Results of the Challenge Grants Competition – Pillar 3 & 4 Research
Funding results of the Challenge Grants Competition – Pillar 3 & 4
Helping Arabic-speaking refugee women access breast cancer screening
David Busolo | University of New Brunswick
Detecting breast cancer early improves health outcomes and saves lives. Arabic-speaking women in Canada often face barriers like language, culture, social factors and systemic issues that stop them from accessing screening services. Dr David Busolo is working with Arabic-speaking navigators, local settlement agencies and health services to help Arabic-speaking refugee women in New Brunswick access breast cancer screening.
Using AI to improve equity and access to breast cancer care
Kathryn Isaac | University of British Columbia
Dr Kathryn Isaac is using AI to help improve equity and access to breast cancer care. Her team is developing tools that can analyze clinical reports, identify patients who need urgent attention and support faster, more consistent care. By helping clinicians prioritize patients more effectively, the project aims to reduce delays and improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by breast cancer.
Improving HPV-related cancer prevention for 2S/LGBTQ+ people
Nathan Lachowsky | University of Northern British Columbia and the Community-Based Research Centre
HPV infections are the leading cause of anal, cervical, penile, vaginal and vulvar cancers. 2S/LGBTQ+ people, especially in northern, remote or rural communities, may find it hard to access essential preventive care like HPV vaccination or cancer screening. Dr Nathan Lachowsky and the Community-Based Research Centre are working with 2S/LGBTQ+ people at risk to learn who is and isn’t getting vaccinated or screened and why. With this information, they will create more accessible, culturally sensitive cancer prevention approaches for these communities.
Working closely with people who have lived and living experience of breast cancer has shown me that waiting for answers is often one of the hardest parts of the cancer journey. Patients have shared how delays and uncertainty affect not only their health, but also their emotional well-being and their families. Their experiences have reinforced that improving access to timely, equitable care is just as important as developing new treatments and they continue to shape every stage of this project.
— Kathryn Isaac, Using AI to improve equity and access to breast cancer care
University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
Implementing exercise programs to improve cancer outcomes
Kristin Campbell | University of British Columbia
Lauren Capozzi | BC Cancer - Kelowna
A recent clinical trial showed that adding structured exercise to colon cancer treatment significantly improved survival and reduced recurrence rates. Dr Kristin Campbell and Dr Lauren Capozzi are working with clinicians and people affected by cancer to create a plan all clinics can use to implement structured exercise programs. They hope this will lead to more effective, equitable cancer care with better long-term outcomes.
Supporting mental health in fathers of children with cancer
Hallie Coltin | CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre
Léandra Desjardins | CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre
Fathers whose children have been diagnosed with cancer face stress and uncertainty. Very little research has been done into the mental health challenges these fathers experience and therefore few supports exist that serve their unique needs. Dr Hallie Coltin and Dr Léandra Desjardins are studying mental health data and surveying fathers of children with cancer to learn more about their experiences and enable better mental health support.
This project is shaped directly by the journeys of fathers we have witnessed and the invaluable shared experience of our project advisory committee fathers. Their stories have inspired us to make this project a reality and motivated our strong conviction in this project. We are working together on a shared goal of shedding light on the important and understudied topic of mental health in fathers to develop more informed and equitable psychosocial care in pediatric cancer.
— Hallie Coltin, Supporting mental health in fathers of children with cancer
CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre – Montréal, QC
Better cancer prevention for people who have had organ transplants
Claudie Laprise | Centre de recherche du CHUM
The risk of cancer doubles after an organ transplant, yet cancer prevention often gets less attention than managing rejection risk and other post-transplant priorities. Dr Claudie Laprise is interviewing organ transplant recipients to understand their perceptions, experiences and needs. This knowledge will lead to better cancer education and prevention tools for people who have had organ transplants.
Improving care conversations for people living with incurable cancer
Hsien Seow | McMaster University
People living with incurable cancer benefit from honest, compassionate conversations about their illness, treatment options and goals for care. Many healthcare providers don’t feel adequately prepared to have these discussions. Dr Hsien Seow and his team developed the All providers Better Communication Skills program to strengthen providers’ serious illness communication skills. This project will adapt and evaluate the program for oncology teams across Canada, helping patients understand their illness, express their needs and preferences and receive care that aligns with what matters most to them.
Helping caregivers access and engage with support resources
Janet Papadakos | The Institute for Education Research – UHN
Meredith Giuliani | Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
More and more people in Canada are caring for someone with cancer. Often, they feel unsupported and may struggle with caregiving responsibilities. It can be difficult for caregivers to engage with support resources, so Dr Janet Papadakos and Dr Meredith Giuliani are developing and testing new strategies to help. The findings will be used to help caregivers access the support they need, improving their lives and the lives of those receiving care.
Helping expand access to Canadian-made CAR T cell therapy in Canada
Kednapa Thavorn | Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Natasha Kekre | Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
CAR T cell therapy uses a person’s own immune cells to treat certain cancers and has changed the outlook for many people. Despite its promise, access remains limited because the treatment is difficult to make and much of the production currently takes place outside Canada. That’s why Canada is investing in domestic CAR T cell production. Dr Kednapa Thavorn and Dr Natasha Kekre are working with hospital leaders, policymakers, patients and caregivers to understand how Canadian-made CAR T therapies can be introduced in ways that improve access, meet patients’ needs and strengthen Canada’s healthcare system.
Patients and caregivers have shaped this project from the beginning. Their experiences have helped us understand that improving access is about more than developing new treatments. It is also about reducing the burden of travel, shortening waits whenever possible and designing care that fits the realities of people’s lives.
— Kednapa Thavorn, Helping expand access to Canadian-made CAR T cell therapy in Canada
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute – Ottawa, ON