Calls for Submissions and Participation

A special upcoming issue of Nursing Inquiry: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Policy and Healthcare will be devoted to participatory health research. Submissions are invited that address conceptual, methodological, and pragmatic dimensions of participatory forms of health research. The goal of this special issue is to advance a better understanding of participatory health research across different disciplines and audiences (e.g.educators, students, health practitioners, policy makers, and researchers). The closing date for submissions is 1 October 2009.

See the website (PDF) for more information.

Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence is seeking a part-time (.6 EFT) employee until March 31, 2010 to facilitate the development of Gender-based Analysis Training and to provide Research Assistance on projects. Reporting to the Executive Director, the GBA Coordinator will assist with developing and delivering training resources, coordinating GBA training workshops, writing funding applications to support the creation of targeted GBA resources and training opportunities for a variety of audiences and formats. The successful candidate will also be involved from time-to-time as a research assistant on projects at the Centre. See the PDF for details.

The SBD initiative was developed in 2004 in demonstration of Health Canada’s commitment to enhance the transparency of the drug and medical device regulatory review processes. An SBD document outlines the scientific and benefit/risk-based considerations that factor into Health Canada’s decision to grant market authorization for a drug or medical device. The SBD initiative is being implemented in a phased approach and began with new drug submissions for new active substances and a subset of Class IV medical device applications authorized after January 1, 2005. As part of the evaluation of phase I of the SBD initiative, Health Canada is asking stakeholders to complete an evaluation workbook and to submit it to OBT_enquiries@hc-sc.gc.ca by May 15, 2009.

For more information, visit the website.

On November 20^th and 21st, Rethink Breast Cancer will be presenting the second, annual Breast Fest Film Festival in Toronto. This multi-platform festival will showcase films that cover the emotional spectrum of the disease, using the expressive and creative powers of film to engage and educate audiences about breast cancer in a new and significant way. Breast Fest is seeking entries for a short film competition. Both filmmakers and those touched by breast cancer, directly or indirectly, are invited to produce a short video, film, animation, or PSA that sheds light on the issues surrounding breast cancer and breast health in unique and creative ways.

Deadline for applications: May 22, 2009

The National Network on Environments and Women’s Health Graduate Fellowship in Women's Health and the Environment is a $20,000 annual award designed to support a highly qualified graduate student in extending her/his research experience by engaging in women's health research and policy advice with the support of a vibrant group of scholars and in the context of a busy year of activities and events hosted by NNEWH. The fellow will be involved in a variety of projects relating to environments and women’s health, the “consumption” of chemicals, use of prescription drugs, and the growing concern around hormones and disinfectant byproducts in relation to water quality. For more information, contact Jyoti Phartiyal at 416-736-2100 x20715.

As one part of a collaborative project in environmental health over the past year entitled Women & Water in Canada (National Network on Environments and Women’s Health, Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence and the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health), a website is being planned for launch in early May to promote and distribute the reports and the knowledge generated, to engage women in the issue and provide information, links, and perhaps outlets for views and reactions. We welcome your suggestions and views as to what this site should include.  Please send your ideas to: Dayna Nadine Scott, Assistant Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Environmental Studies at: dscott@osgoode.yorku.ca

Deadline for Submissions:  June 12, 2009

The Women’s Mental Health Program of the University of Toronto invites you to submit an abstract to our first provincial conference on women’s mental health, to be held on Saturday, October 17^th, 2009.  The conference is intended to create a forum for women’s mental health researchers across Ontario to meet one another, share their research and ideas, and forge collaborative relationships. Submissions from all academic disciplines are welcome, as are topics in any area of women’s mental health.  We invite researchers at all stages of their careers to participate. We especially encourage students and trainees to submit proposals. 

Institute of Gender and Health Funding Opportunities

IGH has just released a number of new RFAs. For more information about these, please visit the website.
Stay tuned for a Meetings, Planning and Dissemination grant that will be posted in mid-July.

Institute Community Support (ICS) Program funding opportunities

• IGH travel awards for trainees (graduate students and post-doctoral fellows)

The maximum amount for a single travel award is $2,500 to cover the costs of travel, accommodations, meals, and conference registration fees. For further details on eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit the IGH Travel Awards Page.

• IGH awards for excellence in gender, sex and health research

This $1,000 award is aimed at graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and residents from all disciplines, working in the field of gender, sex and health research. For more information about this program, please consult the IGH Award for Excellence in Gender, Sex and Health Research page.

• IGH lectureships in gender, sex and health research

The maximum amount for a single award is $2,500 to cover travel costs, accommodation expenses, and a speaker honorarium. For more information about this program, please consult the IGH Lectureship Awards page.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is developing a resource of psychosocial information and support for young women with breast cancer. Within this resource, we hope to include stories from people who have experienced breast cancer in their lives, to provide a personal and relatable element for its readers. Researcher-writer Lindsay Jensen is currently looking for personal stories from young breast cancer survivors, their partners, caregivers, children, parents, etc.

Subjects of focus include:

- intimacy, sexuality and self-image

- fertility

- mental health and emotional issues

- children

- partners

- parents and siblings

- financial issues

- friends, coworkers and employers 

If you have a personal story to tell, please contact Lindsay Jensen at ljensen@cbcn.ca

We need you!

Join the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities’ new health project!

After 30 years of advocacy, the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD) knows the power of people with disabilities sharing their experiences and knowledge with others. The common theme among people living well with disability is their ability to create a personal path to HEAL—health education, advocacy and leadership.  We are pleased to offer our first HEAL program: creating five HEAL guides for people living with HIV/AIDS. If you are a person living with HIV/AIDS and have some experience with one or more of the topics below, we want to hear from you. We’ll be creating a series of booklets on the HEAL approach to living with HIV/AIDS and:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Substance abuse/harm reduction
• Stigma
• Episodic disability 

Interested in hearing more? Contact Shelley at BCCPD. Phone 604-875-0188 or toll-free to leave a message 1-877-232-7400. 

Fax 604-875-9227; TTY 604-875-8835; Email wdi@bccpd.bc.ca. Confidentiality is assured and you may participate using a pseudonym. Information is also available on our website under What's New.