Yesterday, the WHRI participated in #blackouttuesday, an initiative in observance of the long-standing racism and inequalities that exist throughout the world, in which platforms are muted in order for a day of reflection for future action. We paused on our planned content to take time to listen and learn. As we resume our online activity, it is imperative to ensure that our action does not end here. To guide our activity and action we call upon our WHRI values of:

• Women-centred
• Equity, diversity, and inclusivity
• Integrity
• Accountability

We must acknowledge that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) in Canada continue to experience systemic barriers to inclusion in research, accessing healthcare, and further barriers in finding healthcare that is safe and affirming.

Two immediate actions will be taken, this week and beyond.

1. We will intentionally support and promote BIPOC content across our communication channels. We hope that this will demonstrate our commitment to a) awareness and b) change. We also hope these efforts will empower our staff, researchers, clinicians, decision-makers, community, and public partners to do the same.
2. We will commit to responding to the lack of evidence, and overrepresentation of black women in significant chronic illness. We will do this through: 1) research facilitation that design and operationalize inclusive research protocols; 2) adjudication of grants and scholarship funding applications, and 3) partnerships we form with members of BIPOC community to ensure research is generated accordingly to patient-oriented research principles.

Instances of racism, intolerance, exclusion, violence, and discrimination have no place in the research we do, the places we work, or the society in which we live. 

We stand by the responses of our academic and health authority partner leaders in their commitments and calls-to-action.  As a UBC Faculty of Medicine Research Centre, we applaud the acknowledgement and commitment to action against systemic racism of President Santa J. Ono . We also encourage those within PHSA to watch and disseminate PHSA President & CEO Benoit Morin’s message as a reminder of our institutional values and PHSA’s role in standing up against systemic racism.

Pregnant During the Pandemic

 A national survey called “Pregnant during the pandemic”, led by University of Calgary (U of C) researchers, Drs Catherine Lebel, Gerry Giesbrecht, and Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen have heard from thousands of Canadian women to date — including hundreds from British Columbia. The survey is capturing experiences of pregnant women and how they  are coping during this time.

A collaboration between these U of C researchers and University of British Columbia researchers Drs Gillian Hanley and Tim Oberlander are asking BC respondents to link their answers with population-based administrative datasets in BC. This BC-based study will allow for a more in-depth study of the long-term outcomes for mothers and their babies resulting from increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression, the changes to the medical care and the increased isolation pregnant women experienced during the pandemic.

Member Spotlight: Dr. Luis Nacul

By Travis Boulter, Research Assistant

This year for International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases we turned our research spotlight on one of our newer WHRI members, Dr. Luis Nacul!

Dr. Nacul has been a researcher for over 20 years, and has been involved in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) research for over a decade.

In his first year as the Medical and Research Director of the Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP) at BC Women’s Hospital, Dr. Nacul has been leading the way in facilitating new and existing research at the CCDP. Since he started in this position he has been part of three successful grants and officially took over as Principal Investigator for the CCDP Data Registry – a 5 year longitudinal data registry for patients referred to the program. 

SAVE THE DATE

As research teams pivot in our new virtual environment, social media is becoming an important tool to support our community's work. 

The WHRI is pleased to offer our first Summer Social Media Series, 4-part workshop to support your social media needs. The workshop includes lectures, group discussions, and breakout sessions.

The WHRI Catalyst Grant Competition is open!

The Women’s Health Research Institute, in partnership with the BC Women ‘s Health Foundation, is pleased to announce a Catalyst Grant competition for the advancement of knowledge in women’s and newborn’s health.

A total of six awards will be awarded at $25,000 each. These Pilot Grants are an open competition with respect to funding a project in women’s and/or newborn’s health. Awards are open to BC researchers at a university or research hospital setting, but candidates must be a member of the WHRI. Eligible researchers include post-doctoral fellows, clinical fellows, research associates, clinician investigators and academic researchers.

LOI Deadline: June 10th, 2020

New episode of @WomensResearch

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"Why Women's Health Research"
Episode 3 of @WomensResearch featuring Dr. Arianne Albert and Dr. Liisa Galea!