to promote an awareness of pelvic floor disorders, to create a forum for the presentation of treatment innovations, and new evidence of efficacy, and ultimately to improve the quality of life of women who suffer from pelvic floor disorders.  

The Lectureship includes two complimentary events, a Public Lecture and a Research Seminar. The lecture will be delivered at Grand Rounds on Wednesday 13th April at 7.45am. This year, Dr. Giulia Muraca, will join as the UBC Lecturer, presenting on “Maternal and neonatal trauma with operative vaginal delivery.”

Funding Updates

WOMEN’S HEALTH RESEARCH FUNDING NEWS

• Concept Note Deadline extended for Women RISE: Research to support women’s health and economic empowerment for a COVID-19 Recovery that is Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable – Concept Note Deadline April 12
• Tri-agency opens applications for Canada Biomedical Research Fund and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund – NOI Stage Deadline May 19, Full Application Deadline July 21

UPCOMING WOMEN’S HEALTH FUNDING

• 4/8 (Full) – Rethink Breast Cancer/Pzifer –  Request for Proposal (RFP) Quality Improvement Grant
• 4/12 (Concept); 7/21 (Full) – International Development Research Centre – Women’s health and economic empowerment for a COVID-19 Recovery that is Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable
• 4/15 (Full) – UBC Health – Health Innovation Funding Investment
• 4/18 (Full) – Gynecological Cancer Initiative – Barbara Berthon Ovarian Cancer Publication Prize
• 4/26 (LOI); 8/9 (Full) – New Frontiers in Research Fund – Research for post pandemic recovery
• 4/26 (Full) – CIHR – Catalyst Grant: HIV/AIDS and STBBI Community-Based Research
• 4/26 (Full) – CIHR – Operating Grant: HIV/AIDS and STBBI Community-Based Research
• 4/29 (Nom) – Research Canada – Leadership in Advocacy Award 
• 4/29 (LOI); 6/20 (Full) – Michael Smith Health Research BC – Health Professional-Investigator Program
• 4/30 (Full) – CIHR – Travel Awards: AIDS 2022 Conference
• 4/30 (Full) – Rural Coordination Centre of BC – Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative
• 4/30 (Full) – Rural Coordination Centre of BC – Rural Physician Research Grant Program
• 5/4 (Full) – CIHR – CPHO’s Report 2021: Future of Public Health
• 5/5 (Full) – UBC – Collaborative Research Mobility Awards

Need Assistance with Grant writing or Looking for Upcoming Funding Opportunities?

Check out the WHRI Research Funding Hub , Upcoming Funding Opportunities, and #WHRIfunding Twitter Feed. Email Eric Lussier for assistance with developing a research idea, finding funding, grants applications or grants revisions. I am available every Tuesday from 8am-4pm for virtual office hour meetings with WHRI researchers, or at other times by appointment.

Help Increase Diversity in Patient Engagement Research

The BC SUPPORT Unit Patient Engagement Methods cluster has created a suite of online educational modules has created a suite of online educational modules designed to support the inclusion of more diverse people in health research across British Columbia. The modules have been created through collaboration with diverse stakeholders and are now ready for evaluation - this initial project is seeking evaluation by health researchers.

The first module is a primer for engaging diverse people in research. The additional modules highlight how different methods for authentically engaging with members of LGBTQ2S+, d/Deaf, disabled, rural and remote, and immigrant, refugee, racialized, and ethnocultural communities.

If you are interested in participating in their study, or know anyone who might be, please click here. Evaluation of the modules and completion of the pre- and post-surveys takes approximately 30 minutes.