CanPath Access Office Hours

Join us for the CanPath Access Office Hours to learn more about how you can leverage CanPath data for your research. Members of the Access Office will be available to answer your questions, including Atlantic PATH Executive Director, Jason Hicks and our CanPath colleagues, Nouar Elkhair and Sheraz Cheema. The “Access Office Hours” virtual series provides researchers with an opportunity every quarter to ask questions they may have about CanPath data and biosamples, the access process or the CanPath Portal.

Global Biobank Meta-Analysis Initiative: How CanPath is Powering Genetic Discovery Across Human Disease

The Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative (GBMI) unites 24 biobanks, including CanPath and its regional cohorts, with data from over 2.2 million people, to power global genetic discovery. By integrating diverse genetic info, GBMI improves disease risk prediction, advances personalized medicine, and boosts discoveries. CanPath contributes Canadian data, adding diversity and impact! Together, they’ve harmonized data, improved data on 14 diseases, and accelerated drug target discovery. The future? More inclusivity, better data sharing, and deeper disease insights.

CIHR Team Grants: Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention

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  

CanPath Featured as one of Canada’s Most Successful Investments in Biobanking

CanPath was featured as one of Canada’s most successful investments in biobanking! ?? In an Open Access Government article, Francois Lamontagne, Paul Hebert, and Michelle Kho (Sepsis Canada) emphasize the critical role of biobanks in generating new insights into healthcare and disease management. They underscore the pitfalls of ‘classic’ biobanks, highlight the low-cost opportunity of ‘living’ biobank infrastructure, and suggest a way forward toward sustainable, high-impact, decentralized, federated, and ‘living’ biobank infrastructure. ?? From understanding genetic influences to environmental factors, Canadians’ biological samples collected through CanPath and regional cohorts’ studies are paving the path for a healthier future. ?? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dN5VdX8j

CBC News Article

A Dalhousie University and McMaster University led project is highlighted in a recent CBC article. The New Frontiers in Research Fund supported research is focused on disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes in a Black Nova Scotian community (Shelburne, Nova Scotia). This research is truly interdisciplinary, incorporating natural and social sciences to consider the role of environmental, biological, genetic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors with the high cancer incidence and mortality in this community. Atlantic PATH will act as a comparison population using data and biological samples from Nova Scotia participants. Additional details about this project and the new Nova Scotia Environmental Racism Panel in the CBC Article by Josefa Cameron (July 2, 2023): https://bit.ly/44dw9cu

CanPath Access Office Hours

The CanPath Access Office invites researchers to an Office Hours session. This virtual series provides researchers with an opportunity to ask questions about CanPath data and biosamples and the access process. Members of the Access Office will be available to answer questions and demonstrate how to navigate the CanPath Portal and online application. Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsc-ugqD8sH9QfdxDq2NPHtBttkD17yCz1#/registration  

Mitacs Outstanding Entrepreneur Award

Congratulations to our colleague, Dr. Rafaela Andrade, co-founder and CEO of Halifax-based company Myomar Molecular on their Mitacs Outstanding Entrepreneur Award!! Dr. Andrade has used Atlantic PATH data and biosamples in their project, Clinical Study and Identification of Muscle Atrophy Biomarkers. Dr. Andrade and Myomar Molecular’s work have developed the world’s first urine strip test for measuring muscle loss. Ultimately, this work will allow for early monitoring of indicators of muscle loss and early interventions and improved quality of life.

ISBER Awards

Congratulations to our colleague, Dr. Peter Watson on the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Biobanking from the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories!! We’re fortunate to work with Dr. Watson in his role with CanPath. Dr. Watson is the Director of Biobanking and Biospecimen Research Services, staff pathologist and senior scientist with BC Cancer. He is also a Professor of Pathology at the University of British Columbia and adjunct professor at the University of Victoria. Read more: https://www.isber.org/news/638153/ISBER-is-pleased-to-announce-the-2023-Award-Winners.htm  

The Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC)

Dr. Ellen Sweeney (Research Director, Atlantic PATH) and Dr. Victoria Kirsh (Scientific Associate, Ontario Health Study) were pleased to attend the Ontario Public Health Convention (TOPHC) on behalf of CanPath. Dr. Sweeney presented on CanPath’s resources for research on chronic disease and cancer and Dr. Kirsh presented on risk factors for COVID-19 infection among CanPath participants. TOPHC is created by and for public health professionals and delivers workshops, presentations, and keynote presentations focused on the unique experiences, challenges and opportunities in public health today. TOPHC events offer a chance for public health professionals to learn from each other, get inspired, provoke thought and move forward to make a difference in their careers and communities (https://www.tophc.ca/).