ATI in the News: Undergrad took prof’s advice and discovered the exciting possibilities of research

Some of the most memorable learning experiences at university don’t necessarily happen in a classroom. Undergraduate student Janine Pelletier spent her summer participating in a unique learning opportunity. She used her time to conduct research on the barriers that stop teachers from using Trauma Informed Practices effectively within schools to help refugee students. Read complete story here…

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Reminder: CDTRP Research Innovation Grant (February 13)

The primary objective of the CDTRP Research Innovation Grant competition is to support new peer-reviewed pilot research projects that align with CDTRP’s One-Transplant-for-Life vision, which is to fulfill every donor opportunity and turn transplant into a cure. These projects must be new stand-alone studies that align with one (1) of five (5) themes of the CDTRP and should be used to generate preliminary data to support further investigation. The five (5) CDTRP Themes are:

1. Create a culture of donation
2. Inform universal practices for donation
3. Engineer and allocate a better graft
4. Tailor an optimal immune system for each patient
5. Restore long-term health

Grant recipients are expected to integrate their proposed study within the CDTRP research structure.

The total value of the competition is $510,000 and each grant is a total of $30,000 CDN each, enough to support 17 grants.

Of the $510,000, we will support grants in the following strategic areas:

• six (6) grants of $30,000 CDN/each to support new research that addresses the One-Transplant-for-Life vision and aligns with one of the 5 Themes. These will be provided through the CDTRP Research Innovation Grant competition over an 18-month performance period with funding provided by Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.;
• two (2) grants of $30,000 CDN/each to support new research related to kidney donation and/or transplantation that addresses the One-Transplant-for-Life vision and aligns with one of the 5 Themes. These will be provided through the CDTRP KFOC Research Innovation Grant competition over an 18-month performance period with funding provided by the Kidney Foundation of Canada
• one (1) grant of $30,000 CDN to support new research in lung transplantation that addresses the unique needs of the cystic fibrosis community, including: improving long-term health outcomes for cystic fibrosis transplant recipients;  transplant immunology and infection in cystic fibrosis; and addressing post-transplant health and social challenges for those living with cystic fibrosis (e.g. long-term exposure to high doses of anti-rejection medications, mental health, support with respect to social re-integration). This will be provided through the CDTRP CF Canada Research Innovation Grant competition over an 18-month performance period with funding provided by Cystic Fibrosis Canada;
• two (2) grants of $30,000 CDN/each to support new research related to pediatric transplantation that addresses the One-Transplant-for-Life vision and aligns with one of the 5 Themes. One of these projects must be based in British Columbia and the other must be based in Edmonton, Alberta.  The Edmonton project must also be focused on pediatric heart transplantation.  While not required, we strongly encourage the community to submit one combined application that includes both a Vancouver and Edmonton component that will work together to address issues related to pediatric transplantation. These will be provided through the CDTRP Addison Fund Research Innovation Grant competition and the CDTRP Big Gifts for Little Lives Research Innovation Grant competition respectively over an 18-month performance period;
• The Alberta Transplant Innovation Fund (ATIF) will provide four (4) additional grants of $30,000 CAD/each to the top ranked Alberta-based researchers through the CDTRP ATIF Research Innovation Grant competition over an 18-month performance period. The ATIF receives funding from the Alberta Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the University Hospital Foundation, and Astellas Pharma Canada;
• The UHN-MOT will provide two (2) additional grants of $30,000 CDN/each to the top ranked unfunded UHN researchers through the CDTRP UHN Research Innovation Grant competition over an 18-month performance period.

Each grant will be awarded to the successful applicant(s) via the Primary Applicant’s institution.
Click here for full details and to download an application form.

Competition Launch: 15 October 2018
Application Deadline: 13 February 2019
Notification Date: 7 May 2019
Funding Start Date: 20 May 2019, or upon confirmation of REB approval

ATI Seminar Series (January 23)

Opportunity: Associate Director, Deceased Donation and Transplantation (Canadian Blood Services)

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is seeking an Associate Director, Deceased Donation and Transplantation to join its team. This position can be located anywhere in Canada.

Be part of a dynamic, innovative, collaborative, diverse and caring organization committed to saving and improving the lives of Canadians. We are the connection between the sincere generosity of donors, and the heartfelt appreciation of recipients. Thousands of Canadians depend on our programs every day for reliable access to safe blood, plasma, stem cells, organs and tissues. In this role, you will lead a team in the identification, understanding and project development for new growth opportunities for Deceased Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT). These projects tend to be large and in the early stages of definition. The expected result of this work will be implementation of leading practices, professional education, and innovations to improve the quality of OTDT services offered within CBS and across Canada.

Are you ready to embark on a meaningful and inspiring journey, where what you do matters? Be part of Canada’s lifeline. Because we can all be the reason, the connection, that keeps Canadians living.

Responsibilities include:

• Directs the development of new initiatives in alignment with the CBS Donation and Transplantation program plan.
• Exercises project development skills to develop and manage opportunities through to successful outcomes including transfer to project managers.
• Directs the knowledge transfer activities related to OTDT leading practices, professional education, and system performance measurement and reporting.
• Be a source of leadership and management to Program Managers and the OTDT network including external medical advisors as required.
• Responsible to the Director, Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation for deliverables and regular status updates. Ensures all activities are completed as required by the project plan.
• Identifies and mitigates risks and issues, ensures the workplans and initiatives progress as planned, on schedule and on budget and manages relevant project and department budgets.
• Manages the interface with the OTDT community in regard to and the broader OTDT network and new initiatives as required.
• Provides support in managing relationships with donation and transplant programs and provincial and federal governments as directed.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education, Training and Experience:

• University degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized academic institution, preferably in a health-related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in relevant positions and disciplines.
• Strong background in Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation preferred.
• Strong background in policy and leading practice/clinical guideline development, including an ability to source data from all sources, primary and secondary, including the internet, project planning, system level reporting.
• Significant experience in project development activity.

Demonstrated Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated analytical, problem solving and organizational skills, in addition to the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to lead others and ensure completed projects through others’ work.
• Ability to conceptualize and analyze complex issues and develop integrated, creative solutions and to understand complex environments, and prepare and present solutions to issues.
• Understanding of the key components of program development.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently.
• Strong leader with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced, quick turnaround environment, to think creatively in the development of ideas and solutions, and to anticipate and follow through on projects with minimal supervision.

Click here to be redirected to the application link.

Funding Opportunity: Banting Research Foundation Discovery Award

This is a one-year grant of up to $25K for innovative health and biomedical research by new investigators (within the first three years of their first academic appointment). Eligibility is limited to those who have not been awarded more than $150K in start-up funding and not awarded more than $50K per year in operating funds.

Eligibility:

To be eligible to apply, you must:

• be a new investigator at any Canadian university or affiliated research institute who will be within the first three years of the date of first career academic appointment at the application deadline date of March 15, 2019
• have not been awarded by your institution more than $150,000 in start-up funding (exclusive of support from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation)
• have not been awarded more than $50,000 per annum in external operating funds at the application deadline date. (An applicant who has been awarded more than $50,000 per annum in external operating funds may submit a request for less than $25,000, such that the total sum of operating funds received from all sources during the funding year, should the application to the Banting Research Foundation be successful, not exceed $75,000.)

Institutional Support:

The application must be accompanied by a letter of nomination from the applicant’s host department or division head that:

• confirms all eligibility criteria have been met
• details the operating and the institutional start-up funds available to the applicant
• confirms the candidate has been provided the space and access to institutional infrastructure necessary to conduct the proposed research
• details a mentorship plan, including the name of a mentor, who will assist the applicant in launching their career by providing guidance with formulating research proposals, defining career goals and the timelines required to achieve them

A department/division head will be permitted to nominate only one potential applicant during each annual granting cycle.

Funding Payments

The maximum duration of the grant is one year, from July 1 to June 30. Extensions may be considered and must be requested in writing at least 30 days prior to the grant end date. Grants are paid quarterly within the funding year, starting July 1. Grants are paid to the finance office of the sponsoring institution. Grantees may draw on this account as needed.

Acceptable Use of Funding

Funds can be used to purchase equipment and for general operating expenses specified in the budget proposal, including salaries for technicians, postdoctoral fellows and students. Funds may not be used to pay the salary of the applicant, overhead, or travel expenses. Equipment purchased with grant funds is the property of the institution at which the grant is held. Any unexpended funds are to be returned to the Banting Research Foundation.

Ethical and Safety Considerations

Applicants are expected to ensure their proposed research complies with ethics and safety guidelines of their home institution. Human research procedures must comply with the Tri-Council Policy Statement, “Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.” Animal experimental procedures must comply with guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. Procedures for handling biological and chemical hazards must meet CIHR “Guidelines for the Handling of Recombinant DNA Molecules and Animal Viruses and Cells.”

Deadline: March 15, 2019
Click here for full details and application package.

Opportunity: Evidence Meets Implementation Lecture & Workshop Series

This new lecture and workshop series, offered by the Office of Lifelong Learning (L3), in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, will help those interested in implementing evidence to:

• engage with stakeholders and users,
• explore implementation frameworks and their utilities,
• use qualitative approaches to build solid foundations,
• use human-centred design to create tools & promote uptake, and
• explore advances in shared decision-making

Click here for full details and for the registration link. Please not: registration is required for this workshop.

ATI Seminar Series: Wednesday, January 16, 12-1pm in Classroom D-WMC

Health Ethics Seminar: Parental Refusal of Life-Sustaining Intervention (Friday, January 18)

In collaboration with the Division of Neurosurgery, the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre presents an upcoming Health Ethics Seminar:

“Parental Refusal of Life-Sustaining Intervention: A Framework for Management”

Presented by: 
Patrick J. McDonald, MD, MHSc, FRCSC
Head, Division of Neurosurgery, BC Children’s Hospital;
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia;
Faculty, Neuroethics Canada 

Date: Friday, January 18
Time: 12:00 – 13:00 MST
Place: Dvorkin Centre (2G2.07 WMC), University of Alberta Hospital

Call for Adjudicators: Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (SRS)

The Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (SRS) provides outstanding opportunities for undergraduate students, medical students, and exceptional high school students to engage in summer research related to health and medical sciences.  This year, Alberta Innovates has also made funding available (20% of available awards) to support projects specifically in the area of Digital Health — “the intersection of information communication technologies and health, discovering, developing, or leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, sensors, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, bio-sensors, and in silico simulations.”

The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) is seeking faculty members (A1.1 or C1.1 appointments) to help adjudicate applications for the Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship program for Summer 2019.  The program receives over 300 applications per year, and we are seeking adjudicators generally knowledgeable in health and medical sciences, as well as those with specific expertise in technologies related to digital health.

Adjudicators will be responsible for reviewing, scoring, and providing brief feedback on approximately 30 applications between February 15 – March 8.   Adjudicator scores and feedback are then compiled by URI to select recipients for the Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship. Adjudication scores for eligible proposals are forwarded on for consideration by other agencies, including the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Surgery, Alberta Diabetes Institute, Alberta Transplant Institute, and Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, to aid in the selection process for those awards.

Deadline: If you are interested in serving as an adjudicator this year, please contact URI (summer.studentships@ualberta.ca) by January 25, 2019.  Please inform us if you have any students who are applying or other potential conflicts, so we can take these into account when making adjudicator assignments.

Alberta Innovates Summer Studentships

The Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (SRS) program provides funding to support students engaging in health and medical research during the summer months (May-August).  The intent of the program is to encourage such students to consider careers in medical/health research. New to this program in 2019 is Alberta Innovates strategic interest in supporting students interested in the area of Digital Health.  As a condition of our funding from Alberta Innovates, 20% of awards in Summer 2019 are to be directed to Digital Health projects.

Digital Health is defined as “the intersection of information communication technologies and health, discovering, developing, or leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, sensors, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, bio-sensors, and in silico simulations.”

The Undergraduate Research Initiative administers the Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship program at the University of Alberta. Contact URI for all inquiries related to the program. Please do not apply to Alberta Innovates directly. Click here for the full application details.

Deadline: Monday, February 4, 2019, at 11:59 p.m.