Community Acquired Infections Research Group
This report is meant as a summary of the funded research activities of members of the University of Manitoba (UM) Community Acquired Infections Research (CAIR) group. It covers research activities in which members of the group worked jointly on projects; as such, it is not meant to be a complete list of all of the individual research activities of each group member. Titles and a brief summation of each project are provided with the names of the individual CAIR members involved in each project highlighted in bold. Unless noted all of the individuals mentioned below are UM faculty. Given that many of these individuals are also currently involved in the development of a collaboration between the Universities of Manitoba and Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia) the research activities occurring between these two universities are also summarized. Projects are listed in chronological order.
Canadian research projects
1. The epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections and blood borne pathogens in an inmate population. This project was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) from 2007 to 2009. The Principal Applicants were Drs. Carole Beaudoin and John Wylie; Co-applicants were Drs. Paul Van Caeseele and Magdy Dawood. This research project was designed to gather data on the prevalence of sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBI) in prison populations, the risk behaviours engaged in by inmates, and institutional barriers to harm reduction. The data was intended to inform prevention strategies in Canadian correctional centres.
2. The behavioural, social and cultural factors affecting the epidemiology of sexually transmitted and bloodborne pathogens in high-risk populations: determining risk space in Canada’s vulnerable populations. This project was funded by CIHR with funding covering the period from 2007 to 2013. The Principal Applicants are Drs. John Wylie and Ann Jolly (Queen’s University); Co-applicants are Drs. Paul Van Caeseele, Magdy Dawood, and Carole Beaudoin. This project includes both retrospective and prospective studies on the behavioural, social, and cultural factors that influence the epidemiology of STBBI in high-risk populations in Canada. The study examines the extent to which social network and neighbourhood factors influence the risk associated with specific individual risk behaviours.
3. International Infectious Diseases and Global Health Training Program: Four continents, One Shared Experience. This is a training program funded primarily by CIHR covering a period from 2009 to 2015. The Principal Applicants are Drs. Keith Fowke, Francis Plummer, Stephen Moses, John Wylie, and Javier Mignone. This is a training program designed for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows and involves four training sites – Canada, Kenya, India, and Colombia. The activities within the program include monthly videoconferences between all trainees, in-person attendance at two–week courses currently being offered at the Canadian, Kenyan and Indian sites, and completion of a practicum in a research area distinct from the trainees’ own research program.
4. Fuel for work: a learning site to promote nutrition and food security at Sunshine House. This project is funded through the University of Manitoba Academic Enhancement Fund from 2010 – 2011. The Principal applicant is Dr. Joyce Slater; Co-applicants include Drs. John Wylie, Keith Fowke, Javier Mignone, and Julia Rempel. The purpose of this project is to develop a formal partnership between the University of Manitoba and Kali Shiva AIDS Services/Sunshine House (KSAS/SH), in order to establish a “learning site” for students and researchers from multiple disciplines who are involved in public and population health. KSAS/SH is an inner-city resource centre for street-involved adults infected with, affected by or at risk for HIV and Hepatitis C. This collaboration would therefore provide opportunities for students and researchers to work “in situ” with some of Winnipeg’s most marginalized citizens.
5. HIV positive client survey. This project is funded through the AIDS Community Action Program. The Principal Applicant is Dr. Carole Beaudoin; co-applicants include Dr. John Wylie, and Bohdanna Kinasevych (Nine Circles Community Health Centre). The purpose of this project is to: identify the behaviours engaged in by HIV-positive individuals that may increase or decrease the likelihood of HIV transmission to others; ii) identify any barriers experienced by HIV-positive individuals that may impede their attempts at preventing secondary transmission, iii) identify any barriers experienced by HIV-positive individuals that may impede treatment compliance, and iv) identify any changes in the behaviour or lifestyle of HIV-positive individuals since becoming aware of their HIV status.
Canadian-Colombian activities
The link between the University of Manitoba and Colombia began in 2006 and is based on a collaboration initiated by two investigators, Drs. John Wylie and Carlos Rojas. In addition to the University of Manitoba, it now involves the University of Antioquia (UDEA) in Medellín, Colombia as well as the Medellín Municipal Government departments of Public Health and Social Wellbeing. Recently, meetings have been held in Winnipeg to begin the process of expanding the number of Canadian organizations involved in the partnership. In addition to UM, representatives from the Province of Manitoba Department of Innovation, Energy and Mines, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Nine Circles Community Health Centre, and The University of Winnipeg Institute of Urban Studies were present at this meeting. To date the following funding has been obtained as a result of this collaboration:
1. Establish a research collaboration between Colombia and Canada to investigate HIV and sexually transmitted infections. This project was funded through the UM Paul Thorlakson Foundation and was awarded for 2007 to 2008. The principal applicant on this proposal was Dr. John Wylie; co-applicants were Drs. Javier Mignone, Carole Beaudoin, and Keith Fowke. The funds from this proposal provided the first opportunity for these Canadian researchers to travel to Medellín to further develop and expand the research collaboration between the two universities.
2. Developing public health prevention programs: collaboration between Colombia and Canada to address the spread of HIV and STI. This project was funded by a CIHR catalyst grant for a two year period from 2009 to 2011. The principal applicant was Dr. John Wylie; co-applicants included Drs. Carlos Rojas (UDEA) and Barbara McMillan. This project provided start-up funds that allowed a joint Canadian/Colombian pilot project to be established in Colombia. This pilot project focused on street-involved youth in Medellín with the intention of establishing methods for providing educational materials to these youth and increasing their knowledge levels with respect to HIV. A related project is the Development and evaluation of educational resources for street-involved youth. This project was funded as a Canada-Latin American and the Caribbean Research Exchange Grant for a one year period from 2010 to 2011. The Principal applicant is Dr. John Wylie; co-applicants were Drs. Carlos Rojas (UDEA), Barbara McMillan and Dora Hernández (Municipal Government Department of Social Wellbeing, Medellín) and UM MEd candidate, Chelsea Jalloh. These funds provided Ms. Jalloh with an opportunity to extend her stay in Medellín while working jointly with another UDEA education student, Queeling Gomez.
3. Epidemiología, prevención y control del VIH/SIDA y las infecciones de transmisión sexual en una comunidad indígena de Colombia (Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Indigenous community in Colombia). This project was funded by Colciencias, a Colombian National Funding Agency, equivalent to CIHR. The funding is for a two year period from 2010 – 2012. The principal applicant was Dr. Carlos Rojas (UDEA); Canadian co-applicants included Drs. John Wylie, Carole Beaudoin, Keith Fowke, and Javier Mignone. The intention of this project is to identify STBBI risk behaviours and the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C and syphilis amongst the members of a small Aboriginal community near Medellín, Colombia. Based on this information an intervention will be developed with the goal of lowering the risk of transmission of these pathogens within this community and to measure the impact of that intervention following implementation.
Submitted by Dr. John Wylie
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