Graduate research awards showcase TRP’s innovation and impact

2nd year MHSc student in Translational Research Program (TRP) student, and student at the Climate, Health & Sustainable Care Training Program at the University of Toronto.

“I am currently navigating between two projects: streamlining transition from pediatric to adult care in individuals with epilepsy and evaluating the proposed expansion of scope of practice for psychologists in Ontario.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by unpredictable and often debilitating seizures that affects over 300,000 residents of Canada, 20-30% of whom are children. While transition can be highly effective, transition programs remain underfunded, with only one official transition clinic in all of Ontario. As such, transfer, rather than transition, of care is prevalent. My research project aims to develop an intervention that can better support teenagers with epilepsy navigate transition from pediatric to adult care. By targeting this gap, I hope to increase quality of life including mental well-being and social participation for individuals with epilepsy.

Recently, the Ministry of Health proposed an expansion of the scope of practice for some psychologists in Ontario to: 1) include prescribing select psychotropic drugs to manage/treat mental health conditions; and 2) order and interpret specific laboratory tests. While these proposed changes could increase accessibility of care for some, they could also lead to health disparities for others. Public health and safety also has the potential to be impacted through these changes. As such, I hope to conduct an independent evaluation of these proposed changes to determine if they would be in the public interest.

It is an honour to receive this award. It will allow me to contribute to these research questions in a meaningful way through a community-centric lens. I was drawn to this research as it combines my passion for mental health care and my drive to contribute to scientific advancements that directly improve patient care.”

2nd year MHSc student in Translational Research Program (TRP) student.

“My project's name is SAFER-FARM (Strategies for Avian Flu Exposure Reduction through Farm worker Awareness and Risk Management). Avian influenza continues to infect birds and mammals including humans around the world. This project aims to implement evidence-based behavioural interventions targeting agricultural workers at farms within Ontario to improve PPE compliance and reduce vaccine hesitancy. This will be done through stakeholder engagement, pandemic response co-design with farmhands, and the establishment of peer champion training programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the importance of being prepared for the next public health threat, and how critical it is to build trust in communities. This project hopes to be a more involved, grassroots approach in supporting people who would be at a higher risk of infection, were a larger avian influenza outbreak to occur in Canada.

This award will facilitate me to do hands-on work with this target population, enabling me and my team to collaborate with farmers to improve biosecurity practices and create a comprehensive report of our findings.”

2nd year MHSc student in Translational Research Program (TRP) student, supervised by Dr. Edyta Marcon and Dr. Joseph Ferenbok, in collaboration with Dr. Melissa Greenblatt at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

My research, conducted in partnership with the Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine (DPLM) at SickKids, focuses on optimizing nucleic acid amplification tests to reduce turnaround times for rapid diagnosis and treatment. Specifically, we are working to implement on-site testing to improve de-isolation guidelines for suspected tuberculosis (TB) patients, enabling faster clinical decision-making, better patient outcomes, and cost savings.

I am passionate about infectious diseases and global health, with a strong interest in the critical role that rapid diagnostics play in timely treatment and effective disease management. During my undergraduate work using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for Borrelia detection, I saw firsthand how timely diagnosis can directly influence patient recovery. This experience motivated me to pursue research that integrates efficient diagnostic practices into the healthcare system to address these urgent challenges.

I am very grateful to have received this award, as it allows me to further explore innovative diagnostic technologies, collaborate with experts in Toronto, and contribute to advancing the implementation of rapid testing protocols in clinical care.”

2nd year MHSc student in Translational Research Program (TRP) student.

My research project involves a joint collaboration with three of my classmates to explore, develop, and implement behavioural interventions related to avian influenza prevention on farms in Ontario. While human exposure to avian flu has been rare in Canada, individuals who work directly with livestock face the highest risk to contract the disease. As such, our group is looking to co-design measures to better protect these individuals.

This project presented a unique opportunity to apply translational research knowledge to an emerging public health issue and develop skills related to community-driven research.

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship has been an incredible help in supporting my studies, enabling me to dedicate more time to fieldwork, engage with academic and industry experts, and create a real impact within Ontario communities.”