Tag: CanPath

CanPath Access Office Hours

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Planning a grant application for 2026 or shaping a project idea now? Have questions about CanPath data, biosamples, the Portal, or need a letter of support? Join the CanPath team on January 22nd at 1pmAST for their Access Office Hours, a live, informal Q&A with the CanPath and Maelstrom Research teams! Whether you’re getting started or refining an application for upcoming funding opportunities, this is a great chance to get personalized guidance in a small, researcher-focused setting. Meet the team:🌟 Nouar ElSaid ElKhair, CanPath Access Officer🌟 Anouar Nechba, Maelstrom Program Manager🌟 Tina W. Wey, Maelstrom Data Analyst🌟 Treena McDonald, CanPath Biosamples Coordinator Register: https://canpath.ca/2026/01/access-office-hours-jan-2026/

CanPath Webinar: Advancing cardiometabolic health research in Canada

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Building on CAHHM: Advancing cardiometabolic health research in Canada Date: February 5, 2026 Time: 1pmAST Location:us02web.zoom.us About the webinar In this session, the CAHHM team will share key findings from the initial Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) study and introduce the objectives and design of the recontact phase. Building on the foundation of Canada’s largest multi-ethnic cardiovascular imaging cohort, the presentation will explore how new analyses and collaborations will advance our understanding of cardiometabolic health and support improved prevention and care strategies nationwide. About the presenter Dr. Sonia Anand is a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at McMaster University, is the Director of the Chanchlani Research Centre focused on Health Equity Research and is a Senior Scientist at the Population Health Research Institute. Dr. Anand received a Doctor of Medicine from McMaster in 1992, Internal Medicine Training at McMaster and a Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 1996. After additional clinical training in thrombosis and in vascular medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dr. Anand works as a vascular medicine specialist at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University. Dr. Anand further received her Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology at McMaster in 1996 and Ph.D. in Health Research Methodology at McMaster in 2002. She held two terms as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and holds the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario/Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Population Health Research. Her present research focuses upon the environmental and genetic determinants of vascular disease in populations of varying ancestral origin, women and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Anand’s work is widely published amongst academic journals with over 500 scientific publications, and in 2019 she was inducted as a Fellow to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. In 2020 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Diabetes from the South Asian Health Foundation, UK. In 2021, Dr. Anand joined the National Heart and Stroke Foundation as a Board member. In 2022, Dr. Anand received the Margolese National Heart Disorders Prize and was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. In 2023, she was awarded the YWCA Women of Distinction award. As of July 2023, Dr. Anand has taken on the role of Associate Vice-President, Global Health. In 2024, Dr. Anand was awarded the Jack Hirsh Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement from the Department of Medicine at McMaster University and the Robert Beamish Leadership Award at the 26th Annual Naranjan Dhalla Cardiovascular Awards Day. In 2025, Dr. Anand was awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for Community Service. Register for the webinar

New Article – Enrichment of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health Study: Protocol for Administering Multiple Online Dietary and Movement Behavior Assessment Tools in a Longitudinal Cohort Study

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Congratulations to Dr. Rachel Murphy and team on their new article, “Enrichment of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health Study: Protocol for Administering Multiple Online Dietary and Movement Behavior Assessment Tools in a Longitudinal Cohort Study.” This protocol describes the development of the largest known repository of dietary intake and movement behavior data in Canada by drawing upon an existing longitudinal cohort study, the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath). In the short-term, the data will be used to examine associations between system factors (e.g., retail food environments) and dietary intake. In the longer-term, data will be available to pursue a range of research questions, including longitudinal associations between diet, movement behavior, and health outcomes. This work is part of the HEAL (HEALthy Eating and Supportive Environments) study that aims to reach 100,000 participants across all seven regional cohorts representing ten provinces.

CanPath Prairie Cohorts

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The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s Prairie Chapter has an upcoming webinar on Leveraging Longitudinal Health Research Platforms for Population Health is coming up on December 9, 2025. Join our CanPath colleagues from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, Healthy Future Sask and the Manitoba Tomorrow Project as they share how Prairie-based cohort studies are transforming population health research. 🔍 You’ll explore:âś… Digital health surveys and administrative data linkageâś… Data harmonization for cross-jurisdictional researchâś… Real-world applications in chronic disease surveillanceâś… Collaboration opportunities for evidence-based decision-making đź‘Ą Featuring speakers:• Dr. Jennifer Vena – Scientific Director, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project• Dr. Donna Turner – Provincial Director, Population Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba• Megan Vanstone – Director of Research Development & Strategy, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into longitudinal health data for population health innovation. đź“… December 9, 2025 | Webinar đź”— Register now: https://lnkd.in/gDVBY7Hz

CanPath at CCRC 2025: Connection, collaboration, and cancer research across Canada

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More than 1,300 people came together in Calgary for the Canadian Cancer Research Conference (CCRC) 2025, creating an inspiring atmosphere of ideas, energy, and community. For CanPath and our regional cohorts, the meeting is one of the few times each year when our pan-Canadian team gathers in person to learn from one another, support our colleagues, and reflect on the collective impact we’re making on cancer research across the country. This year’s conference highlighted just how interconnected our work has become. From poster sessions and oral presentations to hallway conversations and hands-on training, CanPath-supported research was visible across disciplines, regions, and career stages. Learn more: https://canpath.ca/2025/11/canpath-at-ccrc-2025-recap/

Participant Town Hall – Nov 17th

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There are only three more days before the upcoming Atlantic PATH and CanPath Participant Town Hall! There is still time to register! On Monday, November 17th, you can learn about how we are “Preventing Cancer, Together: How your Data is Driving Discoveries.” Join us at the Town Hall to learn how the data and biological samples provided by our participants are used to study cancer and chronic disease and support exciting scientific discoveries. When: Monday, November 17, 2025 1-230pm Atlantic Time Where: Online Zoom Meeting Watch your email inbox for an invitation and additional details! If you have changed your contact information, please reach out: https://www.atlanticpath.ca/index.php/contact-us/ You can also register here (http://bit.ly/4nRdVHh) and submit your questions to be answered during our panel discussion. Please note, the webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards on YouTube.

Meet the HEAL & CHARM Team

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The HEAL and CHARM studies bring together an incredible team of researchers, coordinators, and collaborators from across Canada, all working to better understand how our diet, activity, and environments shape health and equity. The HEAL (HEALthy Eating and Supportive Environments) study is the  largest study on diet and physical activity in Canada! Atlantic PATH participants will receive an invitation to join the HEAL study, and what you share will help researchers understand how we eat, move, and live, leaving a legacy that will guide future health research, programs, and policies across Canada. Your participation matters. Each response helps build a foundation for healthier communities — now and for generations to come.  Team members answered “What aspects of the HEAL and CHARM studies are currently the most exciting or rewarding for you to work on?” Here’s what they had to say. https://canpath.ca/2025/11/meet-the-heal-and-charm-teams/

Participant Town Hall (Nov 17th)

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Less than two weeks before the upcoming Atlantic PATH and CanPath Participant Town Hall! On Monday, November 17th, you can learn about how we are “Preventing Cancer, Together: How your Data is Driving Discoveries.” Join us at the Town Hall to learn how the data and biological samples provided by our participants are used to study cancer and chronic disease and support exciting scientific discoveries. When: Monday, November 17, 2025 1-230pm Atlantic Time Where: Online Zoom Meeting Watch your email inbox for an invitation and additional details! If you have changed your contact information, please reach out: https://www.atlanticpath.ca/index.php/contact-us/ You can also register here (http://bit.ly/4nRdVHh) and submit your questions to be answered during our panel discussion. Please note, the webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards on YouTube.

Breast Cancer Research in Canada

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Empower yourself with knowledge: How CanPath is reshaping breast cancer research in Canada  For decades, race and ethnicity have been largely missing from breast cancer research in Canada. The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) is working to close that gap by studying how screening participation, treatments, risk factors, and outcomes differ across racial and ethnic groups, with the goal of informing more equitable, evidence-based screening guidelines.  CanPath is Canada’s largest population health study, supported by over 330,000 participants across Canada who provide life-changing health data to help our researchers uncover important links between lifestyle, genetics and health.   This October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and with a recent $300K investment from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), CanPath is highlighting the amazing work from our researchers to examine differences in breast cancer screening participation, treatments, and outcomes by race and ethnicity, and identify how risk factors vary across groups.  Through this research, CanPath plans to inform more equitable screening guidelines and prevention approaches by providing currently missing data on race and ethnicity, helping to ensure that breast cancer screening reflects the diverse needs of all Canadian women.  “Empower yourself with knowledge about your personal risk factors, family history of disease and seek out regular screening given that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime,” advises Prof. Victoria Kirsh, CanPath’s Scientific Coordinator and Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH). “CanPath is an amazing resource with a rich data set on lifestyle, environment, genetic, and dietary data so the research possibilities are really endless”.  CanPath is committed to a future without cancer and is dedicated to providing the necessary research to transition this goal into reality for all women.  What has been missing  Canada’s population continues to change with a growing diverse population, yet little information is out there about the effects of race and cancer outcomes. Genetics, lifestyle and environment all play key roles in risk for cancers however the effect of race remains understudied. “I think the project as a whole is inspiring to begin with, we’re looking at racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, and that’s something that has been on the back burner or not even investigated for a really, really long time,” highlights Fatima Zulfiqar, a CanPath practicum student who spent her summer supporting this project’s development. “I know that there are various women of color who have certain predispositions when it comes to breast cancer and so having this conversation and looking at the nuances that race plays in breast cancer outcomes is important.”  Historically, marginalized groups have been left out of research, leading to issues with generalizing findings to a larger population. Issues with accessibility to breast cancer care continue to persist and require a deeper dive to tear down the barriers within healthcare.  “It’s very important to study [breast cancer] and look at it and understand it from a real life perspective of how it’s impacting women, who are seeking care or not seeking care and what those differences are and how we can probe them and explore them and hopefully make breast cancer care and diagnosis more accessible to all of them,” said Marilla Hulls, an MPH Epidemiology practicum student who supported another CanPath project objective related to breast cancer screening. Be the link that bridges the gap  Much remains to be uncovered in breast cancer research, and CanPath is committed to supporting young researchers in their journey to create a long-lasting impact within the field. These upcoming researchers are working to close evidence gaps in breast cancer risk, screening and outcomes across racial and ethnic groups in Canada.  “If you’re looking for an area that’s really impactful, we know that breast cancer affects a lot of people in Canada. Even if it’s not yourself that has breast cancer, you probably know someone who has breast cancer or who has been affected,” says Ashley Mah, a doctoral student working on the project. “This is a really great area of research to work in and it’s really collaborative and you get to meet so many amazing people including clinicians, other researchers, students, trainees as well as patients”.  Breast cancer research is only made possible by the participation of Canadians who offer their information to provide the necessary data to drive new discoveries. Our participants make it possible to analyze patterns in screening, diagnosis and treatment across diverse communities and their dedication does not go unappreciated.  “Going through the process has taught me a lot. Those numbers are not just data points, they’re actually human beings, they have volunteered their information to help us make our research move forward and it’s very rewarding,” says Feifan Xiang, a data analyst for the study.  More to be done  Acknowledging the effect of breast cancer on the public is just the beginning of a dedicated investigation to making breast cancer screening more widely available, comprehensive and culturally appropriate to ensure women everywhere receive the care they need.  CanPath is continually working to link cancer databases with participant information to analyze screening results, including recall and biopsy rates, and inform more equitable prevention, detection and treatment strategies in Canada.  For more information, please contact: Megan FlemingCommunications & Knowledge Translation OfficerCanadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath)info@canpath.ca

Canadian Cancer Research Conference 2025 (Calgary, AB)

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CanPath and its regional cohorts will be well represented at the Canadian Cancer Research Conference taking place in Calgary, AB from November 2-4, 2025. This conference “brings together the Canadian cancer research community for an agenda spanning the research spectrum. This is an ideal opportunity for researchers, trainees, clinicians, decision-makers, and patients to hear the latest developments in Canadian cancer research and network across research disciplines.” Oral presentations include: Dr. Maryam Darvishian, University of British Columbia Dr. Darvishian will present on i) breast cancer screening engagement among women with different ethnic backgrounds; and ii) predictors of participation in cervical cancer screening. Dr. Mariam Mehran, Q-CROC (Clinical Research in Oncology) Dr. Mehran will present on the lifetime occupational and domestic environmental exposures and breast cancer risk. Poster presentations include: Dr. Travis Hrubeniuk, Manitoba Tomorrow Project/Cancer Care Manitoba Dr. Hrubeniuk will present on the lessons learned in building a population-based cohort for cancer research. Katarina Maksimovic, MSc, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Katarina will present on biobanks, research and resources related to oncology samples and data. Dr. Sam Kenston, University of British Columbia Dr. Kenston will present data related to the built environment and its impact on adherence to cancer prevention guidelines, cancer incidence and mortality. Laura Pelland-St-Pierre, University of Montreal Laura will present on occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and breast and prostate cancer. Dr. Rachel Murphy, University of British Columbia Dr. Murphy will present on new opportunities for exploring diet and activity across the cancer trajectory. Theresa Vo, MSc, Memorial University Theresa will present on a study that will focus on repeated breast cancer screening uptake among Chinese immigrants. Alyssa Milano, MSc, BC Cancer Alyssa will present on precision cancer prevention and unravelling heterogeneity in dietary intake and metabolic health. Jean Claude Bigenimana, BC Cancer Jean Claude will present on using natural language processing to create a virtual tumour repository for cancer research. Ace Chan, MSc, University of British Columbia Ace will present on changes in cancer-causing substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic among gender minority populations. Laura Grant, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Laura will present on research opportunities and building a cancer trajectory biobank. Dr. Grace Shen-Tu, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Dr. Shen-Tu will present on leveraging data and biosamples to unlock new cancer and chronic disease insights. Dr. Sara Nejatinamini, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Dr. Nejatinamini will present on disparities in geospatial patterns of cervical cancer screening and associated risk factors . Dr. Jason Xu, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Dr. Xu will present on the concordance between self-reported and administrative data on cervical cancer screening. Sabine El-Halabi, University of British Columbia Sabine will present on external validation and comparison of endometrial cancer risk populations. Melanie Matte, MPH, University of Calgary Melanie will present on insights from the development of a mobile phone app for cancer prevention research.