Congratulations to the recipients of the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Partnering for Impact Catalyst Grants, and the researchers awarded Health System Impact Fellowships. WHRI members were represented in both these competitions, and the successful applicants are bringing women’s health to the forefront of improvements to the health system and to patient care.
Partnering for Impact Catalyst Grants
Project HESHIMA: Honoring Every Stillbirth through Shared Healing and Innovation for Maternity Equity in Africa
Link to Abstract: Here
Principal Investigator(s):
Marianne Vidler
Angela Koech
Institution Paid:
University of British Columbia
Program Competition:
Catalyst Grant: Partnering for Impact – IPPH – Global Health
Competition (year/month):
2025/10
Amounts:
$124,905
$0 equipment
1 yr 0 mth
Partnering for Period Pain: Co-designing a web-based period pain education tool with youth and healthcare providers
Link to Abstract: Here
Principal Investigator:
Paul Yong
Kristina Arion
Dream B Tuitt-Barnes
Michelle Gagnon
Institution Paid:
University of British Columbia
Program Competition:
Catalyst Grant: Partnering for Impact – Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research
Competition (year/month):
2025/10
Amounts:
$124,934
$0 equipment
1 yr 0 mth
Charter on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of People in Prisons in Canada
Link to Abstract: Here
Principal Investigator:
Martha J Paynter
Nicole Y Kish
Institution Paid:
University of British Columbia
Program Competition:
Catalyst Grant: Partnering for Impact – Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research
Competition (year/month):
2025/10
Amounts:
$148,870
$0 equipment
1 yr 0 mth
Health System Impact Fellows
WHRI member Dr. Elizabeth Nethery was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship for her work investigating equitable access to contraception in BC. The WHRI is also represented by members who serve as Health System mentors to additional Fellows.
Free Birth Control in BC: Who Is Still Being Left Behind?
Name:
Host Partner Organization:
BC Ministry of Health
Location (city, province):
Victoria, BC
Academic Institution:
University of British Columbia
Academic Mentor:
Health System Mentor:
Maryna Korchagina
PhD or Post-doctoral Fellowship:
Post-doctoral Fellowship
Fellowship funder(s):
CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (CIHR-IGH)
About this Fellowship Program of Work:
Universal coverage does not guarantee equitable access. My embedded research applies population-level data and policy evaluation methods to understand how health policies shape access to care. Through my fellowship, I will evaluate British Columbia’s free contraception policy to identify who benefits and where inequities remain, generating evidence to guide more equitable reproductive health policies that improve access for all.
Strengthening Early Career Nurse Practitioner Workforce Integration: Understanding How Role Transition Impacts Retention and System Performance
Name:
Rebecca Bingley
Host Partner Organization:
Fraser Health Authority
Location (city, province):
Vancouver, BC
Academic Institution:
University of British Columbia
Academic Mentor:
Health System Mentor:
Dr. Laura Housden
PhD or Post-doctoral Fellowship:
PhD Fellowship
Fellowship funder(s):
CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (CIHR-IHSPR) & Michael Smith Health Research BC
About this Fellowship Program of Work:
My embedded research focuses on the transition of early career nurse practitioners into clinical practice in British Columbia. I am pursuing this work to strengthen health workforce integration and support new nurse practitioners during a critical career stage. I hope to generate evidence that informs transition supports, improves workforce retention, and contributes to a more sustainable health care system.
Supporting Recovery: Trauma-Informed Treatment for Women with Concurrent Disorders
Name:
Ekatrina Kiddie
Host Partner Organization:
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Location (city, province):
Vancouver, British Columbia
Academic Institution:
Simon Fraser University
Academic Mentor:
Stephen Hart
Health System Mentor:
Tonia Nicholls
PhD or Post-doctoral Fellowship:
PhD Fellowship
Fellowship funder(s):
CIHR Institute of Gender and Health (IGH)
About this Fellowship Program of Work:
Women with co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges often experience repeated involvement with health, social, and justice systems. My research examines how trauma-informed treatment at the Heartwood Centre for Women may disrupt this cycle by supporting recovery, reducing trauma-related symptoms, and improving women’s treatment outcomes. Through this work, I aim to advance evidence-based and gender-responsive care for women with complex needs.