School of Kinesiology and Health StudiesCurrent Projects
CIHR Team Grant # DRW-187410: Team Grant: Diabetes Prevention and Treatment in Indigenous Communities: Resilience and Wellness
Nominated Principal Investigator: Lucie Lévesque (Queen’s)
Co-Principal Investigators: Alex M. McComber (KSDPP), Treena Delormier (McGill), Brittany Wenniseri:iostha Jock (McGill), Dave Bergeron (UQAR)
The C2C Team grant builds on our CIHR-funded project (CIHR#PI3-15132) to explore how a community-driven model of T2D prevention transfers from one community to another. Building on the relationships established during our ongoing research, we will continue to work with our community partners to implement and research an innovative Community to Community (C2C) mentoring intervention.
Research Aim: To test and refine a C2C mentorship middle-range theory that leverages community resilience to provide novel insight into the implementation of Indigenous-led, community-based T2D prevention mobilization.
CIHR Grant # GA7-177785: Emerging COVID-19 Research Gaps and Priorities – Indigenous Health Research
Nominated Principal Investigator: Lucie Lévesque (Queen’s)
Co-Principal Investigators: Treena Delormier (McGill), Brittany Wenniseri:iostha Jock (McGill), Alex M. McComber (KSDPP)
The overarching aim of the proposed research is to explore the complexities of community mobilization in response to COVID-19 in 4 First Nations Reserves as they navigate the pandemic both within their respective communities and in relation to health systems outside of communities. Research questions include:
What are the drivers and impacts related to community mobilization in the context of COVID-19?
How can community mobilization for an emergency pandemic response be leveraged to address the long term wholistic health consequences of the pandemic?
How have systemic racism, access to care and confidence in science impacted communities’ mobilization response to COVID-19?
CIHR – Emerging COVID-19 Research Gaps and Priorities – Indigenous Health Research
Nominated Principal Investigator: Karen Yeates (Queen’s)
Co-Principal Investigators: Elaine S Innes, Elizabeth Brule, Sandra Kioke, Lucie Lévesque, Mary Smith
We will utilize community-based research approaches to better understand Indigenous perspectives regarding COVID-19 public health infection prevention measures including COVID-19 vaccination. We will also utilize these research approaches to better understand how Indigenous Peoples perceive and incorporate public health recommendations to remain healthy. We will also explore barriers and enablers to accessing healthcare or other essential health-related services within and outside of their community during the COVID-19pandemic so that barriers to staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic can be addressed.
CIHR Grant P14 – #175354: Project Grant – Priority Announcement: Population and Public Health – Global Health Policy
Nominated Principal Investigator: Lucie Lévesque
Co-Principal Investigators: Kate Storey (University of Alberta), Leslie Walwyn (American University of Antigua)
This project is piloting the implementation of a comprehensive school health program in Antigua and Barbuda. The overarching goal of the proposed research is to enhance the health and well-being of children in Antigua and Barbuda. Specific objectives are to: 1) assess the implementation and effectiveness of an exemplar school-based health promotion intervention; 2) establish a sustainable school surveillance system to monitor child health and well-being; and 3) support local and regional research capacity.
Funded by CIHR P13 151327 – Pathways 2 Implementation Team Grant
Nominated Principal Investigator: Lucie Lévesque
Co-Principal Investigators: Alex M. McComber (KSDPP), Treena Delormier (McGill)
The aim of the CMT project is to assess the implementation and impact of the Kahnawá:ke Schools Diabetes Prevention Project (KSDPP) CMT with newly-trained communities and with previously-trained communities. We will explore the factors, conditions, and type of social system necessary for the successful implementation and scale-up of the KSDPP CMT. Through this new knowledge, and drawing upon the best available evidence about obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention, we will develop a better understanding of how to design, implement and scale-up a recognized best practice population health intervention for the prevention of obesity and T2D with diverse Indigenous communities across Canada.
Funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – Indigenous Research Capacity & Reconciliation – Connection Grant
Principal Investigators: Lucie Lévesque & Treena Delormier (McGill)
The aim of the project is to gather a community of Elders, knowledge-holders, researchers and trainees for dialogue on Indigenous research methodologies and concepts of rigour. Findings will help inform a position paper that will be presented at a national event sponsored by the Tri-council funding agencies with the aim of strengthening the value of Indigenous knowledge and to supports its use in creating wholistic solutions to social, health, environmental and economic challenges.
Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR)
Nominated Principal Investigator: Treena Delormier (McGill, KSDPP)
Co-Principal Investigators: Lucie Lévesque (Queen’s), Alex M. McComber (McGill, KSDPP), Lee M. Schaefer (McGill)
Quebec’s NEIHR – Tahatikonhsontóntie ‘the faces that are coming’ – will be hosted at the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project (KSDPP). The mission of the NEIHR is to be the center for research and training in community mobilization and knowledge translation for Indigenous health promotion. Network partners include Indigenous communities, Indigenous-serving organizations, academic researchers and institutions, and decision-makers and knowledge users. The Network aims to develop research opportunities, share research expertise and wise practices, and enhance access to training, research tools and methodologies that support the self-determination of Indigenous communities in attaining their visions of health and well-being. Within these community-centered research spaces, Indigenous knowledge will be honored and privileged, and will bridge the strengths of western ways of knowing when appropriate.
Funded by Pathways 3: Implementation Research Team Grant
Nominated Principal Investigator: Jon McGavock, University of Manitoba
Co-Principal Investigators: Lucie Lévesque, Alex M. McComber, Leah Ferguson, Kate E. Storey, Joannie M. Halas, Nancy L. Young
The IYMP is a 90 minute, once per week after-school, peer-led, health promotion program based on multi-age mentoring of grade 4 students by high school mentors (who are in turn mentored by young adult health leaders) to help reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes. During the last 2 years as a Pathways 2 Implementation Research Team we expanded from 5 communities in Manitoba to 13 communities across 4 provinces in Canada. Using a participatory action model, guided by the teachings of elders, knowledge keepers and youth on our team, we will build on the successes of the past 2 years to (1) explore a novel pathway through which IYMP can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in youth, through the Indigenous concept of Mino-pimatisiwin/bimaadiziwin “living in a god way”, (2) deepen the reach of IYMP within existing communities, (3) explore relational models of rippling IYMP to new communities, and (4) study the process of moving IYMP from a university-based program to a sustainable community-led organization. This information will provide information and infrastructure to support rippling of other wellness promoting community-based programs across Canada.
Funded by: CIHR Training Grant: Indigenous Mentorship Network Program
Nominated Principal Applicant: Chantelle Richmond (Western)
Recently completed projects
Funded by CIHR FRN 151691 – Pathways Catalyst Grant
Nominated Principal Investigator: Lucie Lévesque
Co-Principal Investigators: Alex M. McComber (KSDPP), Treena Delormier (McGill)
Funded by CIHR PCS 161810 – Planning and Dissemination Grant
Nominated Principal Investigator: Lucie Lévesque
Co-Investigators: Ian Janssen (QU), Rebecca E. Lee (Arizona Statue University), Danielle Walwyn (QU), Stephanie Broyles (Pennington Biomedical Research Centre), Leslie Walwyn (American University of Antigua), Sean Samuels (Antigua Ministry of Education), Rhonda Sealey-Thomas (Antigua Ministry of Health)
Funded by: CIHR – Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research
Nominated Principal Applicant: Treena Delormier (McGill)
Co-Principal Applicants: Lucie Lévesque (Queen’s); Alex M. McComber (KSDPP); Lee Schaefer (McGill)
Funded by CIHR P13-144647 Pathways 2: Implementation Research Team Grant
Nominated Principal Investigator: Jon McGavock, University of Manitoba
Co-Principal Investigators: Lucie Lévesque, Alex M. McComber, Leah Ferguson, Kate Storey, jay johnson, Joannie Halas
CIHR Pathways Population Health Intervention Research
Nominated Principal Investigator: Heather Manson, Public Health Ontario
Co-Principal Investigators: Lucie Lévesque, Janet Smylie
Funded by CIHR PCS 155299 – Planning and Dissemination GrantNominated Principal Investigator: Lucie Lévesque
Co-Investigators: Luis Ortiz Hernández (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana); Juan López y Taylor & Edtna Jáuregui (Universidad de Guadalajara); Rebecca E. Lee (Arizona State); Alejandra Jáuregui (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública); Tomás Gallo Padillo (COMUDE – Guadalajara).