NOVEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Consortium News

AMR Symposium 2023

Congratulations to bioMérieux and the Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) for joining together to host the 2^nd Annual AMR Symposium. Dr. Laura Sycuro discussed the role of the microbiome in AMR, and Aidian Hollis presented the economics of AMR in a One-Health World. The Consortium is grateful to have had the opportunity to be a partner and work alongside AMMI Canada at this event.
 

Certificate Course on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Interpretation

Dr. Tanis Dingle is involved in the development of a new Antimicrobial Susceptibility Course at the University of British Columbia. The team overseeing the course is seeking 1 to 2 Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to lead the One Health AMR module. If you are a PI interested in developing the module (approx. 5-6 hours of content) please contact Veronica Restelli at veronica.restelli@ubc.ca. For more information and to register for the course please click here. 

Our Researchers in the News

Fighting antimicrobial resistance through the integrated approach of One Health

Building on her background in epidemiology, Dr. Leal is using electronic medical records to assess hospital screening protocols for antibiotic resistant organisms in Alberta and Ontario. Surveys and focus groups with nursing staff are also planned to gain insight into the challenges of screening for AMR. By identifying gaps in how admissions are handled, she can start to identify the most cost-effective improvements to these protocols. Click here to read more.
 

Nurse practitioner announcement leaves family physicians feeling devalued, disrespected

This week, the provincial government announced nurse practitioners will be allowed to set up their own publicly funded independent practices as early as January. Myles Leslie, Director of Research at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy, said allowing NP-led clinics could help improve access for Albertans. Click here to read the full article. 
 

One Health

Solving pressing complex societal issues – such as the impacts of climate change, emerging health threats and widening socio-economic inequities – requires ingenuity from various branches of knowledge using novel and holistic approaches. That’s the transformative One Health approach that has been embraced by the University of Calgary since 2019. Click here to read the full article. 
 

Cold and flu season is here — but doctors say antibiotics won't help you get better faster

As the season for coughs and colds returns, medical experts have a reminder: antibiotics aren't a go-to treatment for common viral respiratory infections. "I think that a lot of people are in the habit of still seeking antibiotics if they're finding that their illness is prolonged or more severe, just in case," said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta Hospital. Click here to read more.

Publication

Seeing the whole elephant: designing ‘one health’ governance to fight antimicrobial resistance

Imagine a group of people in a dark room, each feeling a part of an elephant to try to figure out what it is. Each understands the part they touch, but the big picture escapes them. The one who holds the trunk feels it's like a snake. For another who grasps an ear, it's more like a fan. The tail? It's a rope. And so on.

This well-known parable is apt for a central challenge we face in organizing a response to the slow-moving, inexorable global pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—the problem transcends different sectors, and no one person or organization, bringing their own perspective, can solve it alone.

To read the full publication click here. 

Upcoming Events

Funding Opportunities

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Program

The WIL program in its current form is set to conclude April 1, 2024. This means the last opportunity to take advantage of the funding is the Winter 2024 term, and there are a limited number of Vouchers left to distribute. $5000 in wage support goes a long way to funding a student or recent graduate to help your SME advance a project or product. Please contact Jamie Anderson-Reid at jamie@bioalberta.com for more details and how to apply.

Program application deadline: Winter 2024 term
 

New Frontiers in Research Fund – 2022 Horizon Global Platform

The objective of the International stream is to support international research collaborations and position Canada and Canadian researchers as strategic partners at the international level. NFRF 2022 Horizon Global Platform grants are valued at up to $250K per year (including indirect costs) for a maximum of two years. For more info please click here. 

Program application deadline: Jun 30, 2024
 

Accelerating Agricultural Innovations (AAI) 2.0

RDAR invites eligible applicants to submit Letters of Intent that support research projects that demonstrate and accelerate the farm-gate adoption of agricultural innovations and processes for the livestock and crop industries in Alberta. Applications will be considered for approval on a case-by-case basis subject to the Program eligibility criteria, assessment criteria, and funding constraints. For more info please click here. 

LOIs will be accepted on a continual basis.

Resources

•  Alberta Health Services
• Clinical Trials Office
• College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
• Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB)
• Covenant Health Research Centre
• Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta (HREBA)
• UCalgary Emergency Management
• University of Alberta Research Ethics Office (REO)
• University of Alberta and Health Research Ethics Board (HREB)
• University of Lethbridge Research Ethics & Safety