Check out the latest Lake Superior Living Labs Network (LSLLN) newsletter. This month, we share the recording of our LSLLN webinar The Thin Outdoors: Creating a Culture of Fat Inclusion in Outdoor Recreation, details about our next webinar Fate and Effects of Plastics in the Great Lakes, additional events in the Lake Superior watershed, and an update from the SSM hub.
Check out the CERAH E-Blast for March 2023.
March 2, 2023 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.
Lakehead University held its Research and Innovation Awards of Excellence reception on Thursday, March 2 to celebrate the exceptional achievements of professors, partners, and students.
Lakehead named Dr. Vicki Kristman and Dr. Scott Hamilton as the 2023 Distinguished Researchers for their work in health sciences and social sciences and humanities.
Dr. Kristman is a professor in the Department of Health Sciences who is the Director and Senior Scientist with the Enhancing the Prevention of Injury and Disability at Work Research Institute.
“I'd like to thank the Senate Research Committee for recognizing the quality and importance of my research in injury and disability prevention in the workplace through this award,” Dr. Kristman said.
“I'd also like to thank all of my past professors and mentors, who honed my epidemiological and research skills.”he said her current colleagues in the Department of Health Sciences deserve special recognition for challenging her on her ideas and supporting her when she needed it.
“I'd also like to recognize the Senate of Lakehead University for giving me the opportunity to develop and initiate the EPID@Work Research Institute. A special nod goes to all the workers, workplaces, and other community members who have participated or co-developed research projects with me.”
Dr. Kristman thanked the funding agencies for supporting this research, including CIHR, SSHRC, Mitacs, the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, and WorkSafeBC, among others.
“A special thanks to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for supporting the EPID@Work Research Institute, but in particular the Prevention division, including Chief Prevention Officer Dr. Joel Moody, Bill Roy, and Steven Boyd, for recognizing the value that EPID@Work brings to health, safety, and injury and disability prevention in Northwestern Ontario.”
This research would not have been possible without the team, Dr. Kristman said, including EPID’s past and present trainees, research assistants, collaborators, co-investigators, management and advisory boards, and most recently the new EPID staff.
“Big problems take a lot of great minds to tackle and, although we've done well so far, I'm confident that we have the right people to do many more amazing things.
“Finally, I'd like to thank my parents for instilling in me a strong work ethic and moral principles that guide my everyday actions and decisions,” she said.
Dr. Hamilton joined Lakehead’s Department of Anthropology in 1988 with a two-pronged research program – one was conventional academic research and the other emphasized applied research that gradually shifted to community-engaged research service.
His primary field of study is the archaeology of the Canadian northern plains and subarctic, along with fur trade archaeology and ethnohistory.
“My academic research has involved six major SSHRC-funded projects,” he said.
“Receiving the Distinguished Researcher Award is particularly important to me as I begin my 35th year at Lakehead University,” Dr. Hamilton said.
Dr. Hamilton said working at Lakehead University allowed him to teach at the undergraduate and graduate level, and to do sustained regional research.
“It allowed me to help train students who have become my professional colleagues, and to do both academic and applied research.
“The latter is particularly important to me since it allowed development of working relationships with several northern Ontario First Nations, the freedom to explore an enormous ‘research hinterland’, and to continue to learn,” Dr. Hamilton said.
“I thank my colleagues for the nomination and letters of support, and the Senate Research Committee for selecting me for this honor.
Dr. Andrew P. Dean said the awards ceremony is a highlight of the year for Research and Innovation and he is exceptionally proud of all Lakehead award recipients.
“Our Awards of Excellence is a special event for acknowledging the tremendous research accomplishments at Lakehead University,” Dr. Dean said.
“Congratulations to each winner. A special recognition goes to Professors Scott Hamilton and Vicki Kristman. Receiving the Distinguished Researcher Award is a well-deserved honour.”
Award Recipients
Three-Minute Thesis
Three-Minute Research Award
Graduate Studies Research Excellence Awards
Natural Sciences and Engineering Category
Social Sciences and Humanities Category
Graduate Student Conference Poster Winners
Winner Engineering Category
Winners NSERC Category
(All were supervised by Dr. Thangarajah Akilan)
Winner SSHRC Category
Innovation Award
Post-Doctoral Fellow Excellence Award – this year there is a tie
Building Research Capacity Award
Senate Research Committee Awards
Research Support Award
Research Excellence Awards
Distinguished Researcher Award
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
February 24, 2023 – Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ont.
Lakehead University has been awarded $33,934 from the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) to work with Fanshawe College on two projects exploring the development of new pathways into Arts, Applied Science, and Technology programs.
Both projects are being led by Kaylin Kainulainen, a doctoral student in Educational Studies in the field of Cognition and Learning at Lakehead University, where her research focuses on student mobility and transfer.
“Transfer is about getting students where they want to go as quickly and efficiently as possible. Lakehead and Fanshawe have an impressive track record of building pathways that meet student needs and ONCAT is excited to continue to support this important work,” said Adrienne Galway, Executive Director at ONCAT.
The first project “Exploring Opportunities for General Arts and Science Graduates” has been awarded $11,768 to explore the opportunities associated with the General Arts and Science programs at Fanshawe College.
This project will determine the potential for establishing new and enhancing existing pathways from the General Arts and Science certificate (GAP) and diploma (GAS) into a variety of degreed programs in the faculties of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Science and Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences and Humanities.
Building upon a previous ONCAT funded project, Lakehead University has also received $22,166 to work with Fanshawe College to create a series of “Bi-directional Pathway Opportunities for Students in Applied Science and Technology programs.”
The two institutions will explore how to decrease the time-to-completion from Honours Bachelor of Science (Chemistry Major) to the Chemical Laboratory Technology (CLT), explore the feasibility of an alternate pathway from Honours Bachelor of Science (Biology and Chemistry Major) to the CLT, and to add further complementary bi-directional pathways between other programs at both institutions.
“These projects were both initiated based on the existing relationship between Fanshawe College and Lakehead University and our mutual interest in increasing student mobility opportunities in our degree programming delivered in both Orillia and Thunder Bay,” said Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Associate Vice-Provost (Academic) at Lakehead University.
“External pathways to and from Lakehead University not only benefit the students who pursue them, but also contribute to the overall growth and development of the Ontario workforce,” said Jason Burt, Associate Dean of Applied Science and Technology at Fanshawe College.
“By offering opportunities for individuals to obtain complementary credentials at both Fanshawe and Lakehead, they are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in today's competitive job market and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the province as a whole,” Burt said.
“Lakehead University has a history of developing and delivering a broad range of high-quality programs,” said Dr. David Barnett, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Lakehead University.
“These two projects contribute to our goal of developing new and innovative collaborative learning options to meet the needs of learners and to equip them with the skills and experiences required to succeed.”
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Established in 2011, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) was created to enhance academic pathways and reduce barriers for students looking to transfer among Ontario’s public colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes. For more information, visit www.oncat.ca. ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario. Visit https://www.oncat.ca
Lakehead's President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Moira McPherson, will participate in this year's Research and Innovation Week, running from Feb. 27 to March 2.
February 23, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.
Lakehead University will hold its 18th annual Research and Innovation Week from Monday, Feb. 27 until Thursday, March 2.
For the first time since before the pandemic, nearly all Research and Innovation Week events will be in person.
The theme for this year’s Research and Innovation Week is Improving Our Lives Through Research.
“Curiosity propels researchers to discover life’s mysteries, and research enables them to improve every aspect of society,” said Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation.
“Researchers strive to make the world an exceptional place, and work to make the present and future brighter as they learn from the past.”
Dr. Dean is excited to see people on campus again for Research and Innovation Week.
He is expecting a large turnout at the opening ceremonies on Monday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 am in the Agora.
Then, at 12:30 pm keynote speaker Julie Angus will describe what it was like to row across the Atlantic Ocean and the importance of setting goals to achieve your dreams. Her keynote talk will be in the Faculty Lounge. Registration is required.
Also on Monday – at 2:30 pm in Senate chambers a panel will discuss three current opportunities for employers, employees, students, and researchers to get involved with community-based research.
The following researchers will participate from the Enhancing the Prevention of Injury and Disability at Work research centre: Drs. Kathy Sanderson, Deborah Scharf, and Vicki Kristman.
The public will learn about new projects on mental health stigma, improving sleep for high-risk workers, and an upcoming cohort study.
At 4 pm on Monday, everyone is invited to join curator Pauline Sameshima for an inspiring tour of Lakehead's new juried and featured art in the CASES Building.
Select artists will be on hand to discuss their works. This tour will include a wide variety of creative pieces of art. You can chat with the artists about their creative processes, and learn how arts and integrated research can engage, provoke and share research through different mediums.
On Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 4 pm in the Faculty Lounge, Lakehead University’s Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Development will host Ignite – Trivia Edition, where three speakers will showcase their research, project, innovation or journey.
Speakers will include Dr. Nathan Basiliko, from the Faculty of Natural Resources Management; Maxwell Robinson, an Ingenuity Ascend Graduate; and Dr. Anna Koné from Health Sciences.
The event will incorporate interactive presentation software that will allow you to learn more about current research and partnerships while participating in a fun and interactive way.
This will provide participants with an opportunity to network, form teams, and win prizes. Registration is required.
On Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 pm in ATAC room 1001, Prof. Vijay Mago will discuss large language models and the changing landscape of natural language processing research.
In this research presentation, Prof. Mago will introduce the applications and novelties of natural language processing-based solutions to better tackle the computational, as well as ethical issues arising from the domains of education, political discourses on social media and news channels, and the emotions expressed in conversation.
On Thursday, March 2 at 11 am, Lakehead English professor Monica Flegel will discuss how the internet changed fandom and how fandom changed politics.
Media fandom has been an object of academic inquiry since the 1990s, with much of the early theories of fandom describing it as a largely subversive subculture. However, media fandom became increasingly mainstream with the rise of digital culture in the second decade of the 21st century.
This has led to conflicts between fans, and between fans and producers, over who gets to speak for fans, and what power they should have to shape contemporary popular culture.
Prof. Flegel will discuss the history of media fandom and its transformation over time, with a focus on how the mainstreaming of fandom has influenced current political discourse in the U.S. and Canada.
Lakehead University will hold Prof. Flegel’s talk in the Ingenuity Theatre located in the CASES building.
Visit lakeheadu.ca/ri to register for events and for more information.
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Julie Angus
February 21, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.
Julie Angus will be the keynote speaker at Lakehead University’s Research and Innovation Week on Monday, Feb. 27 at 12:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge.
Angus – who is an author, a scientist, and an entrepreneur – will describe what it was like for her and her partner Colin to row across the Atlantic Ocean over five months in 2005-2006.
They began their 10,000 km journey in Lisbon, Portugal and ended it in Limon, Costa Rica.
“I wanted to explore the ocean and push myself mentally and physically,” Angus said.
A year before the expedition, the pair began training with the Vancouver rowing club to learn how to row and build up strength.
Over the five-month trip, Angus realized the ocean is a beautiful place and that most people will never see it so far from shore.
“It also made me think about how that difficulty in exploring and monitoring our oceans leads to challenges protecting it and sustainably growing the ocean industry.
“That eventually led to the creation of Open Ocean Robotics, a company I co-founded and am CEO of that produces autonomous boats for ocean monitoring.”
The pair experienced two hurricanes – one out of season and the other in a part of the ocean that had never before seen a hurricane. “Those were very challenging conditions,” she said.
The journey gave Angus a much deeper respect and appreciation for the ocean and its wildlife.
“It was also a very humbling experience because you look around at the marine mammals, fish, birds who all are adapted to this extremely challenging environment where we struggle to survive.”
Angus and her husband Colin founded Open Ocean Robotics to protect the sustainability of oceans using solar powered, autonomous boats.
“These vessels can go out for weeks or months at a time collecting a range of data to better understand, protect, or operate on oceans,” she said.
They started the company in their garage four years ago and have now grown it to more than 30 employees with a range of customers and projects from around the world.
“We largely provide services in environmental monitoring, marine mammal monitoring, and security, including illegal fishing enforcement,” she said.
Goal setting is very important, she said, when you want to achieve your dreams.
“We need a North Star to guide us and a staged approach to achieving those dreams, along with the ability to adapt to the unforeseen circumstances that will undoubtedly arise.”
Angus will present her keynote speech after Lakehead University’s Research and Innovation Week opening ceremonies, which the public can also attend.
For more information or to register, visit www.lakeheadu.ca/ri.
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Michael Pal
February 13, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.
Democracy is fragile and we should not be complacent about it in Canada.
Michael Pal, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, will discuss the state of Canadian and global democracy in his Harold G. Fox Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 7 to 8:30 pm.
Lakehead University cordially invites you to this talk in the Paterson Auditorium at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (PACI) at 401 Red River Rd.
“The risks to democracy globally have evolved,” said Pal, who primarily researches the law of democracy, comparative constitutional law, and election law.
“The idea of military coups and so on from the history books are not the main risk today. Instead, what we see around the world is the gradual erosion of free and fair elections and the institutions that support democracy.”
Called “Could it happen here? Canada and the Crisis of Global Democracy,” Pal will outline some of the challenges faced by democracy in Canada and around the world. He said there are definitely signs that democracy is in crisis.
“The health of elections is the primary one. They need to be competitive, open, and free and fair. Laws that restrict political competition and free and fair elections are a clear sign of trouble,” he said.
Attacks on the legitimacy of criticism of the government or on the legitimacy of the institutions that hold governments accountable are another sign.
“The judiciary is another potential check on misuse of state power. Attacks on judicial independence tend to be front and centre as well where democracy is under threat.”
Pal pointed to some events from Donald Trump’s time as president to suggest that individuals can cause problems that deepen into a crisis in democracy.
“The Trump years do show us that the impact of particular leaders can be significant, especially if democracy has already been weakened. But the U.S. had long-standing issues, including gerrymandering, voter suppression, and partisan election administration that pre-date Trump.
“January 6 was obviously a low point for American democracy. The attempt to copy it in Brazil recently shows how anti-democratic movements and ideas can have global impact from their point of origin.”
Pal said there are some common themes that can occur in countries where democracy is in crisis.
“We shouldn't over-generalize from the U.S. experience, which is unique among long-standing democracies. But there is a global crisis of democracy that has some common threads.
“Governments win power, but then shift election law so that elections are no longer truly free and fair. Constitutions are amended in ways that harm minorities but also further entrench the governing party.
“Entities that hold governments to account - the Opposition, the media, universities, and independent agencies like election commissions – are undermined or disempowered. This is the ‘playbook’ of would-be authoritarians,” he said.
“Canadian democracy is stronger and more robust than many of our peers. But it would be folly to assume it will always be that way.”
Pal believes complacency is the biggest threat to democracy.
“Voter turnout and other measures of participation in democracy are down. Some – though not all – opinion polling of people's faith in democracy show worrying trends, so we need to give people a reason to renew their belief in democracy and their desire to be involved, as well as open up new pathways for people to participate.
“We need to learn from what other countries have done in trying to protect their elections and democratic systems.”
Pal hopes this discussion will not make people feel pessimistic, but instead renew their commitment to preserving democracy.
This lecture is made possible by the Harold G. Fox Education Fund.
To register for this free lecture click here: https://tinyurl.com/bdcrxndv.
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University’s 18th annual Research and Innovation Week will be here soon. Register now for these events and more!
Research and Innovation Week Opening Ceremonies
Lakehead University's 18th Annual Research & Innovation Week will be celebrated in Thunder Bay from February 27 – March 2, 2023 with the theme Improving our Lives through Research.
You are cordially invited to attend:
Opening Ceremonies
Join us in launching the 18th Annual Research & Innovation Week with greetings from dignitaries and a proclamation from the City of Thunder Bay.
Date: Monday, February 27, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Lakehead University, Agora
No registration is required for opening ceremonies.
Rowing Across the Atlantic: Strategies to Reach Your Goals - Monday, Feb. 27
Join us for a luncheon with Keynote Speaker, Julie Angus, CEO and co-founder of Open Ocean Robotics, on Monday, Feb. 27 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge.
Registration required. Please register by Monday, Feb. 20 at: http://bit.ly/3JCmiVR
About the Speaker
Julie Angus is a leading adventurer, bestselling author, scientist, and entrepreneur. She was awarded National Geographic’s “Adventurer of the Year” award when she became the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland. She is currently the CEO and co-founder of Open Ocean Robotics, a marine drone company that is transforming how we understand and protect our oceans. Julie has an honorary doctorate from McMaster University and is a Royal Canadian Geographic Society Fellow. In 2020, she was awarded Innovator of the Year by BC Business, and in 2021 she was recognized as Industry Icon by the BC Cleantech Industry.
Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean seemed impossible at times – the distance was too vast and the obstacles too great. Yet through goal setting, managing risk, perseverance and dealing with the unexpected, including two hurricanes, Julie crossed 10,000 km of open ocean. By juxtaposing the difficulties she faced to the challenges in our business and personal lives, Julie offers an insightful and entertaining perspective on how to overcome our fears, learn more about ourselves, and set goals that help us reach our ambitions.
Ignite - Trivia Edition - Tuesday, Feb. 28
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 - 4:00 to 6 pm EST
Event Location: Lakehead University Faculty Lounge
IPED invites you to an early evening of trivia fun where three speakers will showcase their research, project, innovation or journey. Interactive presentation software will allow our audience to: learn more about current research and partnerships; participate in a fun and interactive way; and provide an opportunity to network, form teams and win prizes.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? This event is open to all students, faculty and staff from any department as well as business, industry, not-for-profit groups, and all levels of governments throughout the region.
4:00PM............................Registration and Networking
4:30PM............................Welcome - Presentations begin
5:45PM............................Closing Remarks
Lakehead University's Ingenuity - On Campus Student Business Incubator Space
Thunder Bay's Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC)
To register for this event, please click here.
18th annual Research and Innovation Awards of Excellence - Thursday, March 2
Join us as we honour Lakehead University’s outstanding researchers. We will celebrate the achievements of faculty members, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows as well as the contributions made by our valued research partners and sponsors. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, March 2
4 to 6 pm
Faculty Lounge
4:00PM............................Registration and Networking
4:30PM............................Welcome - Awards presentation begins
6:00PM............................Closing Remarks
Free on-campus parking.
To register, please click here. Please register by Friday, February 24, 2023.
For the full events schedule visit www.lakeheadu.ca/ri.
February 9, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is providing more than $1.3 million in grants to researchers at Lakehead University.
Dr. Alla Reznik is a Physics Professor at Lakehead University and a scientist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute who is receiving $738,226 to explore a new way to diagnose prostate cancer in men.
“The goal of this research is to improve prostate cancer diagnosis by accurately establishing where in the broad spectrum of this disease a particular tumor lies and to identify its true aggressiveness,” said Dr. Reznik, who is the Canada Research Chair in the Physics of Radiation Medical Imaging.
She and her team will achieve this goal over five years by developing a next-generation imaging system based on a combination of prostate-targeted Positron Emission Tomography and transrectal ultrasound imaging.
“Our research will advance the field of prostate cancer detection beyond the current standard of care and will result in an improvement of prostate cancer survival – yielding significant clinical benefits,” Dr. Reznik said.
Her co-applicants include researchers from the London Regional Cancer Program, and the University of Western Ontario. Radialis Medical is the partner organization.
Two PhD students and one Master of Science student will assist with this research.
Dr. Anna Kone, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, is receiving more than $293,000 to assess and understand the impacts of the pandemic on people from Black and Indigenous communities who have chronic diseases.
She and her team will perform this important research over two years.
“In the midst of the pandemic, there were reductions in service offerings to respond to the crisis,” Dr. Kone said.
“Inevitably, this impacted the care of those already having difficulty navigating the system for their ongoing health needs, including patients with cancer, diabetes, dementia, etc.,” she said.
Dr. Kone will provide recommendations for policy responses and care approaches, informed by anti-oppressive and intersectional ways, overall and for future emergencies.
She and her team will use a mixed-method approach including a survey and interviews. The study will look at Northwestern Ontario, including rural areas and Indigenous communities, plus Black communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Dr. Lana Ray, from Lakehead’s Department of Indigenous Learning, and Dr. Elaine Wiersma from Lakehead’s Department of Health Sciences, are assisting in this study along with researchers from the University of Toronto.
Multiple Indigenous and Black community-based organizations are also involved and partners in the study, including Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Health Access Centre (WNHAC), the Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre, Entité 3, and Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority.
Two first-year Master of Health Sciences students are participating in the research and a recent Master of Public Health graduate is the research coordinator.
Dr. Christopher Mushquash, a Psychology Professor at Lakehead University, and his team are receiving a $250,000 grant to develop content-specific and culturally relevant practices that will transform youth mental health services in Indigenous contexts.
Dr. Mushquash is a clinical psychologist. He is a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction, a professor at NOSM University, Vice-President of Research at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), and Chief Scientist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI).
The team will conduct this research over one year on behalf of Access Open Minds, the first pan-Canadian youth mental health network.
Six Indigenous community partners are included in the research: Elsipogtog First Nation (NB), Eskasoni First Nation (NS), Sturgeon Lake First Nation (Sask.), Puvirnituq (Nunavik, Que.), the Cree Nation of Mistissini (Que.), and Ulukhaktok (Inuvialuit Settlement Region, NWT).
Access Open Minds has informed the development of and has since collaborated with provincial integrated youth service networks, such as Aire Ouverte, Foundry, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario/YWHO).
AOM is a network of youth mental health service providers, researchers, families and youth who have been working over the past seven years to test and evaluate a transformed method of providing youth mental health care.
“Our team will develop wise practices and recommendations for the implementation of context specific and culturally relevant youth services in Indigenous contexts, informed by an understanding of the experiences and perspectives of Indigenous community sites and stakeholders,” Dr. Mushquash said.
“We will be guided by a community participatory approach grounded in Indigenous knowledge and approaches as guided by the AOM Indigenous Council. We will employ multiple methods to meet the research objectives including a case study approach to generate a narrative case study for each of the six Indigenous sites,” he added.
Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation congratulated each researcher who received a grant and thanked the CIHR for funding these important projects.
“Lakehead University continues to be a leader in health science research in Northwestern Ontario. As these projects demonstrate, we have amazing diversity and extremely applied research in many important areas in health sciences.”
In 2021/22, Lakehead University received nearly $2 million in assistance from the Research Support Fund to support the indirect costs of research, which includes costs for supporting the management of intellectual property, research and administration, ethics and regulatory compliance, research resources, and research facilities.
New CIHR Grants 2022
Total funding: $1,381,604.
Catalyst Grant: Quadruple Aim and Equity – One-Year Grant
Dr. Brianne Wood, Adjunct Professor, Department of Health Sciences, “Mobilizing and Evaluating a Multi-level Learning Health System: Examining the Influence and Impacts of Northern, Rural, and Remote Context”, $100,000.
o Kelly Meservia-Collins, NOSM University Centre for Social Accountability
o Dr. Erin Cameron, Northern Ontario School of Medicine University
o Dr. Christopher Mushquash, Director of the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, Lakehead University, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health, Department of Psychology, Chief Scientist, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute
o Andrea Raynak, Lakehead University
o Bonnie Nicholas, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Implementation Science on Standards for Integrated Youth Services in Canada Grant – One-Year Grant
Dr. Chris Mushquash, Department of Psychology, “Lakehead University, “Developing Context-specific and Culturally Relevant Wise Practices for Transforming Youth Mental Health Services in Indigenous Contexts”, $250,000.
o Dr. Srividya Iyer, McGill University
o Dr. Paul Arnold, University of Calgary
o Lacey Augustine, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Dr. Skye Barbic, University of British Columbia
o Dr. Patricia Boksa, McGill University
o Gregory Brass, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Dr. Gina Dimitropoulos, University of Calgary
o Dr. Manuela Ferrari, McGill University
o Laura Gagnon, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Toronto)
o Hayley Gould, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Katherine Hay, Alberta Health Services
o Dr. Joanna Henderson, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Toronto)
o Dr. Renee Linklater, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Toronto)
o Aileen MacKinnon, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Carolyn Melro, Dalhousie University
o Dr. Aislin Mushquash, Department of Psychology, Lakehead University
o Dr. Valerie Noel, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Dr. Jai Shah, McGill University
o Dr. Elaine Toombs, Department of Psychology, Lakehead University
o Cliff Ballantyne, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Dr. Heather Rudderham, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Edmund Morris, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Casey Eagle Speaker, Hull Services
o Meghan Etter, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Karlee Francis, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Norma Rabbitskin, ACCESS Open Minds (Montreal)
o Ruth Scalplock, Hull Services
o Valerie Sipos, Hull Services
Operating Grant: Addressing the Wider Health Impacts of COVID-19 – Two-Year Grant
Dr. Anna Kone, Department of Health Sciences, “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Response on Chronic Disease Management (CDM) and Quality of Life (QOL) Among Indigenous and Black Communities in Ontario”, $293,378.
o Dr. Lana Ray, Department of Indigenous Learning
o Dr. Miranda Lesperance, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
o Dr. Notisha Massaquoi, University of Toronto
o Dr. Elaine Wiersma, Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University
o Wangari Tharao, Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre
o Serena Joseph, Executive Director, Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Health Access Centre
Project Grant – Five-Year Grant
Dr. Alla Reznik, Department of Physics, “Prostate-targeted PET/TRUS Dual-modality Imaging System for Diagnosis and Image-guided Biopsy”, $738,226.
o Dr. Glenn Bauman, London Regional Cancer Program
o Dr. Aaron Fenster, Robarts Research Institute - U.W.O. (London, Ont.)
o Dr. Stephen Pautler, University of Western Ontario
o Radialis Medical
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
