Several members of the School of Population and Public Health community have been awarded CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grants this year, supporting planning & dissemination activities that advances public health, health policy, and global health equity. Congratulations to all recipients!
Advancing Methods to Assess Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Canada
Dr. Rachel Murphy, Associate Professor and Associate Director of Research at SPPH, is part of a successful team awarded $15,000. The project will synthesize current evidence on emerging technologies that can better characterize Canadians’ consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Improving the accuracy of UPF measurement, including capturing properties such as additives, is essential for advancing research on how UPFs affect health. The project includes a scoping review and consultations with knowledge users to inform the adaptation or development of dietary assessment tools that more precisely capture UPF intake across the population.
Supporting the 2026 CHSPR Health Policy Conference
Dr. Jason Sutherland, Professor and Director of the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, has been awarded a $10,000 to support the 2026 CHSPR Health Policy Conference, taking place March 12–13, 2026, at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre at UBC.
The 2026 conference will engage attendees in policy debates related to provincial and territorial progress toward the Quintuple Aim. The Scientific Program Committee invites submissions for interactive workshops and poster presentations on health services and policy topics aligned with this theme.
More information is available on the CHSPR website: https://chspr.ubc.ca/conference/
Advancing Justice for Malawian Ex-Miners
Dr. Khumbo Kalua, Program Director for the Master of Global Health at SPPH, received the grant to support a project aimed at improving justice for Malawian former mineworkers affected by tuberculosis and silicosis.
Working in partnership with BICO and Malawi’s Ministry of Health, the project will convene key stakeholders to co-design solutions that enhance access to healthcare and compensation for ex-miners who laboured under hazardous conditions in South African mines.
“This project reflects the strength of Canada–Malawi collaboration and the shared belief that global health must centre justice for the most vulnerable. By working together, we can help ensure that ex-miners finally receive the care and compensation owed to them—no matter where their work took place.” — Dr. Khumbo Kalua
Additional Congratulations
SPPH also congratulates Dr. Cheryl Peters and Dr. Deborah Money on their successful CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grants. We celebrate their achievements alongside the broader SPPH community.