Research Partnerships
To help donor dollars go even further, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada collaborates with patient organizations, funders, and research teams that share our commitment to finding the cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improving quality of life for Canadians affected by these diseases.
These collaborations take a number of forms. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada partners with foundations and government funders, such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), to leverage its funds to support cutting-edge research.
Leveraging Funds in Support of Government-Funded Research Projects
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada provides financial and in-kind contributions to government-funded research projects that support our Promise.
Research Projects
Dr. Alain Stintzi | University of Ottawa
Grant Program: CIHR Programmatic Grants in Environments, Genes, and Chronic Disease
Project: The diet-microbiome-gut axis in pediatric IBD
Year: 5 of 5
Dr. Ken Croitoru | University of Toronto
Dr. Jennifer Gommerman | University of Toronto
Grant Program: CIHR Programmatic Grants in Environments, Genes, and Chronic Disease
Project: Elucidating the gene-environment interactions that drive autoimmune disease among South Asian Canadians (The GEMINI Program)
Year: 5 of 5
Dr. Aleixo Muise | University of Toronto
Grant Program: CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity Human Immunology Initiative Team Grant
Project: Defining the immune dysregulation underlying pediatric IBD to better diagnose and treat patients
Year: 1 of 4
In-kind Collaborations
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada collaborates on research projects that support our Promise. As a collaborator, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada represents the IBD community, ensuring the needs and experiences of people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are represented. By doing this, we also ensure that research initiatives that could bring benefits to people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis become available to the community.
Accommodating and Communicating about Episodic Disabilities (ACED)
Project Director: Dr. Monique Gignac, Institute for Work & Health and the University of Toronto
Accommodating and Communicating about Episodic Disabilities (ACED) is a five-year research project bringing together researchers and community partners to develop evidence-based workplace tools and resources to support the sustained employment of people with episodic disabilities.
Canadian Gastro-Intestinal Epidemiology Consortium (CanGIEC)
Chair: Dr. Eric Benchimol, University of Toronto
The Canadian Gastro-Intestinal Epidemiology Consortium (CanGIEC) is a pan-Canadian network of clinicians, researchers and methodologists that work together to provide the evidence required to improve outcomes and healthcare services for Canadians with IBD using population-level data. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada has provided both cash and in-kind support to CanGIEC.
Inflammation, Microbiome, and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects (IMAGINE) – Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR)
Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Paul Moayeddi, McMaster University
The IMAGINE Chronic Disease Network involves 17 hospitals and universities and 75 researchers across Canada who study the interactions between the inflammation, microbiome, diet, and mental health in patients with IBD and irritable bowel syndrome. This network is one of five chronic disease networks in the SPOR initiative.
Serological Testing to Outline Protocols for COVID19 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: STOP COVID-19 in IBD
Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Gilaad Kaplan, University of Calgary
This study is measuring the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies in people with IBD without a known diagnosis of COVID-19, following a COVID-19 infection, and after vaccination. Based on the team’s findings, they will develop serologically based guidelines for Canadians with IBD and their healthcare providers.
Solutions for Kids in Pain
Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Christine Chambers, Dalhousie University
Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP) is a knowledge mobilization network based at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and co‐led by Children’s Healthcare Canada that seeks to bridge the gap between current treatment practices and available evidence‐based solutions for children’s pain in Canadian health institutions.
Supporting Early Career IBD Researchers
Advancing IBD research requires retaining talent, and the greatest risk of losing talented researchers is during the early stages of their careers. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada provides funding to up-and coming researchers to help advance their careers.
Dr. Sonya Nassari | Université de Sherbrooke
Partner: Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRQS)
Type of support: Postdoctoral Training Award
Year: 1 of 1
Dr. Amy Metcalfe | University of Calgary
Partners: Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
Type of support: New Investigator Award
Year: 5 of 5
Dr. Cristian Hernandez | Sinai Health System
Partners: Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
Type of support: Fellowship Award
Year: 2 of 2