The Training & Capacity Building (T&CB) Program would like to congratulate Trainee Society Executive Members Aman Badhwar (Universite de Montreal, Team 9), Lauren Bechard (University of Waterloo, Team 12), Saira Mirza (University of Toronto, Team 7 & 8), and Bruna Seixas Lima (University of Toronto, Team 10) for organizing three local events for trainees in Toronto, Waterloo, and Montreal. The Training Program thanks the Executive Members for their creativity and leadership in bringing these events to CCNA investigators, trainees, and the community at large.
You’ll find a summary of each event below written by the event organizers.
Supporting Patient Engagement in Dementia Research – Workshop & Facilitated Community Dialogue for Trainees, March 6, 2019
Trainee Organizer: Lauren Bechard (University of Waterloo)
This event brought together CCNA trainees and members of the local dementia community in Southwestern Ontario to discuss how to support building CCNA trainee capacity in patient-oriented research practices. In bringing these two groups together and opening a dialogue about local dementia research, this event helped build trainee skills on how to foster mutually beneficial, respectful research relationships with community partners. It also provided insight to community members about the CCNA.
Lauren Bechard, the trainee organizer for the event, would like to thank all trainee members and presenters who attended the event for their enthusiastic participation, as well as the following community stakeholders:
- The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging for providing a space in which to bring together CCNA trainees and community partners, and for the knowledge shared by their staff about dementia-friendly practices.
- The Alzheimer Society of Ontario and the Alzheimer Society of Waterloo-Wellington for their support in facilitating this event and sharing knowledge about how to support persons with dementia participating in research.
- Members of the local dementia community for their willingness to teach trainees about patient-oriented research by sharing knowledge they have gained through their lived experiences.
CCNA Team 9B Workshop – March 12, 2019
Trainee Organizer: Aman Badhwar (Universite de Montreal)
On March 12, 2019, Dr. AmanPreet Badhwar (CCNA Trainee Society President) together with Dr. Pierre Bellec (Lead for Team 9B – neuroimaging biomarkers) held a full day CCNA Neuroimaging Workshop at the Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal. The overall goal of the workshop was to bring together CCNA trainees and researchers to discuss Team 9B achievements during CCNA Phase I, and discuss plans for the next five years. A main aim of the workshop was to discuss the various imaging pipelines involved and ways to proceed with the recently released COMPASS-ND data. The workshop consisted of a half day of lectures, followed by a half day of unconference sessions.
The 11 planned lectures were given by CCNA trainees and principal investigators, and discussed neuroimaging derivatives (from structural, functional and diffusion MRI data) to be released by Team 9B for use by the CCNA community. These lectures were open to all. The afternoon unconference sessions were reserved for CCNA members. These consisted of short (5 min) impromptu presentations by workshop participants on topics they would like to see addressed or incorporated in CCNA Team 9B moving forward, followed by discussions. Examples of such topics were the conversion of neuroimaging data to BIDS, a standardized format for organizing and describing MRI datasets; possibility for the incorporation of additional imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy; data modeling; and multiomics approaches taking into account the wide breadth of data being collected by the CCNA. The workshop, attended by 60 participants from multiple institutions in Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta, provided an excellent opportunity for exchanges of ideas and networking opportunities. This event was funded by CCNA Trainee Society and CCNA Team 9B.
Get ON – Be in the Know about CCNA Projects and Foster New Collaborations – March 16, 2019
Trainee Organizers: Bruna Seixas Lima (University of Toronto), Lauren Bechard (University of Waterloo), and Saira Mirza (University of Toronto)
This meeting brought together CCNA trainees and trainees external to the CCNA to brainstorm about how to expand collaborations between researchers, learn about the COMPASS-ND, the CCNA’s primary clinical study, and hear talks from the CCNA’s Dr. Kathy McGilton (CCNA Quality of Life Co-Lead) and Dr. Howard Chertkow (CCNA Scientific Director).
The morning portion of the meeting was a round table discussion facilitated by Lauren Bechard (Trainee Society Academic Coordinator) where trainees had the opportunity to informally present their research projects and contemplate future collaborations. Not only did the trainees talk about their work, they also discussed difficulties and problems frequently encountered in terms of skill, knowledge, and/or support, and elaborated on their expertise so that trainees could benefit from hearing about each other’s strengths and challenges. Trainees shared their experience and expertise in brain imaging and brain imaging analyses, complex statistical tools and big data handling, qualitative research methods, neuropsychological testing of cognitively healthy and persons with dementia, community research, and community trials and interventions aimed at healthy brain aging. The idea of developing a CCNA database listing trainee areas of expertise to facilitate collaborations and develop a strong trainee network was put forward and encouraged by all.
The afternoon portion was dedicated to a talk by guest speaker Kathy McGilton on the opportunities and challenges of taking an interdisciplinary approach to research. In her talk, Kathy highlighted the importance of interprofessional experiences and building a network that includes policy and decision makers because many grant applications now require them. For trainees, it is thus highly important and recommended to start making interprofessional networks and relationships at the trainee level for a successful research career and collaborations. Referring to her own successes, Kathy also spoke about why it’s better to collaborate across disciplines rather than compete. This talk was followed by Dr. Howard Chertkow who provided trainees with information about Phase I CCNA accomplishments, gave an overview and status update on COMPASS-ND, and offered food for thought on career planning in research. The Trainee Society Executive would like to thank the guest speakers and Colleen Maxwell (the new T&CB Program Lead) for attending.