Tag: Health Research

Data NB

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Our colleagues and administrative data holders in New Brunswick have rebranded to DataNB (formerly NB Institute for Research, Data and Training). “We have become synonymous with data – whether it’s training data analysts, holding provincial data or providing data access for research – so the name change just made sense,” said founding director Dr. Ted McDonald, a member of Health Data Research Network Canada’s Executive Committee. For the full announcement, please visit here. In 2024, a collaboration between Atlantic PATH and DataNB created a data linkage that made predicting chronic disease faster and simpler. “I am absolutely thrilled to see these linkages happen,” said Dr. Robin Urquhart, Atlantic PATH Scientific Director. “Atlantic PATH is an incredibly rich resource to understand the health of Atlantic Canadians and all of the different factors, like our biology, behaviours, and environments, that impact our health. This new linkage activity makes our resource more powerful, giving us access to different sources of data to answer complex health questions affecting all AtlanticCanadians.” “Not only is this historical, record-level data linkage activity, this work is crucial for Atlantic Canada, which has among the country’s highest rates of chronic disease and cancer,” said Dr. McDonald “Critically, it will enable researchers to focus on studies related to cancer and chronic disease that cannot be undertaken without linking the separate data sources. The data linkage has other important implications too, such as the potential to inform health policy and improve detection, prevention and treatment.” For additional information about data access, Atlantic PATH and DataNB, please reach out to us directly.

Participant Town Hall

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Join us for 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.” The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) is the largest population health study in Canada with more than 330,000 participants in seven regional cohorts, including Atlantic PATH, BC Generations Project, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, Healthy Future Sask, Manitoba Tomorrow Project, Ontario Health Study, and CARTaGENE (Quebec). The data and biological samples provided by our participants are used to study cancer and chronic disease and support exciting scientific discoveries. Join us at the Town Hall to When: Monday, November 17, 2025 1-230pm Atlantic Time Where: Online Zoom Meeting Register here and submit your questions to be answered during our panel discussion. Please note, the webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards on YouTube.

World Mental Health Day

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Join us in recognizing World Mental Health Day. CanPath is Canada’s largest population health study and includes approximately 34,000 participants who were diagnosed with depression and more than 27,000 participants with anxiety. Data and biosamples provided by our participants are being used in critical mental health research. Alexandra Del Favero is a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. Along with her supervisor, Dr. Kelvin Fong and using questionnaire data, toenail and saliva samples from Atlantic PATH, Alex is examining the effect of environmental factors on mental health in Nova Scotia. CanPath is one of 23 cohorts with 2.8 million participants included in the COVID Global Mental Health Consortium (CGMHC). Led by Dr. Jordan Smoller (Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital), this work is investigating pandemic-related mental health outcomes using individual-level harmonized longitudinal data. Data collected from CanPath COVID-19 questionnaires completed by participants from all regional cohorts are being used. Atlantic PATH are proud to lead this work on behalf of CanPath. Dr. Ashlyn Swift-Gallant (Department of Psychology, Memorial University) used data from Atlantic PATH to conduct research that found ovarian hormones contribute to the sex disparity in post-traumatic stress disorder. Drs. Gabriela Ilie, Rob Rutledge and Ellen Sweeney (Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health) used data from Atlantic PATH to investigate the association between prostate cancer diagnosis and mental health outcomes. Their work found increased rates of anxiety and depression among males with a history of prostate cancer; higher odds of depression among prostate cancer survivors who were treated with surgery; and higher rates of depression among prostate cancer survivors with a low household income compared to other forms of cancer and a high household income. These findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary effort to prioritize and deliver comprehensive mental health support to prostate cancer survivors. This work has helped to inform the groundbreaking Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) and CancerPEP led by Drs. Ilie and Rutledge that have been implemented around the world. Atlantic PATH is one of the 18 cohort studies in the PSYchosocial factors and CAncer (PSY-CA) Consortium. Led by Dr. Joost Dekker from the Amsterdam University Medical Centre, this study investigated whether psychosocial factors, such as depression can predict the incidence of cancer. Multiple publications that include Atlantic PATH data can be found here. To find out about the most up-to-date mental health research and learn about data access, please visit our website.

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

IARC Webinar

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We were pleased to attend a recent presentation by Dr. Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as she discusses IARC’s evolving research and prevention strategies for the global cancer burden. The event was co-hosted by Dr. Fei-Fei Liu, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Cancer Research, and Dr. Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown, Dean, Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dr. Weiderpass is an expert in cancer epidemiology and cancer prevention, with a particular interest in cancer registration, the understanding of cancers and the implementation of effective prevention strategies. She has published more than 1,000 scientific papers in peer-reviewed international journals. Prior to joining IARC, Dr. Weiderpass served as Head, Department of Research at the Cancer Registry of Norway, and of the Genetic Epidemiology Group at the Folkhälsan Research Center in Finland. She was Professor of Medical Epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the Arctic University of Norway.

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.

Webinar: Who gets counted? Examining representativeness in Canadian COVID-19 serosurveillance studies

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Date: September 10, 2025Time: 2-3pmASTLocation:us02web.zoom.us Register for the webinar About the webinar During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers used a range of creative recruitment strategies to carry out serological surveillance, but how representative were these study populations, and what can we learn from them? In this webinar, Dr. W. Alton Russell, Matthew Knight, and Dr. Yuan Yu will present findings from their recent BMC Public Health study comparing the sociodemographic characteristics of six SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance studies in Canada, including one using CanPath data. They’ll explore how study design influenced representation across age, sex, urban/rural location, material deprivation, and racialized groups, and why understanding these patterns is essential for equity-informed public health research beyond COVID-19. This webinar is ideal for public health researchers, epidemiologists, data scientists, and others interested in study design, health equity, and population-based surveillance. About the presenters W. Alton Russell, PhD, directs the data-driven decision modelling lab, which aims to enable the efficient, effective, and equitable use of finite healthcare resources using data science and decison modelling methods, in the McGill School of Population and Global Health. As Scientific Advisor to the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force until 2024, Dr. Russell led projects to understand and correct for bias in studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity related to representativeness, sample collection method, and assay performance. Matthew Knight, MSc, is the Data Manager of the Canadian Co-infection Cohort study at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, where he works alongside team members to maintain study databases, implement and document data harmonization initiatives, and support investigators with study analyses. He recently completed his Master’s degree in Epidemiology in the data-driven decision modelling lab, where he analyzed the sociodemographic representativeness of six Canadian serosurveillance studies under the supervision of Dr. Russell. Yuan Yu, PhD, is a statistician previously joined Alton’s decision modeling lab at McGill for serosurveillance study collaborating with Canadian Blood Services. With a background in Bayesian statistics and survey sampling, she has a broad interest in Bayesian application fields utilizing healthcare data resources.

Call for Abstracts (Students): Research NB Health Research Symposium

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ResearchNB invites health researchers, clinicians, and academics to submit abstracts for Poster Presentations at the upcoming 2025 Health Research Symposium, taking place November 20–21, 2025 at the Fredericton Convention Centre, in Fredericton, NB. Present on a Provincial StageThis is your opportunity to showcase your research to a province-wide audience of peers, partners, and policy makers. Participating in the Poster Competition is optional. You may chose to only present your poster during conference. As for the competition, only the top six (6) abstracts in each category listed below, as determined by the Committee of Reviewers, will be accepted for the Poster Presentation Competition. Each poster abstract should be under 300 words total, and must meet all other Abstract Requirements. The Poster Competition is ONLY available for current students. 🎤 Please Note:Abstracts that are not selected to enter the Poster Presentation Competition will automatically be given a slot to present their poster. This call is for Poster Presentations only. The submission period for the Oral Competition is now CLOSED. 📅 Submission Deadline:September 19 at 1:00 PM (Atlantic Time)Late submissions will not be accepted. 👉 Learn more and submit your abstract here!

Hypertension Awareness Month

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It’s Hypertension Awareness Month, and population health research is helping to advance how we predict, manage, and understand high blood pressure ? Recent studies using CARTaGENE and Alberta’s Tomorrow Project data have uncovered insights on: ? Suboptimal antihypertensive prescribing patterns in Quebec ? Why we should discard the first BP reading in clinical practice ❤️‍? How a hidden hormonal condition may drive heart damage ? The (surprising) effectiveness of traditional vs. ML models ? The impact of statins on diet quality in adults with metabolic syndrome CanPath and its regional cohorts offer the depth and scale to explore hypertension from every angle, from meds to models to metabolic risk. ? Explore the data: https://portal.canpath.ca/