OCTOBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

Consortium News

Exciting changes within the Consortium!

As of October 1st, Janelle Jiminez is stepping into the role of Manager of the AMR – One Health Consortium full-time. Additionally, due to the excellent work that Rose Geransar had delivered for the Government of Alberta AMR Framework for Action, the GoA has decided to extend the contract and continue their work with us. As such, Kayley McCubbin is now the Project Manager for this opportunity. Both Kayley and Janelle will continue to work together to maintain their new roles, as well as advance the efforts of the Consortium. 
 

Policy Brief Writing Workshop

AMR: A One Health Approach Seminar Series

The seminar series kicked off earlier this month, with 197 registrants from 52 countries across the world. Week 1 began with Dr. Anholt and Kayley McCubbin speaking about the background of One Health, while Drs. Savchenko and Gotte discussed what is AMR, how does it develop, and basic antimicrobial pharmacology. For week 2 we welcomed Dr. Wright who spoke to antimicrobial discovery and design, and Drs. Turner and Harrison who presented collateral resistance, sensitivity and AMR co-selection. Stay tuned for more exciting sessions to come!

Our Researchers in the News

Respiratory illness outbreaks at 22 Edmonton schools: AHS
Joan Robinson

Respiratory illness outbreaks have been declared at nearly two dozen Edmonton schools. While it’s not uncommon to see a rise in respiratory infections in the fall and winter, Dr. Joan Robinson, an expert in pediatric infectious diseases says there are other factors at play this year. Click here to watch the newsclip and read the full article. 
 

Why Was the Lyme Disease Vaccine Tossed Away?
Lynora Saxinger 

Today, Lyme is not only the most common tick-borne illness in both the US and Canada but also the fastest growing infectious disease in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lynora Saxinger, an infectious-disease specialist and professor of medicine at UofA, says the situation is poised to get worse. Ticks love humidity, and warmer temperatures caused by climate change are forcing them to head north. Click here to read the full article. 
 

Cows on the Planet: Grass-fed Beef
Tim McAllister

Join Tim and Kim as they talk with Dr. Sarah Klopatek of UC Davis and learn all the chewy bits of her recent comprehensive study on grass-fed beef economics, meat quality, and environmental impacts. Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts and here to listen on Google Podcasts.

Upcoming Events

Funding Opportunities

MSI Foundation Research Grant

The MSI Foundation is a research granting charitable organization which has supported more than 300 investigators over the past 50 years, many of whom have made significant contributions to health research in the province of Alberta. For 2023, the Board of Trustees will continue to support novice or emerging investigators in the field of health services and population health research (similar to CIHR pillar 3 or 4). Projects also require a co-applicant who is a user of research. The Foundation is committing $300,000 to $350,000 per year to this initiative. The value of an award is up to $50,000 per year for a maximum of two years. For more information please click here. 

Campus Alberta Small Business Engagement (CASBE) Program

The CASBE program is a funding program that leverages the different research industry partnerships programs offered by NSERC. The program leverages NSERC’s contribution per project up to $150,000 per year for one year or a maximum of two years depending on the project duration funded by NSERC. The industry partner(s) is expected to provide cash and in-kind contributions in the NSERC application. Click here for more details.

Deadline: The Application submission is on a continuous intake.  Both Alberta Innovates and NSERC recommend potential applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.
 

Agri-Food and Bioindustrial Innovation Program (ABIP)

The ABIP program aims to support the development and advancement of technologies that increase productivity, enhance competitiveness, boost the value of agriculture and forestry commodities, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The Program provides up to $500,000 per project and up to 75% of total project costs, with the remaining funding (cash or in-kind) coming from the applicant, project partners or other funding agencies. For more information please click here. 

Deadline: Application submission is on a continuous intake. There is no deadline to apply.
 

Collaborative Research and Training Experience program

The NSERC CREATE program supports the training and mentoring of teams of highly qualified students and postdoctoral fellows from Canada and abroad through the development of innovative training programs. There are several streams of opportunity within the CREATE program:

1. Regular Stream
2. Industrial Stream
3. International Collaboration – An agreement between the German Research Foundation Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and NSERC is in place to support bilateral training programs that involve the exchange of students between Germany and Canada.

Joint Canada-Israel Health Research Program Phase II – 2022–2023 competition

Call for proposals! This program seeks to support fundamental research at the cutting-edge of biomedical science and global health. This second call for proposals under phase II is directed toward proposals in the field of communicable diseases, with a particular focus on investigating underlying biological mechanisms and impacts on global health. Proposals must be co-led by three independent investigators: one from Canada, one from Israel and one from a low- or middle-income country. For more information please click here. 

Deadline for registration: Jan 17, 2023

Resources

• Alberta Health Services: COVID-19 Updates for Researchers
• Calgary Centre for Clinical Research (CCCR): COVID-19 Update
• College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA): Resources for Physicians during COVID-19
• Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB): Important message about COVID-19
• Covenant Health Research Centre: COVID-19 Research Updates
• Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta (HREBA): Guidance during COVID-19 Outbreak
• UCalgary Emergency Management: COVID-19 Response
• University of Alberta Research Ethics Office (REO): COVID-19 Update on Business Processes for REBs/ACUCs and the REO
• University of Alberta and Health Research Ethics Board (HREB): COVID-19 Response Guide for University Researchers and Research Groups