About the Coalition
A collaborative partnership to develop a COVID-19 response strategy has formed among NSHA Research & Innovation (Nova Scotia Health), Dalhousie University, Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation, the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation, the IWK Foundation, the IWK Health Centre, the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation (DGHF) and Research Nova Scotia (RNS). These partners have collectively committed $1.5 million to support the Nova Scotia research community. This research effort will inform the best COVID-19 practices and support healthcare decision making and planning that benefits the population of Nova Scotia.
Results of the Coalition Research Funding Call
A total of 262 applications were submitted from research teams across the province. The Coalition is pleased to announce that a collective investment of over $1.5 million will be distributed to 40 COVID-19 research teams.
Please join the Coalition in congratulating the funding recipients below.
$1,500,000
Funding
40
Research teams
8
Institutions
Clinical Sciences
Dr. Lisa Barrett
Project: Cellular Immune Phenotype in Patients with Severe COVID Disease Before and After COVID-19 Treatment
This study aims to better understand COVID-19 immune disruption and reversibility by examining global and SARS-CoV-2 specific immune dysregulation before, during and after therapy.
Amount: $75,000
Media:
Fighting COVID-19 in Nova Scotia’s Long Term Care Facilities
Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation’s Molly Appeal
Dr. Steven Beyea
Project: NeuroCOVID: a Prospective, Longitudinal MRI Examination of Brain Involvement in COVID-19
This study will use the new 0.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner at the QEII Health Sciences Centre to determine whether evidence of brain abnormalities among COVID-19 inpatients is associated with the need for ventilation, and whether there are consistent features in the brains of COVID-19 patients that could inform treatment.
Amount: $74,647.69
Media:
Uncovering links between the brain and COVID-19: QEII research first in the world
Dr. Peter MacDougall
Project: A Comparison of Novel Integrated Gown, Hood and Face Shield (Halifax Gown) Personal Protective Equipment With Standard Personal Protective Equipment.
This study will test whether a new type of personal protective equipment (PPE) made in the Maritimes of reusable material can be put on faster and more safely than standard PPE.
Amount: $15,000
Dr. Kenneth Rockwood
Project: Understanding How Grades of Frailty Affect the Evolution of COVID
This study will investigate how differences in frailty and fitness among people being assessed for COVID-19 are related to the development, progression, and outcomes of the disease.
Amount: $73,000
Discovery Sciences
Dr. Stephen Bearne
Project: Screening of CTP Synthase Inhibitors to Augment Antiviral Drugs for the Synergistic Treatment of COVID-19 Infections
This study will rapidly assess the potential of active derivatives of known antiviral drug compounds to inhibit the production of one of the building blocks the COVID-19 virus requires to replicate itself.
Amount: $25,000
Dr. Stephen Beed
Project: A Device that Could Assist in Proning Anesthetized Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
This study will develop and test a device to aid the safe repositioning of critically ill, heavily sedated, intubated, and/or pharmacologically paralyzed COVID-19 patients.
Amount: $10,700
Media:
Doctor’s innovation helps COVID-19 patients and nurses
Halifax doctor invents new device to help COVID-19 patients breathe better
Dr. Roy Duncan
Project: Development and Evaluation of Lead DNA Vaccine Candidates for COVID-19
This study will provide the necessary pre-clinical assessment and validation of second-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates required to meet Public Health Agency of Canada and World Health Organization guidelines for ethical first-in-human clinical assessment on an expedited timescale.
Amount: $25,000
Media:
Dr. Roy Duncan speaks about a COVID-19 Vaccine – Part 1
Dr. Roy Duncan speaks about a COVID-19 Vaccine – Part 2
Driving Critical Covid-19 Research in the Maritimes
Dr. John Frampton
Mr. Gary Markle
Project: Innovations in Sustainable PPE Fabric: Local Solutions for a Global Issue
This study will develop a prototype textile that can be used to locally manufacture personal protective equipment such as surgical masks and respirators to deal with shortfalls in global supply chains.
Amount: $50,000
Media:
Working to develop locally produced, sustainable PPE
Dr. Todd Hatchette
Project: A Multiplex Platform for Higher Sensitivity Detection of SARS-CoV2
This study will develop a new, digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) COVID-19 test and determine whether it is more sensitive than the existing real-time PCR test.
Amount: $44,000
Dr. Morgan Langille
Project: A Microbiome-Based COVID-19 Risk-Assessment Tool
This study will identify microbes associated with COVID-19 disease severity and create and assess the accuracy of a microbiome-based COVID-19 risk assessment tool.
Amount: $30,000
Dr. Craig McCormick
Project: Temperature Effects on Coronavirus Replication
This study will determine how temperature affects both coronavirus propagation and cellular response to infection, allowing for better interpretation of ongoing vaccine research.
Amount: $30,360
Media:
Driving Critical Covid-19 Research in the Maritimes
Dr. Glenn Patriquin
Project: COVID-19 Viral Shedding Study
This study will determine the optimal upper respiratory tract specimen for detecting virus in COVID-19 patients, the point at which the virus is no longer detected in infected individuals’ upper respiratory tracts, the point at which recovered patients are no longer infectious, and how antibody titres correlate with viral shedding and disease severity.
Amount: $25,000
Dr. Christopher Richardson
Project: Expression and Purification of the Spike Protein (S) of Covid19 Virus for Diagnostic Purposes and Production of Live Attenuated Viral Vaccines
This study will generate large quantities of coronavirus spike proteins that can be used to produce immune diagnostic kits and in subunit vaccines directed at COVID-19.
Amount: $25,000
Dr. Ana Sjaus
Project: Development of Airborne Pathogen Containment Device for Airway Instrumentation
This study aims to protect health care workers from contracting COVID-19 by developing a device that could be placed over potentially infectious patients like a ‘bubble’ to hold infected air during intubation.
Amount: $30,000
Dr. Amina Stoddart
Project: UV Disinfection Protocol for N95 Masks
This study will develop an approach to disinfect N95 masks with ultraviolet light so that they can be reused in the event of supply issues.
Amount: $31,673
Media:
A New Method of “Light” Cleaning for Critical Protective Equipment
Dr. Jun Wang
Project: Developing a Fast-Track COVID-19 Vaccine and an Antibody ELISA Assay with High Specificity and Sensitivity
This study will determine whether a pentavalent COVID-19 vaccine can be quickly developed by formulating SARS-CoV-2 antigen with a commercial quadrivalent influenza virus vaccine.
Amount: $35,000
Health Systems Improvement
Dr. Paul Amoyette
Project: Bowtie Analysis for COVID-19 Risk Reduction
This study will use a barrier-based risk management approach called Bowtie Analysis to develop a series of graphics to accurately and rapidly convey essential information on threats, consequences, prevention barriers, and mitigation barriers for the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Amount: $9,990
Dr. Fred Burge
Project: Primary Care and Pandemics: How Do We Get Care to Those Who Need It?
This study will use novel data mining approaches to analyze primary care electronic medical record data in order to better meet the needs of patients during and after the pandemic.
Amount: $35,000
Media:
DMRF Breakthrough Breakfast V (starts at 30:55)
Dr. Janet Curran
Project: Use of a Learning Health System Framework to Examine Quality and Safety Improvement at the IWK Health Centre During COVID-19 Planning
This study will use a Learning Health System framework to examine the IWK Health Centre COVID-19 pandemic planning work and identify strategies that we can use to be prepared for future pandemics.
Amount: $50,000
Dr. James Hughes
Project: Employing Hyperheurisitics to Provide Direction on Deployment of COVID-19 Tests and other Interventions
This study will employ a type of artificial intelligence called a hyperheuristic to provide direction on how to deploy COVID-19 tests, vaccines, or other interventions.
Amount: $42,000
Media:
Using AI to provide direction on deployment of COVID-19 tests and vaccines
EPISODE 8 – Coding COVID-19: Computer Scientists Create Vaccination Strategies Using A.I.
Dr. Margot Latimer
Project: Identifying the Occurrence Rate and Complicating Factors Related to a COVID-19 Diagnosis in the Mi’kmaq People of Nova Scotia
This study, co-led by Mi’kmaq community health leaders, will use a Mi’kmaq-developed health data linking registry to determine the prevalence and health experience of Mi’kmaq community members in Nova Scotia diagnosed with COVID-19.
Amount: $36,710
Dr. Constance MacIntosh
Dr. Matthew Herder
Project: Targeted Health Law & Policy Interventions for an Efficient, Effective and Equitable Response to COVID-19
This study will identify solutions that can be implemented to address health law- and policy-related deficiencies and gaps that have been caused or revealed by COVID-19.
Amount: $50,000
Dr. Mary McNally
Project: Dalhousie Faculty of Dentistry: Guiding the Phased Reopening of Primary Oral Health Care Service Delivery in Nova Scotia During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This study will determine what changes in practice will be required to ensure a safe return of the routine delivery of oral healthcare services to the Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry teaching clinic and to dental practices throughout Nova Scotia.
Amount: $25,000
Dr. Ashley Miller
Project: Right Care, Right Time, Right Place: Leveraging a Virtual Care Solution in the Delivery of Community-Based Care for COVID-19 Patients
This study will evaluate, refine, and implement a virtual patient-centered platform to guide COVID-19 patient care in the community, and examine clinical predictors of COVID disease progression.
Amount: $73,000
Media:
Launching virtual care solutions province-wide
What happens when you test positive for COVID-19 in Nova Scotia?
Global News Morning show host on his family’s fight with COVID-19
Innovation during COVID: The COVID Community Virtual Care Team
Dr. Ratika Parkash
Project: Physical Distancing and Medical Distancing: Reducing the Cardiac and Neurovascular Impact of COVID‐19
This study will investigate the degree to which Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 pandemic response has affected morbidity and mortality in patients with known or new onset cardiovascular or neurovascular disease.
Amount: $73,750
Media:
Crunching the numbers: QEII study looks at impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac health
COVID-19 fears fuel rise in heart attacks in Nova Scotia
Dr. Nabha Shetty
Dr. Paige Moorhouse
Project: Internists Crisis Support for PCPs in LTC: making connections during COVID19
This study will develop and implement a “one stop shop” for medical specialist consultation by primary care providers working with long-term care residents to manage COVID-19 outbreaks ,with real-time evaluation of feasibility and effectiveness using an implementation science methodology.
Amount: $47,531.25
Dr. Karthik Tennankore
Project: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Among Hemodialysis Patients
This study will describe and compare clinical characteristics of hemodialysis patients with known or suspected exposure to COVID-19 with those of hemodialysis patients with no known or suspected exposure to COVID-19, and describe the clinical outcomes of hemodialysis patients who develop COVID-19 with those who do not.
Amount: $43,103.36
Social Sciences
Dr. Katie Aubrecht
Project: Evidence to Assess the Impact of COVID-19 on Community-Based Dementia Care in Nova Scotia
This study will contribute to, clarify, and enhance the best evidence-in-the-moment about programs and supports for vulnerable older adults living with dementia and their caregivers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amount: $54,908
Media:
Evidence to assess the impact of COVID-19 on community-based dementia care in Nova Scotia
Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Katie Aubrecht
Dr. Yigit Aydede
Project: The Role of Environmental Determinants and Social Mobility in Viral Infection Transmission in Halifax
This study will analyze the relationships between COVID-19 transmission rates, meteorological and air quality, and the fluctuations in social mobility in Nova Scotia to allow for better calibration of spatial spread in simulation models that are used to inform policy making.
Amount: $36,900
Media:
Using machine learning to predict viral transmission rates in Halifax
Sen Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard
Dr. Nancy Ross
Project: Culturally Responsive Healthcare to Reduce Gender Based Violence
This study will determine how lessons from the impact of COVID-19 can inform social policy and healthcare measures to better respond to gender-based violence (GBV) within the African Nova Scotian communities and how health care systems can incorporate culturally appropriate programming, resources, and services to support better responses to GBV and other adverse childhood experiences in African Nova Scotian communities.
Amount: $45,000
Dr. Karen Blair
Dr. Kathryn Bell
Project: The Ties that Bind: Interpersonal Relationships as a Source of Risk and Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This study will compare Nova Scotians’ well-being and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic with other jurisdictions, assess LGTBQ+ Nova Scotians’ well-being and coping during the pandemic relative to LGBTQ+ individuals in other jurisdictions, and examine Nova Scotians’ experiences with intimate partner violence during the pandemic in comparison to other jurisdictions.
Amount: $32, 559.99
Media:
Coping From Home: Study Highlights Interpersonal Relationship Risks During COVID-19
Ms. Megan Brydon
Project: The Intrapersonal Traits Associated with a Person’s Willingness to Work with COVID 19 Patients (Resilience and Empathy)
This study will measure the degrees of ‘willingness’, resilience, and empathy among medical radiation and imaging department professionals, and examine the relationship between resilience, empathy, and willingness to persevere and adapt in times of crisis.
Amount: $3,000
Dr. Marsha Campbell-Yeo
Dr. Jon Dorling
Project: COVID-19 Impact of Neonatal ICU
This study will assess the needs of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families at the IWK Health Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic, identify barriers and facilitators to implementing virtual care options for these families during the pandemic, and evaluate one potential virtual care platform for NICU families.
Amount: $50,000
Dr. OmiSoore Dryden
Project: Don’t Count Us Out!
This study will identify the determinants of trust that African Nova Scotians have with the COVID-19 pandemic strategy and response, and demonstrate how race-based data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic can establish foundational capacity to extend race-based analysis to other health and health care issues.
Amount: $40,000
Media:
Driving Critical Covid-19 Research in the Maritimes
Researcher Snapshot: Dr. OmiSoore Dryden
Dr. Debra Gilin
Project: Preventing Burnout Among Front-Line Care Workers to Fight Covid-19: Screen and Intervene
This study will rapidly develop tailored screening and intervention tools to support mental health and prevent elevated job burnout or safety risks in COVID-19-responding health care staff in Nova Scotia.
Amount: $47,640
Media:
Preventing burnout among front-line care workers to fight covid-19: screen and intervene
Dr. Robert Huish
Project: The Consequences and Outcomes of Cultural Stigma from COVID-19 Ordinances
This study will examine the consequences and outcomes of cultural stigma from COVID-19 ordinances in three jurisdictions of Nova Scotia, New Zealand, and Australia.
Amount: $28,600
Media:
Positive Coronavirus Test? Canadians Worry Their Neighbors Will Find Out
New York Times article says Atlantic Canada is ripe for pandemic stigma
Dr. Susan Kirkland
Project: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA):Building a COVID-19 Platform for Research in Canada
As part of the existing Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), this study will determine individual factors that increase risk of COVID-19 symptoms and severity, understand the impact of pre-COVID factors such as socioeconomic status on health outcomes, and assess the long-term health and social consequences of COVID-19 and associated mitigation strategies on older adults.
Amount: $35,000
Media:
How a Pandemic Affects the Experience of Aging Adults
Dr. Sandra Meier
Project: Use of an App to Determine Mental Health of Population and Health Providers During COVID
This study will link mobile sensing and clinical data to assess the impact of social distancing and counterbalancing behaviours on mental health during the COVID-19 crisis and 3 months later.
Amount: $50,000
Dr. Sandra Meier uses smartphone research to study impacts of COVID‑19
Dr. Ingrid Waldron
Project: A Culturally Specific COVID -19 Response Strategy for African Nova Scotians in the Prestons
This study will provide solution-oriented recommendations for how clinical services, health promotion, and the collection of disaggregated race-based health data can improve access to COVID-19 testing and health services, and reduce infections in the Prestons by identifying the social determinants that create exposure to and risk for COVID-19 infections and its exacerbation of current illnesses experienced by African Nova Scotians in the Prestons.
Amount: $75,000
Media:
Welcome to Canada’s Innovation Leaders 2020 (page 9)
Dr. Kyly Whitfield
Project: Exploration of Potential Impacts of the COVID-19 State of Emergency Measures on Infant Feeding in Nova Scotia
This study will assess the self-perceived stress of primary caregivers of infants under 6 months old, and how the COVID-19 State of Emergency has impacted infant feeding in Nova Scotia.
Amount: $9,918
Media:
Study Highlights Impact of State of Emergency Measures on Infant and Caregiver Well-being
Do the COVID-19 state of emergency measures impact infant feeding in Nova Scotia?
Press Release: New Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition responds to global pandemic with $1.5 million investment
