Tag: Atlantic PATH

Government of Canada invests in research to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response

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Read how CanPath, Canada’s largest health research study is ready to respond News release September 23, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Institutes of Health Research “As we begin respiratory infectious diseases season, the Government of Canada is investing in critical research infrastructure to ensure that public health and immunization programs are as effective as they can be in protecting the health of Canadians and that Canada is ready for future pandemics and public health emergencies. Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced an investment of nearly $20 million through the CIHR Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies and partners to support seven research platforms that unite researchers from all across the country to maintain Canada’s pandemic readiness, improve surveillance systems, and support evidence-based decision-making. These platforms will strengthen Canada’s capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to emerging infectious diseases, while addressing the social, behavioural, and health system challenges that arise during pandemics and other health emergencies. Broadly, the research teams will: These investments support the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness and protect the health of Canadians and the international community.” Quotes “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the importance of being ready for the unexpected. These research investments will strengthen innovative science and collaboration across the country—helping Canada be better equipped to respond quickly and effectively to future public health emergencies.” —The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health “These initiatives reflect the best of Canadian research, with a focus on real-world impact. Our scientists continue to provide the important evidence and maintain the research infrastructure that all Canadians rely on to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health emergencies.” — Dr. Paul Hébert, President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research Quick facts

CanPath awarded $3M to study crises in a changing world

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Read the original news release from the Government of Canada Toronto, Canada, September 23, 2025 – What if Canada had a research platform ready to track the next pandemic, study the effects of climate change on health, and help explain rising cancer rates in young people? With a $3 million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), CanPath is that platform. Awarded through CIHR’s Pandemic Research Platforms Interim Funding opportunity, this two-year operating grant supports CanPath’s unique ability to generate fast, meaningful insights during public health emergencies. This work goes far beyond pandemics: it also aims to tackle broader crises like climate-related health risks and early-onset cancer. “This grant strengthens CanPath’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to future public health emergencies,” said Dr. Jennifer Brooks, CanPath’s Executive Director. “Our platform is built for this kind of work, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians already engaged, linked health records, and long-term follow-up in place.” The grant is led by Dr. Brooks and Dr. Philip Awadalla, CanPath’s National Scientific Co-Director, with a national team of co-investigators. The funding is held at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. “CanPath is known as a research resource, but now in its prime, it’s built for resilience,” said Dr. Awadalla. “We’re proud to continue this work with our partners and support Canada’s preparedness for emerging diseases in a changing world.” Canada’s largest health study is ready to respond CanPath, the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health, is the country’s largest population health cohort, with more than 330,000 participants recruited from all 10 provinces. Participants have consented to long-term follow-up, data linkage, and future contact, providing a uniquely flexible and future-ready research platform. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CanPath rapidly deployed a national antibody study, linked testing data to participant records, and surveyed participants in real time. Results were shared widely with researchers, policymakers, and the public and featured by Global News, National Post, and The Globe and Mail. “CanPath’s COVID-19 response showed how powerful our model can be,” said Dr. Victoria Kirsh, CanPath National Scientific Coordinator. “We were able to launch surveys, test for antibodies, and communicate directly with participants in record time. This grant ensures we can build on that success, strengthen our partnerships, and stay ready to support evidence-based action when it matters most.” What this funding supports Through this grant, CanPath will continue to: This work builds on CanPath’s strategic partnerships with: Together, these partnerships strengthen CanPath’s role as a responsive, data-rich platform that serves researchers, funders, policymakers, and communities alike. Ready for the next challenge This grant builds on CanPath’s proven ability to act fast, scale up, and generate real-world impact. In future public health emergencies, CanPath is ready to: CanPath’s national team of investigators—including Drs. Trevor Dummer, Simon Gravel, Vikki Ho, Victoria Kirsh, Guillaume Lettre, Grace Shen-Tu, Jared Simpson, Ellen Sweeney, Megan Vanstone, Donna Turner, and Robin Urquhart—brings deep expertise across research fields and geographies. “This isn’t just about the next pandemic,” said Brooks. “It’s about being prepared for the full range of health challenges we’re facing, from chronic diseases—including cancer—to environmental change. This grant helps us keep Canada at the forefront of evidence-based, equitable research.” Pandemics don’t wait, and thanks to this investment, neither will CanPath. For more information, please contact:Megan FlemingCommunications & Knowledge Translation OfficerCanadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath)info@canpath.ca

Arthritis Awareness Month

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Please join Atlantic PATH in acknowledging Arthritis Awareness Month this September. Arthritis affects joints and other tissues which results in pain and limited mobility. One in five people in Canada live with arthritis and Atlantic Canada has some of the highest rates in the country. We would like to highlight arthritis research using data from Atlantic PATH participants. Dr. Cheryl Kozey and colleagues completed a study on the Current Management and Health Care Quality for Patients with Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. The team used existing data from Atlantic PATH to examine self-reported characteristics of people living with and without osteoarthritis in all three Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).  The Atlantic PATH data for Nova Scotians was then linked to administrative data, accessed through Health Data Nova Scotia, in order to identify trends in health care use by Nova Scotians with and without osteoarthritis. The report, Current Management and Health Care Use for People with Osteoarthritis and infographic detail their findings, including that people with osteoarthritis in the Maritimes were older, more likely to be female, and had lower socioeconomic status compared to those without osteoarthritis. Participants with osteoarthritis from Atlantic PATH were invited to participate in an ancillary study. The article “Quality of Non-Surgical and Non-Pharmacological Knee Osteoarthritis Care in the Maritimes” highlights that more than half of individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis did not receive recommended core treatments in the Maritimes, highlighting a need to improve care for this patient group. Dr. Vanessa DeClercq‘s work focused on the relationship between adipokines and adiposity among females with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Using data and biological samples from Atlantic PATH, they found that those with higher levels of adiponectin were more likely to have osteoarthritis, but not rheumatoid arthritis. This study demonstrates differences in measures of adiposity and adipokines in specific types of arthritis.

Dr. Raza Abidi appointed Digital Health Canada Representative to IMIA

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Join us in congratulating our colleague, Dr. Raza Abidi on being appointed Digital Health Canada Representative to the International Medical Informatics Association! Please see details below for the announcement. Dr. Abidi works alongside Dr. Jong Sung Kim and Dr. Ellen Sweeney on a longstanding research stream on environmental exposures and cancer using data and biological samples (toenails!) from Atlantic PATH. ***** Digital Health Canada’s Board of Directors is pleased to appoint Dr. Raza Abidi to the position of Digital Health Canada Representative to IMIA (the International Medical Informatics Association). Digital Health Canada has been the Canadian Representative since IMIA’s inception in 1980 and is a Charter member. Dr. Abidi is a tenured Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, and holds a cross-appointment as Professor in the Dalhousie Department of Medicine. He is the founding director and lead scientist at the NICHE (kNowledge Intensive Computing in Healthcare Enterprises) research group that conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of digital health, artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare, and digital transformation. Dr. Abidi served on the Digital Health Canada Board of Directors for six years and has a sound understanding of the mission and activities of the association. He is keenly aware of the need to bring the Canadian digital health community and its achievements to the world stage by enabling active participation in IMIA conferences, events, and working groups. Dr. Abidi is an internationally recognized healthcare researcher and leader with multiple international and national awards and recognitions. His primary research focus is Artificial Intelligence (AI) for healthcare and digital health, and he has extensive experience of (a) health data analytics using state-of-the-art AI methods to derive data-driven health intelligence, (b) health knowledge management by applying semantics-driven AI methods to derive knowledge-driven health intelligence by computerizing and operationalizing clinical practice guidelines/workflows, and (c) implementing research outputs as digital health solutions. His collaborative research activities have successfully led to (a) development of innovative point-of-care digital health solutions, (b) digital transformation of clinical workflows as decision support systems, (c) strategic planning and conception of new research themes and projects, (d) acquisition of multiple competitive research grants from various agencies and industry sponsors, (e) health data analysis and visualization, (f) health system evaluation and optimization studies, (g) publication of research articles at top-tier venues and invited talks, and (h) mentoring of junior researchers and talent development. I am confident that I can showcase the full potential of Canada in digital health research, innovation and entrepreneurship, and engage the broader Digital Health Canada community in IMIA activities so that Canada is regarded as a hub of digital health innovation and transformation. – Dr. Raza Abidi, Digital Health Canada Representative to the International Medical Informatics Association About IMIA IMIA provides leadership and expertise to the interdisciplinary health informatics community around the world. IMIA aims to enable the transformation of healthcare using information technology and plays a key role in promoting and furthering the application of digital technologies in healthcare. IMIA brings together leading scientists, researchers, vendors, developers, and consultants in a global context. Every two years, IMIA holds the preeminent international health informatics conference—World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics: MedInfo—where researchers and practitioners from around the world present their latest work in digital health. About this role As the new Digital Health Canada IMIA representative, Dr. Abidi will act as a liaison between Digital Health Canada and IMIA and will represent Canada on the world stage, connecting Digital Health Canada with representatives from corresponding national organizations and focusing on advances in digital health from other countries. Dr. Abidi will exercise voting rights on behalf of Digital Health Canada at the annual IMIA General Assembly, and will serve a two-year term on the IMIA Board as the Vice President North America.

Mental Health Week & Research

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Unmasking mental health means asking deeper questions, and CanPath data is helping researchers find the answers. This Mental Health Week, we’re recognizing how interconnected mental health is with every part of life. Researchers are using Atlantic PATH data to explore: ? Mental health and shift work (Sweeney et al., 2021) ? Depression, anxiety and the risk of cancer incidence (van Tuijl et al., 2023) ? Socioeconomic status, depression and prostate cancer survivorship (Ilie et al., 2021) ? Post-treatment adverse health correlates among prostate cancer survivors (Ilie et al., 2021) ? Anxiety and depression in prostate cancer survivors (Ilie et al., 2020) Researchers are using CanPath data to explore: ? COVID-19 and mental health in 23 international cohorts (In progress) ? Depression, diet, and diabetes (Schmitz & Sen, 2024) ? System costs of effective mental healthcare coverage (Vasiliadis et al., 2024) ? And more, like how our environments and chronic diseases like cancer intersect with mental health When we look beyond the surface, we see the whole person, and more possibilities for care, policy, and prevention. ? Watch the webinar on depression, diet, and diabetes >> https://lnkd.in/eHNm97YM ? Read the latest publications addressing mental health using CanPath data >> https://lnkd.in/ecQkdGQR  

National Volunteer Week and Thank You Thursday

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Happy National Volunteer Week and Thank You Thursday from CanPath and Atlantic PATH! Atlantic PATH participants are critical partners in advancing health research. For more than fifteen years, their voluntary contributions have enabled discoveries shaping the future of disease prevention, diagnosis, and care. Atlantic PATH participants’ commitment reminds us that every data point represents a person, and every discovery represents hope for healthier communities. Thank you to all our participants for making population health research possible. Learn more about participants’ impact, including Atlantic PATH participant, Barbara Campbell! https://canpath.ca/meet-canpath-participants/

New Article – The Association of Sleep Trouble and Physical Inactivity with Breast Cancer Risk in Nova Scotia

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Congratulations to Dr. Cindy Feng on her new article, “The Association of Sleep Trouble and Physical Inactivity with Breast Cancer Risk in Nova Scotia: Evidence from the Atlantic PATH Cohort.” Breast cancer is a major public health concern, and modifiable health behaviors such as sleep quality and physical activity may influence risk. This study examined the associations between self-reported sleep trouble, sleep duration, and physical activity with breast cancer incidence in a prospective longitudinal cohort of 10,305 females from Nova Scotia. This work is part of Dr. Feng’s ongoing research with Atlantic PATH focused on predictive modeling and geographical analysis of cancer incidence in Atlantic Canada.  

New Article – Quality of Non-Surgical and Non-Pharmacological Knee Osteoarthritis Care in the Maritimes

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Congratulations to Aleksandra Budarick, Dr. Cheryl Hubley-Kozey, Dr. Rebecca Moyer and team on their new article, “Quality of Non-Surgical and Non-Pharmacological Knee Osteoarthritis Care in the Maritimes.” Participants with osteoarthritis from Atlantic PATH were invited to participate in an ancillary study about the Current Management and Health Care Quality for Patients with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis. Over half of individuals with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis did not receive recommended core treatments in the Maritimes, highlighting a need to improve care for this patient group.

CIHR Team Grants: Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention

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Team Grants — Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention  This opportunity is led by the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR) in collaboration with the CIHR Institutes of: Aging (CIHR-IA), Gender and Health (CIHR-IGH), Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR-INMD), Population and Public Health (CIHR-IPPH), and in partnership with the BioCanRx, Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), Cancer Research Society (CRS), Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) – Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE), and the Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI). This funding opportunity aims to unite interdisciplinary research teams to advance the biological and mechanistic understanding of cancer etiology, genesis, and risk to identify new targets and approaches for cancer prevention, risk reduction and early detection. CanPath and Atlantic PATH can provide letters of support for applicants using our data and biological samples. Registration deadline: April 1, 2025 Application deadline: June 19, 2025 Additional details: https://bit.ly/3PtR8SC Upcoming webinars: January 29, 12:30-2:00 PM ET | Register here. February 5, 12:30-2:00 PM ET | Register here  

New Article – Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada

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Congratulations to Dr. François Lagacé, Dr. Ivan Litvinov and team on their new article, “Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada.” Participants from Atlantic PATH and the Manitoba Tomorrow Project were invited to participate in the SunFit study led by Dr. Litvinov at McGill University. Skin cancer prevention requires effective sun safety practices. Previous studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals exhibit lower sunscreen use and higher tanning bed usage compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. This SunFit study is the first to assess skin cancer risk factors, sun-protective behaviors, and skin cancer concerns among LGBTQ+ participants across Canada.