Summer 2019
In this issue:

News
  • 2019-2020 MSSU Student Award Recipients Announced
  • Myeloma Priority Setting Partnership is Online
  • Patient Advisor Profile: Sandra Kidston
  • Healthy Solutions - MSSU featured in Dalhousie Magazine
  • A Q&A with Dr. Ted MacDonald, NB-IRDT Director
  • Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research Training
  • Spotlight on Research Consultations
Upcoming Events
  • Patients' Den - Call for Abstracts (Deadline Aug. 16)
  • Save the Date: NS IHRIS Stakeholder Forums & MSSU Bridge Events
  • BRIC NS Call for Student Presenters
Funding Opportunities
  • CIHR Funding Opportunities for Patient-Oriented Research
2019-2020 MSSU Student Award Recipients Announced

We're pleased to announce the 14 recipients of the 2019-2020 MSSU Student Awards.  These awards are an important part of our commitment to developing capacity for patient-oriented research, and this year's competition represents an investment of $300,000 in the next generation of high-caliber researchers here in the Maritimes.


Myeloma Priority Setting Partnership is Online

The MSSU team in Saint John, New Brunswick has been busy supporting the Myeloma Priority Setting Partnership (PSP). This unique partnership is using the James Lind Alliance method to engage people living with myeloma, caregivers, and healthcare providers in identifying and prioritizing questions about myeloma that can be answered through research. As part of an ongoing effort to share information about MSSU priority research projects, we've set up a page with more information online.


Sandra Kidston
Meet Sandra Kidston, Patient Advisor

Get to know our patient advisors! Over the coming months, we'll be sharing their stories and learning about patient-oriented research from their perspectives.  This summer, we sat down with Sandra Kidston, a long-time patient advisor, to learn about her experience.
 
Healthy Solutions - MSSU featured in Dal Magazine

It's an exciting time to be a part of health-related research in Nova Scotia! The latest edition of Dal Magazine features the MSSU's collaboration with Dr. Cheryl Kozey as a part of an article about the Nova Scotia Integrated Health Research and Innovation Strategy (NS IHRIS), a new province-wide academic health research network. 

Dr Ted McDonald
Q&A with Dr. Ted McDonald

On April 23, 2019, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) launched the SPOR Canadian Data Platform, which involves all three Maritime Data Platforms. To mark the occasion, we sat down with NB-IRDT Director Dr. Ted McDonald to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that administrative health data present in the Maritimes, and the exciting new plans for connecting data across the country.
 
Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research Training

This summer, we were pleased to have  Colleen McGavin from the BC SUPPORT Unit , and Carla Heggie, MSSU Patient Advisor, co-facilitate CIHR SPOR's Foundations in Patient-Oriented Research training here in Halifax. The training took place over four days, from July 22-25 at the Atlantica Hotel. The first three days provided 26 participants from NS, NB, PEI and NL, including patients, staff, and researchers, the chance to learn the fundamentals of health research in Canada, be introduced to patient-oriented research and explore ways to build partnerships and work in teams. On the fourth day, we held the "Train the Trainer" session for 13 participants from across Atlantic Canada. These new trainers are now equipped to offer the POR Foundations training in the future. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Spotlight on Research Consultations
Research Consultations Picture
Infographic Research Consulations
Need help with patient-oriented research? 

Our team has a range of expertise and offers free research consultations to a variety of stakeholders in the health systems in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. We've recently updated the information about our research consultations on our website, which now includes a list of common services and an new form for requesting support.


Upcoming Events
Patients' Den 2019 - Call for Abstracts

On October 3, 2019, we'll be be teaming up again with the NB Network in Primary and Integrated Health Care Innovations (PIHCI) to co-host the second annual Patients' Den, where patient advisors will help set research priorities in New Brunswick. 

There will be two open-call prizes of $5,000 each, and two student prizes of $2,500 each. The funding is to be used to help support research teams with further developing their research ideas and/or the development of grant applications that respond to the NB PIHCI Priorities

This year's event will be facilitated by the Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe.


Save the Dates: NS IHRIS Stakeholder Forums & MSSU NS Bridge Events

The Nova Scotia Integrated Health Research and Innovation Strategy (NS IHRIS) is holding inaugural Stakeholder Forums to engage with stakeholders to collaboratively build an effective, robust health research and innovation ecosystem. 

Two NS IHRIS sessions are being held in conjunction with MSSU NS Bridge Events, which bring together health policy decision-makers, health care professionals, researchers, and patients and caregivers to address priority health topics. 

The event dates and locations are:
  • Tuesday, November 12 (8 am-12pm) - Central NS - Dalhousie University, McInnis Room (NS IHRIS Stakeholder Forum)
  • Thursday, November 14 (8 am-4 pm) - Eastern NS - Cape Breton University, Multi-purpose room (Joint NS IHRIS Stakeholder Forum/MSSU NS Bridge Event)
  • May/June 2020 (8 am-4 pm) - Western NS  - Location TBD (Joint NS IHRIS Stakeholder Forum/MSSU NS Bridge Event)
We will share more information about these events in due course.
BRIC NS Call for Student Presenters

Building Research for Integrated Primary Healthcare in Nova Scotia (BRIC NS) is looking for graduate students in Nova Scotia who are interested in presenting their research as a part of the popular BRIC NS Student Seminar Series. 

Presentations should be approximately 20-25 minutes and focused on primary and integrated health care research. This is a great opportunity to present your completed or in-progress research to a friendly audience, network, and receive feedback. Download the BRIC NS Poster to learn more or email bricns@dal.ca
Funding Opportunities
CIHR F unding Opportunities for Patient-Oriented Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced several funding opportunities for patient-oriented research. 

Project Grant: Fall 2019 Priority Announcement (Specific Research Areas)
Priority Announcements (PAs) offer additional sources of funding for highly rated applications that are relevant to specific research areas, including patient-oriented research.

Registration deadline: August 14, 2019
Application deadline: September 11, 2019


Operating Grant: POR Impact Assessment
Patient-Oriented Research Impact Assessment Grants aim to build capacity in Canada to conduct patient-oriented research impact assessments and to generate evidence of the impact of patient-oriented research to date. Impact assessment methods should seek to capture the wide diversity of health, social and economic impact, including better-informed public policy and decision making.

Application deadline: October 22, 2019


Operating Grant: SPOR Innovative Clinical Trial Multi-Year Grant
The SPOR innovative Clinical Trials (iCT) Initiative contributes to increasing Canadian competitiveness in iCT research and provides a stimulus for trialists to adopt new methodologies, enhance patient and clinician engagement in research, and build capacity and increase the intensity of iCT research. 

LOI deadline: August 28, 2019


Fellowship: POR Awards - Transition to Leadership Stream - Phase 1
The aim of the Patient-Oriented Research Awards - Transition to Leadership Stream is to support the timely career launch of the next generation of patient-oriented researchers.

Application deadline: November 14, 2019