Welcome to the Global Health Strategic Group newsletter,
Your bi-monthly peek at what is happening behind the scenes in the field of global health, with trending news, upcoming events, funding opportunities and more! Read on to find out what researchers across all disciplines of global health research have been up to in recent months. We look forward to staying connected with you!
One of the RRSPQ's objectives is to promote the exchange and utilisation of knowledge among and by the various actors in the population health network. To this end, we would like to invite all members of the RRSPQ to share their publications or activities (conferences, webinars, etc). These will be advertised on the RRSPQ website and the network’s social media accounts, insofar as they are relevant to population health research and ideally relating to the specific themes of the strategic groupings.
Global Health News
Canadian Women in Global Health 2018
The Canadian Society for International Health has recently published the first-ever List of Canadian women leaders in global health. "The need to improve the visibility and recognition of women in global health is clear, and with Canada’s international reputation for advancing health and equity, it is important that the diversity of women leaders be recognized and amplified. The CWIGH List, initiated by Jocalyn Clark from The Lancet, and founded in collaboration with Eva Slawecki from the Canadian Society for International Health and Sarah Lawley from the Government of Canada, is inspired by a broader global movement to recognise the achievements and expertise of women in global health." (Canadian Society for International Health, 2018) Jacques Girard, member of the RS-SM Steering Committee, contributed to the selection as an appointed member of the CWIGH Working Group. Several researchers from Québec institutions were recognized:
Chantal Blouin, Public Health National Institute of Quebec
Amrita Daftary, McGill University
Christina Greenaway, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University
Theresia Gyorkos, McGill University
Catherine Hankins, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University
Shelley-Rose Hyppolite, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval
Srividya Iyer, McGill University
Muriel Mac-Seing, Université de Montréal
Ericka Moerkerken, Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement
Nitika Pant Pai, McGill University/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Louise Potvin, School of Public Health, Université de Montreal
Argerie Tsimicalis, McGill University
Jodi Tuck, McGill University
Christina Zarowsky, School of Public Health, Université de Montreal
Kate Zinszer, Université de Montreal
We would like to commend all of these researchers for their incredible work in global health!
"Reported measles cases spiked in 2017, as multiple countries experienced severe and protracted outbreaks of the disease. This is according to a new report published by leading health organizations. Because of gaps in vaccination coverage, measles outbreaks occurred in all regions, while there were an estimated 110 000 deaths related to the disease. Using updated disease modelling data, the report provides the most comprehensive estimates of measles trends over the last 17 years. It shows that since 2000, over 21 million lives have been saved through measles immunizations. However, reported cases increased by more than 30 percent worldwide from 2016." (29 November 2018, News release, Geneva/Atlanta/New York)
"Canada’s national Inuit organization has released a strategy to eliminate by 2030 the “staggeringly high rates” of tuberculosis (TB) among Inuit leaving in a vast region of the Canadian Arctic stretching from the Labrador Sea in the east to the Beaufort Sea in the west. The Inuit Tuberculosis Elimination Framework released by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents about 65,000 Inuit living in the four regions of Canada’s north known collectively as Inuit Nunangat, also calls for an interim reduction in the reported rate of active TB of at least 50 per cent by 2025. According to government statistics, in 2016 the reported rate of active TB among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic was over 300 times the reported rate of active TB among Canadian-born, non-Indigenous people. “Eliminating TB among Inuit in Inuit Nunangat by 2030 is an ambitious goal that will require deep commitment and ongoing, multilateral efforts,” said in a statement ITK president Natan Obed. This framework serves to clear the path and guide the work across governments, Inuit regions and organizations, communities and healthcare professionals.” (10 December 2018, Radio Canada International)
"A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates road traffic deaths continue to rise, with an annual 1.35 million fatalities. The WHO Global status report on road safety 2018 highlights that road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of children and young people aged 5-29 years. The risk of a road traffic death remains three times higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries. The rates are highest in Africa (26.6 per 100 000 population) and lowest in Europe (9.3 per 100 000 population). On the other hand, since the previous edition of the report, three regions of the world have reported a decline in road traffic death rates: Americas, Europe and the Western Pacific." (7 December 2018, News release, Geneva)
The Université du Québec en Outaouais and the Cégep de l'Outaouais will be hosting this year’s ACFAS congress, structured around the theme of engaging dialogue between research and society. French-speaking graduate students and researchers of all domains intersecting with sciences, and from all over the world, will be participating in this large-scale event. Registration opens on January 14!
McGill’s Summer Institute in Infectious Diseases and Global Health is returning for Summer 2019! Hosted by McGill Global Health Programs, the Summer Institute short courses feature internationally known faculty, a focus on highly applicable new knowledge, and an opportunity to network with fellow global health professionals from around the world. The courses offered during this two-week program will include TB Research Methods, Humanitarian Action in the 21st Century: Challenges and Dilemmas, Global Health Diagnostics, Antimicrobial Resistance, Advanced TB Diagnostics, Clinical TB, Qualitative Methods in Global Infectious Diseases Research and Quality of TB Care. The institute is now accepting applications!
Deadline for participants requiring a Visa: February 28, 2019;
Deadline for general registration: May 1st, 2019
Organized by the Canadian Public Health Association, the Public Health 2019 conference is a national forum where public health professionals, researchers, policy-makers, academics, students and trainees come together to strengthen efforts to improve health and well-being, to share the latest research and information, to promote best practices and to advocate for public health issues and policies grounded in research. This year’s program will incorporate a variety of session types, including plenary sessions, collaborator sessions, workshops and symposia, oral presentations, and poster presentations.
Every year, the Canadian Association for HIV Research hosts the premier gathering in Canada for all those involved HIV/AIDS research and intersecting disciplines. This year’s conference theme, “Wuniska”, is a Cree and Saulteaux word that means wake up, awaken, arise, wake up and rise. Wuniska is a concept filled with optimism for the new day, which we greet with renewed energy and passion. Leading edge topics concerning Indigenous health will be discussed and attendees will be able to share the outcomes of new research and policy decisions.
The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is set to be the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women in the 21st century. More than 6,000 world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, and journalists will flock to Vancouver with the drive to accelerate progress for girls and women everywhere. The conference will present new knowledge, promote world-class solutions, and engage a broad spectrum of voices. It will focus on several issues from health, nutrition, education, economic and political empowerment to human rights, good governance, and girls’ and women’s agency and equality.
Early-bird registration deadline: January 31, 2019
The CUGH Annual Conference brings together committed leaders, professionals, educators, students from diverse fields of study including engineering, business, law, policy, natural sciences, nursing, public health, medicine, and environmental study to explore, discuss and critically assess the global health landscape. This year’s theme will be “Translation and Implementation for Impact in Global Health.” This conference aims to promote interdisciplinary, cross jurisdictional conversations across the globe to tackle challenging and complex problems in a variety of global health areas.
Early-bird registration deadline: January 31, 2019
The Global Health & Innovation Conference, hosting more than 2,200 professionals and students from more than 55 countries, is recognized as one of the leading global health conferences. The 2-day conference is presented by the nonprofit global health delivery organization Unite for Sight and is set to take place at Yale University. Topics discussed will touch on both the current state of global health as well as social entrepreneurship and innovation for development. Registration is now open!
Early-bird registration deadline: December 31, 2018
Together with the Cuban Society of Microbiology and Parasitology, the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the Study of Dengue and its Vector of the Institute of Tropical Medicine/MINSAP presents the 16th edition of the Dengue International Course. This course will provide epidemiological updates on the regional and global dengue, zika, chikungunya and yellow fever situations through both theoretical and practical course sessions. Key stakeholders will have the opportunity to debate on the most relevant and updated aspects of these diseases.
Open to applicants in all areas of health research aligned with the CIHR mandate, the Project Grant program is designed to capture ideas with the greatest potential for important advances in fundamental and applied health-related knowledge, the health care system, and/or health outcomes, by supporting projects with a specific purpose and defined endpoint. The onus is on the applicant to clearly demonstrate the alignment of the application with CIHR's mandate. The best ideas may stem from new, incremental, innovative, and/or high-risk lines of inquiry or knowledge translation approaches. The competition also offers a specific funding envelope to support early career investigators. Funding is augmented by CIHR Institute Priority Announcements (PAs) that award grants in specific research areas relevant to the Institutes’ mandates (Spring 2019 Priority Announcement Specific Research Areas to be announced).
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 6, 2019
APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 6, 2019
The goal of HeLTI is to generate evidence that will inform national policy and decision-making in Canada and the participating countries for the improvement of health and the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases, are also a priority issue for Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) in Canada. CIHR has therefore launched the Indigenous component of HeLTI (I-HeLTI) to address similar issues faced by and specific to Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This funding opportunity will fund four I-HeLTI research teams that will build the infrastructure and capacity that is needed to conduct an Indigenous-driven I-HeLTI DOHaD Intervention Cohort Research Study. I-HeLTI will operate according to Indigenous self-governance and self-determination, recognizing the need to respect how Indigenous Peoples must be involved in health research.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 1st, 2019
Québec's most recent publications in global health
Université de Montréal
Religion and spirituality as predictors of patient-reported outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease around the globe.
Moons P, Luyckx K, Dezutter J, Kovacs AH, Thomet C, Budts W, Enomoto J, Sluman MA, Yang HL, Jackson JL, Khairy P, Subramanyan R, Alday L, Eriksen K, Dellborg M, Berghammer M, Johansson B, Mackie AS, Menahem S, Caruana M, Veldtman G, Soufi A, Fernandes SM, White K, Callus E, Kutty S, Apers S; APPROACH-IS Consortium; International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD).
Geographical variation and predictors of physical activity level in adults with congenital heart disease.
Larsson L, Johansson B, Sandberg C, Apers S, Kovacs AH, Luyckx K, Thomet C, Budts W, Enomoto J, Sluman MA, Wang JK, Jackson JL, Khairy P, Cook SC, Alday L, Eriksen K, Dellborg M, Berghammer M, Rempel G, Menahem S, Caruana M, Tomlin M, Soufi A, Fernandes SM, White K, Callus E, Kutty S, Moons P; APPROACH-IS Consortium; International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD).
Association of dairy intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 21 countries from five continents (PURE): a prospective cohort study.
Dehghan M, Mente A, Rangarajan S, Sheridan P, Mohan V, Iqbal R, Gupta R, Lear S, Wentzel-Viljoen E, Avezum A, Lopez-Jaramillo P, Mony P, Varma RP, Kumar R, Chifamba J, Alhabib KF, Mohammadifard N, Oguz A, Lanas F, Rozanska D, Bostrom KB, Yusoff K, Tsolkile LP, Dans A, Yusufali A, Orlandini A, Poirier P, Khatib R, Hu B, Wei L, Yin L, Deeraili A, Yeates K, Yusuf R, Ismail N, Mozaffarian D, Teo K, Anand SS, Yusuf S; Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study investigators.
Welcome to the Students' Corner! This space is dedicated to the research, publications, experiences and work of students of Québec Universities, and can also serve as a platform to publicize events and activities organized by students in the realm of global health. We welcome submissions from any students who would like to contribute and see their material posted in our upcoming issues! If you are interested, get in touch with us via the RS-Santé mondiale email linked at the top and bottom of the newsletter.
What have you been up to? Send us news of recent projects or accomplishments to be featured in this newsletter!