Over 50 BC businesses supported these efforts as well, some finding innovative ways to raise money for the cause.

Meanwhile, as donations to our Emergency Response Fund began to come in, through our existing resources we were able to rapidly fund a study led by microbiology researchers at the BC Centre for Disease Control that tested for COVID-19 in BC’s wastewater to help track the spread of the virus in our communities. Stay tuned for updates on this project.

We’re also proud to have funded the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey: Your Story, Our Future which helped researchers learn about the experiences, knowledge, and actions of the people living in our province. Completed by nearly 400,000 British Columbians, the first BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey was the largest population health survey ever conducted in Canada at that time.

Following the survey, we funded the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey Dashboard, an interactive platform showcasing the results of the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey, putting the data in the hands of the public, allowing them to see what was happening in their specific communities, as well as helping them to understand the experiences of British Columbians as a whole.

One of the key findings of the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey showed that young adults were among the hardest hit by the pandemic and related response measures, resulting in “Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults in British Columbia,” a report that will be used to support the health and well-being of young adults and their communities across BC.

Researchers at the BC Centre for Disease Control were also interested in understanding the experiences of British Columbians one year into the pandemic, resulting in us funding the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey Round 2! (And stay tuned, because we’re currently working on knowledge translation work with the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey team that we’re excited to share with you soon!)

But raising money isn’t all we do; as a public health organization, and especially in the midst of a public health crisis, we also have a responsibility to educate and inform.

Words like “pandemic,” “cluster,” “case,” and “incubation period,” for instance, were new terms some were hearing for the first time, prompting us to create the two-part series, “Pandemics & How to Flatten the Curve” and “Pandemics: The Terminology,” in order for individuals to understand why public health leaders were urging them to take precautions like washing their hands, wearing a mask, and social distancing, for example.

We also created graphics to help illustrate how to wear a mask, how far apart two metres is, how kids could stay safe at school, and more. In particular, our role in distilling complicated information for our readers has been important.

With all the information we were creating and sharing, we wanted to ensure easy access, so we created a COVID-19 resources page.

In general, COVID-19 caused the spread of much information, and rightly so. Yet unfortunately, where there is information, there is also mis- and disinformation. As a result, we took it upon ourselves to write about mis/disinformation, more specifically, how to stop the spread of it, “Addressing the Infodemic: Everyone Must Play a Role in Stopping Mis- and Disinformation.” We also interviewed the Principal Investigators for a BCCDC study around misinformation.

With the inception of a novel COVID-19 vaccine, there also rose much misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines causing some to be hesitant in receiving it, prompting us to write “Vaccine Hesitancy: Foe of Healthy Communities.”

Understanding we can’t tackle everything alone, we knew that collaboration would be, and continues to be, key.

In June 2020, we joined forces with UBC, VGH + UBC Hospital Foundation, and BC Cancer Foundation to form the BC COVID-19 Combat Collective to support experts carrying out critical research needed to prevent, test, and treat COVID-19.

In early 2021, we then partnered with Genome BC and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research to launch the “Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Research Initiative in BC” and collectively funded 9 vaccine-related research studies to address questions around the long-term effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, equitable distribution, countering misinformation, and more.

And now, approximately 19 months into the pandemic, we’re proud to look back on all the work we’ve done, the new partnerships we’ve formed, and the education we’ve provided to help keep the people of British Columbia well-informed and researchers well-funded.

Yet, our work, and that of our COVID-19 researchers, our leaders, and the health and safety of those living in British Columbia, continues.

Whether you’ve donated to our Emergency Response Fund, are following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, subscribed to our monthly newsletter, or share our content with your community, thank you. We can’t do any of this work without the help of our donors and supporters—know that you’ve been a vital part of our provinces’ success so far.

We can’t forget to thank all of the British Columbians who have been doing, and continue to do, their part—those who have gotten both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and encouraged others to do so, kept their distance, wore their masks, stayed home when feeling unwell, and every other protective measure in between.

“We’re proud of the work you’ve done, and continue to do, to keep yourself and your community safe. At the same time, we recognize that our work is far from over and we have both a privilege and a responsibility to the people of BC to continue to protect and promote health, prevent harm, and prepare for threats. We’re a small organization with a big mission, and while we’re tired like many, we’re also energized as more and more British Columbians get vaccinated every day.“

–Kristy Kerr, Executive Director, BCCDC Foundation for Public Health

As we continue to support COVID-19 response efforts, we must also turn our minds to recovery. You can help our communities see brighter days ahead by donating to our Emergency Response Fund, and help us shape the story of BC’s success in the coming months, and beyond.

The post Our Role in Helping to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

This marks our final competition of the current OAP. The BCCDC Foundation is very proud to have funded over 50 grants since its first competition in 2014. Twelve rounds of competition later, we have provided over $400,000 in research/knowledge translation funding to BCCDC researchers to help with pilot funding, new team building, and student training. We have been very gratified to watch the initial funding grow, in some cases, to larger projects receiving funding from national and international sources, and to watch results being implemented into policy. Our goal with the OAP was to support and build the research enterprise at the BCCDC, and to add to the overall robustness of the scope of research being done at the Centre, and we can say with utmost confidence that we have been able to reach that goal.

We would like to thank our dedicated Scientific Advisory Board for their work over the years, and their commitment to ensuring we are funding quality projects. We’d also like to acknowledge all the BCCDC Faculty and researchers who have produced excellent results through this program, and have helped to improve public health outcomes in BC.

We will be evaluating the OAP and its outcomes as we look ahead to what types of funding would be most optimal to support our partnership with BCCDC, and to support public health more broadly.

So stay tuned in 2020! Make sure you signed up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop on future funding opportunities and other activities.

The post Open Awards Program Fall 2019: Six successful applications in recent competition appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

In order for you to ensure you schedule time to attend the best parts, we’re posting the full schedule now, for the events taking place October 21-25, 2019. This year’s theme is “Sparking Innovation, Now and for Future Generations”.

As an overview, the week will run like this:

• Monday, Oct 21: Noon Workshop: Quality Improvement; PLUS poster viewing begins–until Friday
• Tuesday, Oct 22: Research Week talks: 10am-1pm; 10am KEYNOTE Amy Mathers, Associate Professor, University of Virginia, “Source vs “Sink”; Examination of Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacterales in Hospital Plumbing”
• Wednesday, Oct 23: Noon Workshop: Learn to Draw (limited space–must register with Priscilla Vuong)
• Thursday, Oct 24: Research Week talks: 10am-1pm; 12:00pm KEYNOTE Linda Hoang, Associate Director, Program Head BCCDC Bacteriology & Mycology Lab, “Harnessing Genomics Methods and Partnerships across BC to Tackle the Ongoing Rise of CPO in BC”
• Friday, Oct 25: Poster Dissemination: Noon-1pm; Poster Scavenger hunt entries due at 2pm

Please note that all talks/presentations and workshops will take place at MSAC, next door. The posters will be on display all week at the BCCDC, in Lane Level and the 2nd floor hallways. Representatives from the research posters on display will be standing beside their posters between noon and 1pm on Friday to answer questions.

The post Research Week 2019 — Full Schedule Released! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

The BCCDC Foundation is pleased to announce funding for five new projects: three for “Blue Sky” research awards, one Workshop award, and one travel award.

Dr. Reza Afshari and his team have been awarded funds to explore how the alcohol levels in Kombucha may affect pregnant mothers, toddlers and youth.

Dr. Mel Krajden and his team will use funds to investigate Whole Genome Sequencing use regarding Hepatitis C surveillance and treatment in BC.

Dr. David Patrick received funds for his team to develop an understanding of the short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of reduced antibiotic prescribing in BC’s new-born patients.

Dr. Mohammad Morshed has been awarded funds to help host a “One-Health Workshop” that will train students on Leptospirosis, an emerging threat in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Dr. Ian Pike and Megan Oakey will receive travel funding to help build a collaboration between road safety experts in BC and Victoria, Australia.

BCCDC Faculty interested in applying for funding, be sure to watch your email inboxes in late August; the next round of applications will be reviewed in October 2019. To see some of our past research successes, you can search the OAP tag in this blog section.

BCCDC Faculty interested in applying for funding, be sure to watch your email inboxes in late August; the next round of applications will be reviewed in October 2019. To see some of our past research successes, you can search the OAP tag in this blog section.

The post Open Awards Program Spring 2019: Five successful applications in recent competition. appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

The objective of the OAP is to help enhance the research enterprise at BCCDC and to increase the opportunities for success at major peer review organizations such as CIHR. We offer three types of funding: i) money for blue sky, discovery, or pilot grants; ii) workshop and team-building grants, to bring colleagues together either for the exchange and discussion of new research and/or its translation into new policy/practice or to help in generation of research teams; iii) research travel awards for investigators to learn new techniques, exchange research information and prepare material for publication.

The deadline for applications is Monday April 1, 2019 at 4:30pm PST and is open only to faculty members of BCCDC/BCPHL. If you are faculty, please check your inboxes for a recent email containing Application Forms and Terms of Reference. If you didn’t receive one, or just would like more info, email : foundation@bccdc.ca

To learn more about the projects funded by the OAP by the BCCDC Foundation, please search this blog for the tag “OAP”

The post Call for Applications for Spring 2019 OAP Competition is Now Open! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Experts from BCCDC, Fraser Health and BC Emergency Health Services, among others, will participate in a panel discussion that will aim to help the general public better understand the concept of harm reduction, including best practices and initiatives that look to increase acceptance. Confirmed panelists include Dr. Mark Tyndall and Dr. Jane Buxton, of the BC Centre for Disease Control, Erica Thomson of Fraser Health, and Brian Twaites of BC Emergency Health Services. The panel moderator will be Donald MacPherson, the Executive Director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.

After the panel discussion, there will be time for a Q&A, and opportunity for small group dialogue sessions and workshops that can continue the conversations around harm reduction.

A number of relevant community groups/organizations will have exhibition booths that attendees can explore to find out what the groups are doing regarding harm reduction and what they (attendees) can do to help.

To register, click through to the Science World website. (link removed when event closed)

The post BCCDC Foundation Continues Partnership with Science World: A Discussion on Harm Reduction appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

The BCCDF Foundation for Public Health teamed up with Science World to host a murder mystery event for Halloween 2018!

Attendees were tasked with using science to solve the crime. they had just two hours to identify the killer, poison, how the poison was administered, and the motive.

“It is so much fun to see how enthusiastic attendees are to have access to our BCCDC folks and to use real science to solve a mystery, ” said Kristy Kerr, Executive Director of the BCCDC Foundation for Public Health. “I am thankful for our partnership with Science World and everyone who volunteers because it allows us to share that”

The event was set at a sci-fi fan convention and the BCCDC was there to warn attendees of something known as ConCrud, which is what happens when you pick up an infection or illness at a convention.

“Our partnership with Science World continues to produce rewarding and entertaining events, “said Dr. Mark Tyndall, Executive Medical Director of the BCCDC. “It is a great way to showcase the things that we do in a way that is easy to understand” These events provide unparalleled access to our science and the people who do the work. I am grateful to the BCCDC staff who participate and to the BCCDC Foundation for Public Health for their dedication to raising awareness about our work and public health.”

By participating in activities at the booths, participants could earn clues to help solve the mystery. Keenan Simmons, who attended the event with a group of about 10 friends, found it challenging. “You never know who [the killer] is, you’re not confident in your answer,” he said.

Julianne Beauchamp, another attendee and part o the same group as Simmons, was certain about the substance she identified as the poison. “It can kill you by injecting, touching or ingesting so there’s lots of ways he could have died,” she said.

About 1,200 people attended over the two-night event, held October 25 and 26. Some fans got right into the Halloween spirit and dressed up in costumes or as their favourite sci-fi characters.  “It was super fun I will come back next year,” said Beauchamp.

The post Murder Mystery Fun…and Educational! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

The week starts off with our fun, social event on the Monday with a workshop on Sushi making–which has already sold out!  We’ll also have the posters on display starting on Monday, so don’t forget to participate in the Poster Scavenger Hunt all week for your chance at some great prizes.  The posters will be on display on the Lane Level and 2^nd floor hallways.

One change to note this year is that all workshops and presentations will take place in the Medical Student Alumni Centre (MSAC) building next door.

Tuesday highlights include our own Dr Jennifer Gardy as the day’s keynote speaker, who will speak on “Digital Pathogen Surveillance: Driving Disease Detection with Data”.  As well, this is the first day of the research symposium, so you won’t want to miss presentations on innovation and research at the BCCDC. On Wednesday, the Symposium continues (see full schedule below) and will close with our final Keynote speaker, Dr Caroline Colijin, Mathematics Professor at Simon Fraser University and Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematics for Infection Evolution and Public Health, and  who will present “Mathematics and the genomic toolkit for epidemiology and public health”. Thursday’s event is a workshop on “Data Visualization Tools and Techniques” presented by Mike Coss, that should prove useful to many at BCCDC.

And we have an addition to the lineup this year: the Research Week Poster Session will be the final event of Research Week. Representatives from displayed research posters will be standing beside their posters on Lane Level and 2^nd floor hallways between 12:00 and 1:00 on Friday, November 2^nd, to answer questions you may have on their posters.

RW2018 Speaker Schedule click for a downloadable copy

We hope to see you there!

The post Research Week 2018 – Full Schedule released! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

As the Lane Level lecture hall is out of circulation, we’re moving the workshops and symposia presentations to the UBC Medical Student Alumni Centre next door. Posters will still be displayed on the hallway walls at BCCDC, on the Lane Level and 2nd floor.

Stay tuned for the full schedule and lineup of speakers coming soon. Plan to join your colleagues as they present updates and results from interesting research and programming.

This year is the 11th anniversary of BCCDC Research Week, and the BCCDC Foundation is pleased to be a part of the planning and delivery, as well as a sponsor, since 2011.

The post Research Week 2018 – Mark your calendars! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

The objective of the OAP is to help enhance the research enterprise at BCCDC and to increase the opportunities for success at major peer review organizations such as CIHR. We offer three types of funding: i) money for blue sky, discovery, or pilot grants; ii) workshop and team-building grants , to bring colleagues together either for the exchange and discussion of new research and/or its translation into new policy/practice or to help in generation of research teams; iii) research travel awards for investigators to learn new techniques, exchange research information and prepare material for publication.

The deadline for applications is Monday, October 1st 2018 at 4:30pm PST and is open only to faculty members of BCCDC/BCPHL. If you are faculty, please check your inboxes on Friday, Aug 17th for an email containing Application Forms and Terms of Reference. If you don’t receive one, or just would like more info, email : foundation@bccdc.ca

To learn more about the projects funded by the OAP by the BCCDC Foundation, please search this blog for the tag “OAP”

The post Call for Applications for Fall 2018 OAP Competition Opens Soon! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.