UWinnipeg Research News

From May 1 to June 30, 2013, Statistics Canada is inviting researchers to apply for access to blood, urine and DNA samples from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) for use in health studies. The biospecimens are available to any Canadian researcher that completes a review process and would benefit from a national population survey of about 5,600 participants per collection cycle.

The CHMS collects key information relevant to the health of Canadians by means of direct physical measurements such as body composition, blood pressure, lung function and physical activity level. The survey also collects blood and urine samples to test for cardiovascular health, chronic and infectious diseases, nutritional status and environmental exposure.

What’s available?
The biospecimens were collected over two cycles, from 2007 to 2009 and 2009 to 2011, and then stored long-term in a biobank at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. The CHMS has stored about 150,000 small test tubes of whole blood, blood fractions and urine from about 12,000 consenting survey participants aged 3 to 79. DNA samples were extracted and frozen for storage from about 6,500 participants aged 14 and older.

How to access the CHMS biospecimens
Interested researchers are asked to provide the following when applying for access to the CHMS biobank:

* a completed Application form to use CHMS biospecimens;

* a condensed curriculum vitae;

* evidence of
- an ethical review by a research ethics board;
- funding arrangements;
- a scientific peer review (if not conducted by funding body).

Once the completed application form is received:

1. Statistics Canada will conduct a feasibility review to determine biospecimen availability, conduct a methodological evaluation and review laboratory and operational requirements.

2. Applications deemed feasible will be returned with a cost-estimate to allow researchers to arrange for appropriate funding.

3. Researchers will be asked to submit standard operating procedures for the proposed laboratory methods.

4. The CHMS Biobank Advisory Committee, comprised of federal and non-federal health experts, will review the application and make a recommendation.

5. Statistics Canada’s Policy Committee will review this recommendation and make a final decision.

6. The CHMS biobank coordinator will inform researchers of the final decision.

For details about the application and review process, visit the Biobank section of the CHMS website. For more information, please contact the CHMS biobank coordinator at chms-biobank@statcan.gc.ca.

CIHR and its partners are pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Expression of Interest.

As a dynamic research enterprise, the CCNA will be the premier research hub for all aspects of research involving neurodegenerative diseases that affect cognition in aging – including Alzheimer’s disease. The CCNA is the Canadian component of CIHR’s International Collaborative Research Strategy for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Research within the CCNA will be organized around three themes: primary prevention – aimed at preventing the disease from developing; secondary prevention – focused on delaying the clinical manifestations of the already developing disease; and quality of life – designed for helping individuals, caregivers and the health system in the context of a clinically developed disease.

Applicants are expected to submit an Expression of Interest that describes the whole Consortium including components of training, ethics, legal, and social implications. Applicants are also expected to expand on knowledge translation, shared resources, governance, as well as the teams planned within each theme of the Consortium with their research program.

How can I be part of the CCNA?
CIHR has put in place a number of engagement activities to ensure interested researchers and partners have the opportunity to signal their interest in participating in the CCNA.

* Online information sessions (webinars) – April 2013
* Expression of interest – deadline May 21st, 2013
* Partners’ Forum – August 28-29, 2013 in Montreal
* Online tools for researchers to signal their interest in participating

The deadline for submission of the full application will be December 2nd, 2013. Funding is expected to start in April, 2014.

For more information about the CCNA, please contact:
Michelle Peel
Assistant Director
Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aging
Phone: 613-952-4537
michelle.peel@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute is very pleased to launch its youth internship program titled: BRINGING YOUTH INTO DEVELOPMENT (BYID). This program is funded by the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for 2013-2014.

Under the BYID program, 20 Canadians who have completed a graduate or undergraduate degree will have an opportunity to gain professional experience on international development by working abroad with one of the following four reputable Indian development organizations for a 6-months internship. The host Indian organizations are:

- Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh - http://www.crrid.res.in/
- Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore - http://www.isec.ac.in/
- M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai - http://www.mssrf.org/
- Udayan Care, New Delhi - http://www.udayancare.org/

The BYID program aims at:
- Developing the professional and humanistic capacities of young Canadian man and women to increase their participation in the Canadian and international labour market;

- Engaging Canadian youth in the international development field by developing their professional and leadership qualities, cross cultural understanding and adaptability;

- Contributing to the national development of India by employing the knowledge and skills of Canadian youth in capacity building of the partner organizations in India; and

- Promoting a better understanding of International development issues among the youth and the Canadian public at large.

“Bringing Youth into Development” will focus on CIDA’s three thematic priorities, covering several Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations. The priority areas for 2013-14 internships are: (1) Increasing food security; (2) Stimulating sustainable economic growth; (3) Securing the future of children and youth.

India provides an excellent setting to gain hands on knowledge on developmental issues. Therefore, by enabling work on sustainable development projects through BYID, these internships will not only provide Canadian youth with the tools and experience needed to launch successful careers but will also contribute to sustainable economic and social development in India. Throughout the project, the interns will have comprehensive opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge, confidence and adaptability, which, we believe, will help them make more informed and expansive career choices.

Please visit: http://www.sici.org/home/ for more information about the BYID program.