Canadian Institutes of Health Research Grants Over $1.5 Million to Carleton Researchers
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is supporting two Carleton University research projects advancing critical public health investigations.
Jennifer Bruin, as well as Vivian Lee and Karen Sewell, have been awarded $1,526,942 in funding through the Project Grant competition to support their projects addressing environmental factors that contribute to rising diabetes rates and the lack of family-focused autism-specific programs, respectively.
The Project Grant program funds a diverse portfolio of research contributing to the creation and use of health-related knowledge.
Learn more about their projects:
Genotoxic environmental chemicals as drivers of pancreatic islet mutagenesis and metabolic dysfunction
- Recipient: Jennifer Bruin, Department of Biology
- Co-Principal Investigators: Francesco Marchetti, Adjunct Research Professor, Department of Biology, and Carole Yauk, University of Ottawa
- Funding: $1,143,676 over five years
Nearly one in three Canadians are living with either pre-diabetes or diabetes, yet the factors that trigger diabetes onset and drive disease progression are still poorly understood. Healthy insulin production by pancreatic beta cells is critical for regulating blood sugar levels and thus, any source of beta cell injury likely increases diabetes risk.
The Bruin Lab is working to identify environmental pollutants that cause beta cell injury, particularly during vulnerable windows of growth and adaptation. Bruin’s team will study polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of pollutants that are known to cause DNA damage and mutations. Humans are exposed to PAHs through inhalation of car exhaust, cigarette smoke, wood smoke (e.g., wildfires) or fumes from asphalt roads, and consuming grilled or charred food.
“Our studies will provide important insight into environmental factors that contribute to rising diabetes rates in Canada and globally,” Bruin said.
Learn more about the Bruin Lab.
Stop Now and Plan Program for Autistic Children (SNAP-A): A Mixed-Methods Pilot Randomized Control Trial in Community Settings
- Recipient: Vivian Lee, Department of Psychology
- Co-Principal Investigator: Karen Sewell, School of Social Work
- Funding: $383,266 for three years
Autistic children with ongoing disruptive and emotional behavioural challenges (e.g., aggression and emotional outbursts) are vulnerable to adverse outcomes in adulthood. These challenges are linked to difficulties with interconnected factors, including unmet needs and emotion regulation challenges, as well as high parenting stress.
Lee’s team is aiming to address these concerns through a group-based, co-designed program tailored to the unique needs of autistic children and their parents. The Stop Now and Plan for Autism (SNAP-A) program was adapted from the “SNAP” model, a Canadian evidence-based intervention that uses a whole family approach. The program promotes emotion regulation, problem-solving and self-control skills in children, as well as strengthens parenting practices.
“If successful, SNAP-A could be a scalable, evidence-based program and embedded in community-based agencies, where autism families receive their care,” Lee said.
Learn more about the Autism Lab.
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