Media releases

• Brock houses Ontario behavioural research hub as part of national initiative

  Friday, August 18, 2023 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: Aug 18 2023 – R0070

  Brock University has been selected as the Ontario hub of a Canada-wide program that trains students and novice researchers on how to evaluate behaviour-change initiatives in health care.

  “Clinical trials are often designed for testing new drugs in the pharma industry,” says Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Sean Locke, who chairs the Ontario hub. “We want to provide students with the same knowledge and training to conduct behavioural trials for research that would lead to developing programs for diabetes prevention, cardiac rehab, smoking cessation or lowered obesity.”

  The hub is the central Ontario component of the Canadian Behavioural Interventions and Trials Network Training Platform, a countrywide, $5-million initiative funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and partners who are providing cash and in-kind support.

  Headquartered at Concordia University in Montreal, the research team co-led by Locke and eight other researchers is developing training programs that will give graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and medical and health trainees knowledge and skills to evaluate behaviour-change interventions.

  There will also be training on how to integrate these interventions into health-care practice.

  More than 70 partners from the health-care sector, community organizations, government and post-secondary institutions are collaborating to create and deliver the training programs, which teach how to co-ordinate and facilitate behaviour-change clinical trials.

  “There have been thousands of studies to understand the psychology of behaviour change,” says Locke. “Behavioural interventions try to change the way people think about their behaviours by using strategies to get people to regulate their motivation and set goals.”

  But such initiatives are rarely integrated into the mainstream Canadian health-care system despite evidence that they are effective, says Locke. This is an oversight the countrywide project is aiming to address, he adds.

  Locke says the focus of the Ontario hub is to connect students with a wide range of health-care stakeholders. The hub provides around 12 scholarships per year for three years to fund student internship opportunities across Canada and will also host students at Brock, he says.

  “We’re really excited to build capacity, provide additional networking opportunities for students with people who work in the field of behavioural medicine, and build those cross-Canada and cross-Ontario connections,” says Locke.

  The Ontario hub is based in Brock’s Department of Kinesiology, with collaborations led by Professor of Health Sciences Deborah O’Leary, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth Danielle Sirianni Molnar, the Lifespan Development Research Centre’s Knowledge Translation Officer Jayne Morrish, and Master of Science student Isabelle Hill.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256 

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock Indigenous research to be highlighted at community event

  Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: Aug 16 2023 – R0069

  An upcoming community event will highlight how Indigenous ways of knowing and understanding are being embedded into Brock University research, and how this approach can be applied to other areas of work.

  “Healing Circles of Engagement, Weaving Relationships in Research,” a one-day interdisciplinary Canadian Institutes of Health Research Scientifique Café, will be held Wednesday, Aug. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Brock’s Goodman School of Business Atrium.

  Hosted by the Department of Nursing Research Committee, the event will focus on knowledge mobilization, highlighting Indigenous methodologies and protocols to ensure research is taking place in a culturally safe way intended to build respectful relations.

  Through the café, participants will gain practical knowledge though real-world examples of health and social issues being addressed in culturally appropriate contexts.

  “Health and culture are central to one’s overall well-being,” says Connie Schumacher, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Nursing Research Committee Co-chair. “We look forward to showcasing groundbreaking work taking place across Brock as we talk about ways of doing Indigenous research.”

  The event will include panel presentations and two panel discussions with Indigenous and Indigenous-ally scholars.

  Topics being discussed will include Indigenous language renewal and impact on cultural identity, sociocultural contexts that influence health and wellness, culturally appropriate knowledge translation and mobilization, meaningful Indigenous engagement in remote communities and working with patient partners.

  The afternoon will also explore ways student researchers can engage with Indigenous communities as well as best supports to benefit Indigenous students and scholars.

  “Our aim is to gather and engage in conversations around Indigenous health, culture and ways of knowing,” says Associate Professor of Nursing Sheila O’Keefe-McCarthy, who is also a Nursing Research Committee Co-chair. “By bringing researchers, students, Indigenous community members and health organization stakeholders together, we hope to strengthen partnerships and collaborations.”

  In addition to the presentations and discussion panels, the day will include an Indigenous luncheon and scholarly poster session with presentations and graduate student awards.

  The Nursing Research Committee is committed to ensuring the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization are embedded within all aspects of the event.

  “This café will create a safe space to allow open, respectful dialogue between all attendees and presenters,” says committee member and Assistant Professor of Nursing Vanessa Silva e Silva. “We are working with the presenters to ensure all information shared is understandable for those with or without scientific backgrounds.”

  This event is free, but advance registration is required.

  Students or faculty involved in Indigenous research and projects who want to showcase their work through a poster, display or presentation are invited to send a brief abstract or title by Sunday, Aug. 20 to sokeefemccarthy@brocku.ca

  For more information, including the event’s full schedule, visit ExperienceBU or email cshumacher@brocku.ca

  This event is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256  

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  Categories: Media releases