Graduate Research Earns Prestigious CIHR Award

(July 10, 2009 - Thunder Bay, ON) Sacha Dubois, a Lakehead University Master of Public Health (MPH) graduate, was awarded the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Aging Age+ Award for his paper titled "The Impact of Benzodiazepines on Safe Driving." This paper was part of Dubois' MPH thesis and was co-authored by Dr. Michel Bédard and Mr. Bruce Weaver.

The CIHR Institute of Aging Age+ Award, valued at $1000, recognizes excellence in research on aging carried out by emerging Canadian scholars. This is only the second time a student who is part of a Lakehead University academic program has received this award. The other Lakehead student to receive this award was Mun Tran, a clinical psychology graduate student supervised by Dr. Bédard in 2007.

Apart from receiving such a prestigious award, Dubois has also had a second paper produced from his Masters' thesis accepted for publication in Accident Analysis and Prevention - a top-ranked Transportation Safety journal. This second paper is entitled "The Association Between Opioid Analgesics and Unsafe Driving Actions Preceding Fatal Crashes" and will be in-press shortly.

Dr. Bédard noted, "It is truly exceptional that a student would not only receive this award, but would also get published in a highly regarded journal."

Dubois added that he believes "a thesis-based Masters which produces two publications, one of which is recognized by a major Canadian health research funding agency, emphasizes the strength of the Lakehead University MPH academic research team involved. Further, it is an indication of the research potential and opportunities for synergy that are part of the MPH program at Lakehead."

Dubois said, "I'm grateful that our work was recognized by CIHR and proud to have an MPH degree from Lakehead University. The challenge now is to continue this important research, and I am excited to do this with both Lakehead's Centre for Research on Safe Driving and the St Joseph's Care Group Research Department."

Details on Sacha Dubois' project can be found on the CIHR website.

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Media: Sacha Dubois is available for interviews by contacting Jasmine Durham at 807-343-8177

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,900 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.