BC Environmental and Occupational Health Research Network

The main objective of this project is to determine if acute health effects can be attributed to exposure to chloraminated or chlorinated drinking water. This project will use human health data to determine if potential acute health impacts (e.g., skin rashes, eye irritation, respiratory problems, etc.) are associated with the use of chloramine as a secondary (distribution system) disinfectant, compared to chlorine or no secondary disinfectant. This project will identify data sources and examine the potential acute health impacts for future communication and management efforts related to chloramine use in drinking water. This project is specifically intended to support Goal 3: Chloramines – Filling in the Gaps of the Distribution System Water Quality Strategic Initiative.

The proposed project will develop a health risk assessment methodology that captures cumulative health risk associated with drinking water. Once established, this process will provide a useful tool to utilities to aid in prioritizing risk reduction measures for specific drinking water contaminants. The methodology will also help in communicating the relative risk posed by specific regulated contaminants or contaminants of potential concern when they are found in drinking water. Utility case studies will illustrate use of the assessment methodology.

The goal of this RFA is to provide a funding mechanism to investigators for laboratory tests on non-renewable (non-DNA) samples generated by type 1 diabetes (T1D) clinical trials and studies.

Expressions of interest are sought from investigators interested in studying human immune memory responses in T1D in the context of pancreas and islet transplantation from: 1) existing stored samples (sample access must be secured by the investigator and demonstrated in the EOI); or 2) samples obtained through a prospective trial of pancreas or islet transplantation (sample access will be facilitated by JDRF). This initiative encourages collaborations between experts in immune memory, immunopathogenesis of T1D, and pancreas/islet transplantation. However, we also welcome investigators with assays or hypothesis relevant to this initiative.

Research funded through the Eco EID initiative’s Call for Proposals in South East Asia will apply an ecohealth approach to improve the understanding of the environmental, societal, and economic interactions associated with development that predispose the region to disease emergence and spread. It will also assist in the development of intervention strategies that sustainably prevent or limit the spread of emerging infectious diseases.

IPMA, is committed to the global effort to eliminate the burden of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. IPMA fosters partnerships for integrated research across malaria-endemic regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Integrated research requires systems thinking, collaboration across disciplines, sectors and regions, multi-stakeholder engagement, and sensitivity to social equity and environmental sustainability. The complexity of these challenges currently outpaces the existing capacities of research teams, especially in regions most affected by malaria.
Through this Call, IDRC will support the formation and consolidation of multi-national, multi-disciplinary research teams in high transmission and high-burden countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. The granted teams will develop research, build collaboration and alliances, and create advocacy and leverage funds for integrated malaria research and control. Granted teams will work towards a balanced mix of these outcome domains.

CHSRF recognizes the importance of including patients in discussing issues and sharing in decision-making. Research shows that patient-centred care, with its focus on patient preference and experience, is a key component of quality. The purpose of the Patient Engagement Projects (PEP) initiative is to support activities that engage patients in the design, delivery and evaluation of health services that ultimately improve the quality of care.
CHSRF is funding up to six Patient Engagement Projects (as much as $100,000 each for a maximum total of $600,000). Project teams must be led by a decision-maker and must complete their work within two years.

The objective of this research is to identify and characterize water quality impacts of extreme weather-related events. This project is specifically intended to support the Climate Change Strategic Initiative objective to provide water utilities with a set of tools to identify and assess their vulnerabilities, and develop effective adaptation strategies.

The objective of this project is to develop and apply tools and guidance to gain an understanding of consumers’ perceptions of and attitudes towards endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (EDCs/PPCPs) in drinking water to improve future communications and responses by the drinking water industry. This project is specifically intended to support the EDC/PPCP Strategic Initiative goal of developing integrative frameworks to assess and communicate risk.

The objectives of this project are two-fold: (1) to conduct a literature review covering the global occurrence and treatability of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs); (2) following the literature review, researchers will conduct a limited, strategically targeted assessment to determine the fate of these compounds in North American water treatment plants (from source to finished water) in order to validate the findings from the literature. This project is specifically intended to support the EDC/PPCP Strategic Initiative goal of assessing watershed and treatment impact on EDC/PPCP exposure at the tap.

The objective of this project is to develop, validate, and demonstrate a portable device that will allow water utilities to monitor lead and copper values without engaging in household tap sampling. This monitoring will provide insight into potential premise plumbing metal release and changes in the rate of metal release to evaluate corrosion control effectiveness.

The objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive update of the Water Research Foundation’s 1993 guidance manual Instrumentation & Computer Integration of Water Utility Operations (report no. 90588), and in the process of doing so, pay particular attention to the alignment of IT and utility business strategic planning.

The research will identify best practices and metrics used by water utilities to support each of the ten attributes of effectively managed water utilities; develop and document a framework, methodology and tools for performance benchmarking; develop a means of maintaining and updating practice information; and pilot test the framework, methodology and tools with a representative group of water/wastewater utilities.

The objective of the project is to develop a practical operational definition of biologically stable drinking water and to develop guidance for water professionals on how to optimize treatment prior to water distribution to produce biologically stable water that will not promote the growth of pathogens.

This project will update the 1999 Water Research Foundation report Residential End Uses of Water and include end uses and key socioeconomic variables not covered in the original research.

The objective of this research is to develop a guidance manual focused on drinking water pump station design and operation to minimize the energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions of a water utility. This project is specifically intended to support the Climate Change Strategic Initiative objective of providing water utilities with a set of tools to assess and minimize their carbon footprint.

The proposed project will develop a health risk assessment methodology that captures cumulative health risk associated with drinking water. Once established, this process will provide a useful tool to utilities to aid in prioritizing risk reduction measures for specific drinking water contaminants. The methodology will also help in communicating the relative risk posed by specific regulated contaminants or contaminants of potential concern when they are found in drinking water. Utility case studies will illustrate use of the assessment methodology.

The objective of this project is to validate the efficacy of chlorine and chloramine along with additional operational strategies for mitigating exposure and risk from pathogens during main breaks and depressurization, and to identify parameters that could be used to quantify the level of control achieved during such events.

The objective of this research is to identify how reservoir operations can be adjusted to adapt to hydrologic changes associated with climate change and the uncertainties associated with climate variability. This project is specifically intended to support the Climate Change Strategic Initiative objective to provide water utilities with a set of tools to identify and assess their vulnerabilities, and develop effective adaptation strategies.

The goal of the fund is to foster the development of more productive and sustainable agricultural systems that increase food security and enhance nutrition. The two key objectives are to:
a) Increase food security in developing countries through investments in applied research for agricultural productivity and nutrition; and
b) Harness Canadian expertise and knowledge in food security related science and technology to develop solutions with and for the developing world.