A project that looks into vaping has been awarded the Louise Picard Public Health Research Grant by Laurentian University and Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
The grant was awarded as part of LU's Research Week activities to researchers Dr. Alain Gauthier of Laurentian University and Dr. Bernadette Walicki, Stacey Gilbeau, and Anik Proulx of Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
Their project, "Vaping: Understanding current use, needs and knowledge gaps of secondary and post-secondary students," is the latest to receive funding from the Grant, bringing the total to 57 projects funded since the creation of the grant in 2003.
“Our goal is for public health practice to be based on the best evidence that is also relevant to our local communities,” said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Sudbury & Districts, in a press release.
“The partnerships between public health practitioners and academic researchers help us to better understand how local realities impact health and help us inform and improve our programming.”
The Louise Picard Public Health Research Grant recipients include faculty from Laurentian University and staff from Public Health Sudbury & Districts. The grant is awarded to researchers who are involved in projects that strengthen innovative collaborative applied public health research.
At the event, researchers also shared results from two previously funded projects – one on the 2SLGBTQ+ Sudbury population’s public health needs, and one on the values, opinions, and beliefs about the social determinants of health among young adults in Sudbury.
“The Louise Picard Public Health Research Grant creates interdisciplinary knowledge that offers innovative solutions to the unique challenges in our communities,” said Tammy Eger, interim vice-president of research at Laurentian University.
“Laurentian University is proud to partner with Public Health Sudbury & Districts, where faculty have the opportunity to conduct research and contribute to evidence-informed practice.”
The grant, valued at up to $5,000, is jointly funded by Laurentian University and Public Health Sudbury & Districts and encourages collaboration on research that is relevant to public health.
Dr. Louise Picard, a former director at Public Health Sudbury & Districts, and key leaders from Laurentian University, were instrumental in establishing the grant and forging successful partnerships between the public health and academic sectors to develop and improve innovative public health practices.
The newly funded project and all projects that are underway help address Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ knowledge and research priorities: health and racial equity, public mental health, substance use, communicable and infectious disease, community and stakeholder engagement, and public health systems.
