Karen Patte, well known for her long-running national research on youth health, is Brock University\u2019s newest Canada Research Chair (CRC).<\/p>\n
For almost a decade, the Associate Professor of Health Sciences has played key leadership roles in Canada-wide studies identifying and assessing factors affecting mental and physical health in adolescents.<\/p>\n
Patte, who on Wednesday, March 13 was announced as Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Child Health Equity and Inclusion, aims to expand this research through the creation of a new Brock-based national research centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrock has some exciting strengths in the areas of child and youth health, including leading-edge research focused on health equity and childhood adversity, employing varied disciplines and methods,\u201d says Patte. \u201cMy hope is to establish a centre that would enhance our impact by building on these collaborations at Brock and outside the University.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patte\u2019s Canada Research Chair position is part of a funding bundle announcement delivered by Minister of Transport Pablo\u00a0Rodriguez on behalf of Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Patte is at the forefront of child and youth research, where her broad perspective brings much-needed attention to addressing inequities that shortchange children,\u201d says Acting Brock Vice-President, Research Michelle McGinn. \u201cThis Canada Research Chair helps to build capacity for Dr. Patte\u2019s research, and it contributes toward the wide-ranging network of related work in the research community at Brock and across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patte co-leads the national COMPASS study<\/a> along with Scott Leatherdale at the University of Waterloo. Each year, the study collects health survey data from students and secondary schools in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. About 84,000 students at 185 schools participated last school year. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is funding the project until 2027.<\/p>\n The project studies how individual, social and environmental factors, including policies and programs at the school and government levels, interact to affect youth health and behaviours, such as mental health, substance use, sleep<\/a>, physical activity, screen use and bullying.<\/p>\n Some of Patte\u2019s other research activities include:<\/p>\n With her CRC, Patte plans to expand the understanding of how barriers can be removed to ensure all children and youth have the opportunity to flourish in Canada.<\/p>\n \u201cEquity research has largely focused on individual identity factors, such as race or gender, which are definitely important, but we need to look at the social and economic factors that drive these inequities,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is also where the value of drawing from varied disciplines and methods comes in, allowing us to better understand how the social determinants \u2018get under the skin,\u2019 as they say.\u201d<\/p>\n Patte envisions four key activities for the new centre:<\/p>\n Patte aims to build on collaborations with other Brock-based child and youth research programs \u2013 such as the national Canadian Health\u00a0Behaviour\u00a0in School-aged Children Study<\/a> led by Professor of Health Sciences William Pickett \u2014 as well as researchers in other institutions.<\/p>\n Key to success in these areas continues to be the active participation of youth in all stages of research planning, implementation and knowledge mobilization<\/a>, says Patte, adding that when this process is followed, \u201cthe research better reflects their experiences and needs, and results in more effective policies and practices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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