UBC SPPH researchers Adam Easterbrook, Craig Mitton, and Paul Kershaw have been awarded funding under the Ministry of Health Research Seed Grant program for 2024/25, run in partnership with UBC Health.
This initiative supports research projects that align with the Ministry of Health’s strategic priorities, which included a focused stream on smoking cessation this year, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing health through interdisciplinary research collaborations and knowledge exchange between UBC and the Ministry. UBC Health convened a review committee, including interdisciplinary experts and patient and community voices, that informed the funding recommendations.
“The diversity of perspectives in the review process helped ensure that selected projects reflect a broad range of expertise and lived experience.” said Teo Quay, Assistant Director, Research at UBC Health. “By bringing together faculty, patient and community partners, and Indigenous perspectives, the committee assessed proposals through multiple lenses, strengthening the relevance and potential impact.”
Christie Newton, Associate Vice-President, Health added, “our ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Health continues to bridge UBC research with health policy and system needs.” This particular program she emphasized, “catalyzes the development of meaningful collaborations that are producing innovative health solutions to meet the needs of British Columbians.”
SPPH Recipients: General Stream
Principal Investigator: Adam Easterbrook, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Vancouver
Project Title: Improving Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder: Exploring Pharmacists’ Perceptions of Barriers and Facilitators to Inform Recommendations
This project aims to identify potential improvements in care for individuals with opioid use disorder by exploring community pharmacists’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators they face in providing care.
Principal Investigator: Craig Mitton, Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Vancouver
Project Title: Evaluating Crisis Response Models and Resource Allocation for Mental Health Services Utilizing the Perspectives of Clients, Caregivers, and Providers
This project evaluates two crisis response models for mental health emergencies in British Columbia: police-clinician co-response teams and civilian-led programs. The aim is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of these informing community-centered recommendations for resource allocation and program improvement.
Principal Investigator: Paul Kershaw, Associate Professor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC Vancouver
Project Title: A “Health in All Policies” Key Performance Indicator to Guide BC Budgeting
This project aims to explore a “Health in All Policies” approach into provincial budget planning, seeking to inform Population and Public Health of opportunities to reconcile discrepancies in how medical, social, and education spending is categorized to guide budget decisions.
Read the full announcement on the UBC Health website.