A study geared toward identifying modifiable risk factors associated with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) incidence sees a potential in achieving up to a 63% reduction of cases by conservatively or totally eliminating 56 nonclinical risk factors.

“There needs to be a major shift in how we treat a patient, not only after something occurs (the reaction point or cure aspect), but also from a prevention point of view,” said Jennifer Reed, PhD, [cohort 2 mentor] program chair for Cardiac Rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

Medscape – June 4, 2025

Times are changing and diet culture is evolving. This shift is reflective of society’s evolving views on weight loss, says Professor of Kinesiology Kimberley Gammage [cohort 1 mentor], who researches positive body image and physical activity across diverse populations. Long-term consequences are unknown for people taking drugs merely to improve their appearance, Gammage says, since most of these medications are not approved for weight loss only.

The Brock News – May 28, 2025

A project co-led by Dr. Linda Carlson [CBITN Curriculum Committee Co-Chair and Cohort 3 mentor] focuses on using psilocybin assisted therapy to help treat feelings of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness that can be commonly experienced by patients living with advanced cancer.

The 5 million dollars granted to the project by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is part of a total $17.9 million broken up into three CCS Breakthrough Team Grants, with each focusing on priorities identified by people with lived experience of cancer.

YGK News – April 3, 2025

The 3MT© competition highlights the diverse and innovative research conducted at the University of Manitoba but also emphasizes the importance of effective and easy to understand communication. By translating complex ideas into accessible presentations, these graduate students bridge the gap between academia and the broader community. 

The second-place accolade and the UM Retirees Prize went to Megan Crooks [cohort 2 mentee], a master’s student in Psychology. Megan’s presentation was titled “Preventing invisible pain with the power of Virtual Reality” .

University of Manitoba News – April 2, 2025

Dr. Laura Chiavaroli [cohort 2 mentor], was awarded the IAFNS Emerging Leader Award in recognition of contributions in the field of Nutrition Science.

“It is a great honor to have my work recognized by the IAFNS Emerging Leader Award, as I drive a research program that demonstrates the use of digital technology and interdisciplinary collaborations to translate and implement effectively our guidelines-based dietary patterns,” says Dr. Chiavaroli.

Newswise – March 31, 2025

Celiac Canada had the honour of nominating individuals for the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in Canada, including Justine Turner [Cohort 1 mentor].

“These medals honour the leaders, advocates, and changemakers within Canada’s celiac community—those who raise awareness publicly and those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to improve lives”.

Celiac Canada – March 31, 2025

To help understand patterns of care and treatment for those living with mental and substance use disorders, Dr. Daniel Vigo [cohort 1 mentor], Chair of the Services and Policy Workgroup, World Mental Health Surveys Initiative at the World Health Organization co-led a study conducting and examining World Mental Health surveys.

“This survey found that a very low proportion of people in need of treatment for mental and substance use disorders are getting effective treatment,” said Dr. Vigo.

The Daily Scan – March 3, 2025

New research estimates that globally, only 6.9 per cent of people with mental health or substance-use disorders receive effective treatment for their disorders.

“Understanding where the bottlenecks are for each of these disorders provides a unique and previously unavailable blueprint for decision makers to understand problems objectively and try to adjust the system,” said [cohort 1 mentor] Dr. Vigo.

University of British Columbia News - February 5, 2025

In a recently published trial of cancer survivors, led by [cohort 1 mentor] Sheila Garland, PhD, an associate professor at Memorial University, results from a secondary analysis showed that use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) was effective in treating cancer-related fatigue (CRF) while controlling for the common comorbidities of insomnia, perceived cognitive impairment (PCI), depression, and anxiety.

NeurologyLive - January 31, 2025

The HOPE program is a team of professionals dedicated to helping change eating disorder symptoms, challenge harmful thoughts and behaviours, and develop new means of coping with everyday stress.

It’s interdisciplinary team includes cohort 1 and 2 mentor and psychologist Samantha Scurrey, as well as a cook, dietitian, nurse, occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, physiotherapist, psychiatrist, receptionist, and social worker.

NL Health Services News - January 30, 2025

Just 30 years ago, perceptions of pain weren’t central to patient care. Many clinicians informally asked their patients about pain but there was no formal process for collecting this information.

[Cohort 1 and 2 mentor] Joy MacDermid, a Distinguished University Professor in the School of Physical Therapy in Western’s Faculty of Health Sciences [explains] “I saw many people [with] the same injury, but they had very different experiences. We needed to incorporate their perception of how much pain they’re having into clinical treatment programs.”

Western University News - January 29, 2025

“These workshops are designed to address the needs of Brock’s research community,” says [cohort 1 community mentor and] Research Impact Manager Jayne Morrish. “We listen to what researchers are asking for and aim to deliver practical, actionable insights to support their work at every stage.”

Presenters in the upcoming workshops will share their expertise in knowledge mobilization, research data management, evidence synthesis and challenges in the peer review process.

The Brock News - January 23, 2025

Almost half of Canadian households that have children with celiac disease are struggling to afford gluten-free foods, according to a new study led by the University of Alberta.

"Our findings are alarming, because even households in the $100,000 range experience some food insecurity, so imagine how hard it is for families with lower incomes,” says [cohort 1 mentor] Diana Mager, a registered dietitian and professor in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

University of Alberta Folio - January 14, 2025

The Small Steps for Big Changes (SSBC) is a free program founded by [cohort 1 and 2 mentor] Dr. Mary Jung that aims to prevent those with prediabetes from progressing to Type 2 diabetes, while also removing barriers to access.

“One thing that makes this program unique is that access to physical activity and healthy living has barriers […] So the SSBC aims to address these barriers.”

The Telegram - January 10, 2025