UNews - Cheryl Currie

Online group therapy helps adults with anxiety and depression, new review finds

trevor.kenney — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 16:56:46 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers see group approach as way to increase access to much-needed assistance

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have profound impacts on the mental health of adults. A new review by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers highlights a way to increase public access to effective psychological therapies in an online environment.

The team's findings support establishing online group therapy programs so that more people can have access to therapeutic opportunities.

“We know that psychological counselling delivered by video, phone and apps can work,” says Dr. Cheryl Currie, an Associate Professor of Public Health at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and lead investigator of the review. “The catch is that how well these therapies work is often tied to the intensity of web-based therapist guidance. This has time implications for the therapist and cost implications for the client and health-care system.”

With so many people needing psychological help right now, Currie and her team wondered if there was a way other than one-on-one approaches. The research team systematically searched the scientific literature to determine if psychological treatments delivered by therapists to groups could be effective online.

Examining more than 4,000 articles, they found 21 randomized controlled trials that tested if psychological therapies offered to adults in a group format online or by phone were effective.

Based on the evidence, the team concluded that adults who engaged in 8-12 hours of live group therapy with a counsellor or psychologist online experienced significant improvements in their anxiety and depression. These therapies were especially effective when delivered by videoconference, when adults could see one another during the sessions.

“Humans are social creatures,” explains Currie. “As a result, psychological supports offered in a group setting can have many therapeutic benefits. This review contributes to our understanding by showing that the benefits of group therapy extend to the online therapeutic environment.”

The findings support establishing online group therapy programs so that more people can have access to these opportunities.

“This is great news,” says Currie. “It means that psychological care delivered online by therapists to groups can be effective. It means that more people can be helped at the same time. During a time of global crisis, increasing access to high-quality psychological support is something that so many adults could benefit from right now.”

The review was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research on January 11, 2022, and can be found at: https://www.jmir.org/2022/1/e27939

Albertans turning to alcohol, cannabis as they deal with symptoms of PTSD throughout prolonged pandemic

trevor.kenney — Mon, 03 May 2021 16:46:44 +0000

People who have never before struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are beginning to show symptoms of PTSD and turning to substances such as alcohol and cannabis to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. A suite of studies by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researcher Dr. Cheryl Currie has identified that many adults are looking for help for these problems in Alberta.

Dr. Cheryl Currie's study has found people who have never before struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are beginning to show symptoms of PTSD.

Currie, an epidemiologist and public health professor, surveyed approximately 900 adults in June 2020 who had no previous diagnosis of PTSD. She found people who are grappling to find coping mechanisms.

“Pandemic-related PTSD symptoms were common among Alberta adults in this study. Nightmares, intrusive thoughts about COVID-19 and feeling constantly on guard were frequently reported,” says Currie. “In some ways, the pandemic has many people stuck in fight-or-flight mode due to a combination of fear, ongoing social and economic impacts, and unpredictability regarding when it will finally be over.”

The study showed about a third of women and a quarter of men reported they were going out of their way to avoid thinking about COVID-19.

“That’s where substance use comes in,” says Currie. “Adults who reported large increases in their substance use during the pandemic noted they were trying hard to not think about it.”

While using substances to avoid thoughts and emotions is not unusual in society, the protracted nature of the pandemic has Currie wondering about the longer-term impacts of this strategy. She notes 13 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men were already reporting large increases in their alcohol and cannabis use in the first wave of the pandemic.

“Will people be able to return to pre-pandemic substance use levels once the COVID-19 crisis ends, or will we see elevated use and problems longer term? Alcohol consumption in Canada is already higher than the global average, and among the highest among developed countries,” she says.

Currie found the strongest predictor of pandemic related PTSD symptoms was whether adults thought they were going to contract COVID in the next year. She also found that it was Albertans in a younger demographic, aged 18-34 years, who were more likely to report pandemic-related PTSD symptoms.

“More than a quarter of young adults had significant pandemic-related PTSD symptoms in this study,” she says. “Young adults were also more likely to report pandemic-related job loss, and were more likely to be single and have a lower income. The data suggest the social and financial repercussions of the pandemic are having a greater impact on their mental health than other adults.”

Her other key finding highlights just how substantially the pandemic has affected Albertans.

“Most people do not admit to needing help for substance use and mental health problems because there’s a stigma attached to it,” says Currie. “Yet, in this study, almost half of adults struggling with substance use or their mental health wanted help. There is this feeling of isolation during the pandemic. Quite a few of them said, “You know, I actually just need more friends for support. I don't have enough friends right now”.”

Many adults also reported the need for help from health professionals to address their substance use and mental health problems during the pandemic — including physicians and psychological counsellors.

Recognizing the need, Currie and her team scoured the literature to see if there were effective health-professional led interventions that could be delivered to groups online, thus providing adults with both the social support and health-professional guidance they were looking for, while still remaining physically apart. They came up empty. Currie then initiated a randomized control trial (RCT) with women to address this gap in the science.

“We have begun this work with women as they report more pandemic-related PTSD symptoms. My team and I have now enrolled more than 400 women from across Alberta who are struggling with substance use and other addictions during the pandemic. We are testing if therapist-led interventions delivered online in a live, group videoconference format can help women with these problems. This work is underway, with results ready in late summer.”

Currie’s goal is to identify clinically effective and cost-efficient interventions governments and organizations can offer to large numbers of adults seeking help for pandemic-related substance use and mental health problems.

“As many have said, the mental health impacts of the pandemic will follow us long into the future. The key question is what are we going to do about it.”

U of L offers two new graduate certificates in public health

caroline.zentner — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 17:02:59 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of professionals with expertise in epidemiology and biostatistics, public health policy and ethics, and public health program implementation and evaluation. Two new graduate certificates at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will provide students with just such credentials beginning in the fall of 2021.

Both programs will be offered on a part-time basis and can be completed over multiple terms to allow students to continue to work full time. The programs are open to those who have completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum 3.0 grade point average in their last 20 courses.

“We have developed each certificate to provide graduate-level training and skills in key areas of public health that are needed and in demand in the workforce,” says Dr. Cheryl Currie, an associate professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences who led the development of the certificates. “Public health is an interdisciplinary field, making the graduate certificates a good fit for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree in public health, in a health field more generally, or in the social and biological sciences.”

The Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics will give students the necessary knowledge to design, carry out, analyze and report on the findings of epidemiologic studies in the areas of infectious disease, such as COVID-19, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and opioid dependence.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health Program and Policy Planning and Evaluation will provide advanced training in planning high quality, evidence-based public health programs, expertise in project management and hands-on training in program evaluation. Graduates will also gain a broad understanding of health policy and the ethical issues that must be considered when planning health policy.

“Our graduate certificates are ideal for students and working professionals who would like to expand their knowledge and skills in public health without committing to a master’s degree,” says Currie. “Students who would like to pursue the MSc Specialization in Public Health at the U of L at a later time can apply course credits completed in the certificates to their degree.”

The Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Graduate Certificate in Public Health Program and Policy Planning and Evaluation will be delivered on the Lethbridge campus.

U of L study shows ancestral prenatal stress linked to premature aging and increased risk of disease

caroline.zentner — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 21:03:28 +0000

A new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge study published in Aging shows that experiences in early life may lay the foundation for developing non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes later in life.

Tony Montina, Gerlinde Metz, Mirela Ambeskovic, Slava Ilnytskyy

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death around the world and, given populations are aging, strategies to support healthy aging are urgently needed. A 2016 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 22 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women aged 29 to 60 are likely to die from NCDs.

Risk factors for developing NCDs include lack of physical activity, an unbalanced diet and abuse of alcohol and tobacco. While scientists haven’t identified a single cause of NCDs, studies in both animals and humans have shown that an adverse prenatal environment heightens the risk for increased blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels, obesity and a reduced lifespan in offspring. What’s more, previous studies have shown that adverse early experiences can create a biological signature that is transmitted across generations.

“The current findings open exciting new avenues to understand the mechanisms of NCDs and how we can predict and prevent these disabling health conditions,” says Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a neuroscience professor and Tier 1 Board of Governors Research Chair at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience.

In this study, Dr. Mirela Ambeskovic, a U of L post-doctoral fellow in Metz’s lab, led a team of researchers in a study that examined ancestral stress using a rat model. Offspring of the fourth-generation of prenatally stressed rats were examined.

“Ancestral stress is stress that occurs across multiple generations,” says Ambeskovic. “We looked at multi-generational prenatal stress and our cohort showed an aging health trajectory that parallels the human population. In our study, stressed male rats between 14 and 15 months old, which is equivalent to middle age, were more likely to die from non-communicable diseases such as respiratory disease, tumours, renal disease and heart disease.”

The study results also show the ancestral stress induced different diseases in males and females. Male rats were more likely to have renal failure and female rats had higher incidences of respiratory disease and tumours. Ambeskovic says sex hormones may be involved since estrogen can protect against inflammation. The researchers measured blood glucose levels and found significant body-weight changes in males during their lives.

“The stressed males seemed to have a lower body weight when young and in middle age,” says Ambeskovic. “However, after middle age they got really heavy and almost obese. With the programming of ancestral stress, it seems that not only are these males more likely to die from renal failure and other diseases, but, if they do survive, they may get diabetes or other conditions that can contribute to morbidity and poor health. These stressed old males also became more depressed and anxious. Their mental health declined and their stress-response system was altered.”

The researchers analyzed tissues for specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that may be associated with NCDs. Both male and female rats showed changes in miRNA-150, which is also known as inflammatory microRNA, but the degree of change was greater in males. They also looked at miRNA 21, which is associated with a longer lifespan when down regulated and a shorter lifespan when up regulated.

“In our cohort, we found significant up regulation of miRNA 21 in young males, which may indicate that, somehow, these animals might have been programmed for short lifespans from their ancestors,” says Ambeskovic. “In females, this microRNA was down regulated, which may show early resilience or programmed protection.”

While miRNA information can be transmitted across generations, miRNAs can also be up or down regulated based on environment and experience. Knowing that ancestral stress has lifelong effects, providing an enriched environment early in life could offset some of the risks.

“We need to concentrate on the prevention of disease instead of treatment,” she says. “We really need to focus on these early years and early life environments to help prevent NCDs later in life.”

Researchers seek to understand how students share, process information on colonization

trevor.kenney — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 17:28:17 +0000

Two ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers are examining how indigenous and non-indigenous students negotiate, process and critically reflect on information they are learning about colonization in university classrooms.

Drs. Linda Many Guns (above, Native American Studies) and Cheryl Currie (below, Public Health) seek answers through a multidisciplinary approach.

The new study, funded by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Research Fund, is co-led by Drs. Linda Many Guns (Native American Studies) and Cheryl Currie (Public Health), pulling together research strengths in a multidisciplinary approach from the Faculties of Arts & Science and Health Sciences.

"We have a shared history of colonization in Canada. Treaty making required agreements between the original peoples and colonial parties. In that sense, we are all treaty people,” says Many Guns, the study lead. “We are interested in learning more about how students negotiate and process this information in the classroom.”

The mixed methods project will survey U of L students, as well as counsellors and Indigenous Elders who work closely with students on campus.

“We, as instructors at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, have witnessed how the learning of colonial histories impacts both indigenous and non-indigenous students,” says Currie. “We wish to better understand these experiences, and the supports students may need in this process.”

The team will also seek to better understand what resources faculty members might require as they teach the material.

“Information gained from the study will help to build an evidence base that universities can use to strengthen supports for indigenous and non-indigenous students alike, and to understand how we can come together to understand our shared histories," says Many Guns.

The U of L study will commence October 2016 with results expected in late 2017.

Currie study finds racial discrimination may play role in prescription drug misuse among Aboriginal populations

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:28:08 +0000

A new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge study suggests an expanded focus is needed in the fight against prescription drug addiction, including fentanyl abuse, within Aboriginal populations.

The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, found that racial discrimination and subsequent post-traumatic stress symptoms might be key factors contributing to prescription drug problems among Aboriginal people.

Dr. Cheryl Currie suggests an expanded focus is needed in the fight against prescription drug addiction, including fentanyl abuse, within Aboriginal populations.

“We do not have a common understanding of why disparate numbers of Aboriginal Peoples have prescription drug problems. This research suggests racial discrimination may play an important role,” says Dr. Cheryl Currie, AIHS Translational Chair in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing and assistant professor in the U of L’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

“These findings encourage us to think outside the box. Most efforts to address addictions within Aboriginal populations have focused on the role Aboriginal people play in the problem, and the changes these groups need to make to fix the problem. This research combines with other studies to call for an expanded focus.”

The study came out of data collected through in-person surveys with Aboriginal adults living in Edmonton in 2010. It found that each additional situation in which Aboriginal adults experienced racism in a one-year period – be it at work, in public spaces, or seeking health care – was associated with a half-point increase in prescription drug addiction score.

“That is a big jump,” says Currie. “Scores of 2 for women and 6 for men on this scale suggest a person should undergo further testing for a drug use disorder.”

The study also found that this relationship was explained by increased PTSD symptoms among those experiencing high levels of discrimination.

“The idea that racism is stressful is not new,” says Currie. “The idea that racism may lead to symptoms of PTSD is more controversial. Yet, a growing body of research suggests individuals may respond to discrimination in ways that extend beyond their psychological control; in ways that are consistent with PTSD symptoms.”

Currie notes that multiple studies have linked racial discrimination to poor mental health and addictions as people try to cope with these experiences, as well as stress-induced endocrine dysfunction, cardiovascular dysfunction and accelerated aging across various racial groups.

“This is a rapidly growing field of research - the impact of racism on body, mind, and behaviour is complex,” she notes. “These findings open the door to new conversations about the breadth of factors that may be contributing to prescription drug misuse problems in Canada, and potential solutions.”

Currie sees change on the horizon

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 15:56:43 +0000

Dr. Cheryl Currie awaited the release of the 2014 United Nations report on the human rights situation of Indigenous peoples in Canada with tremendous interest. An assistant professor of public health at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the recently appointed Translational Health Chair in Aboriginal Health and Wellness with Alberta Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS), the findings of the UN study were significant for Currie in a way that only someone who has dedicated her professional life to partnering with Aboriginal people to improve health can appreciate.

The U of L's Translational Health Chair in Aboriginal Health and Wellness, Dr. Cheryl Currie, is determined to help narrow the well-being gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.

The contents of the report weren’t a surprise. Currie is aware the well-being gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada is not narrowing. Yet despite the UN’s findings (or perhaps partly because of them) Currie is convinced that the lives of Canada’s Indigenous people are on the precipice of change – that the climate for collaboration between all interested parties is highly favourable, and that research and education in the area of Aboriginal health and well-being are set to take off in an impactful way.

Currie herself is determined to help make change happen.

As the Translational Health Chair with AIHS, Currie will work side-by-side with Indigenous Canadians to understand issues surrounding Aboriginal wellness, and develop evidence-based interventions that address community-identified areas in both rural and urban environments.

“If we’re going to adequately address issues of health and well-being, we need to first know where to focus our attention,” says Currie. “Where are the gaps in knowledge? Where are the gaps in service? The UN report clearly states we are not making the strides we should be toward improving the well-being of Indigenous Canadians. In my new position I will be working to address these gaps.”

Currie’s research for AIHS will focus on three main areas: 1) developing evidence-based interventions that address mental health, substance use, suicide and other issues identified by communities, 2) developing a more robust understanding of the determinant of Aboriginal health, and 3) emphasizing interventions that promote the strengths of Aboriginal peoples and communities.

Currie says the key to more effective solution finding is to change our perception of the problem.

“It’s as though the non-Aboriginal population has been holding a mirror up and telling Indigenous populations to look at themselves and make changes. What we need to do at this point is turn the mirror around. What are non-Aboriginal people doing to perpetuate the problems and obstacles that Aboriginal people continue to face? What can Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians do together to improve the situation?”

Currie’s passion for Indigenous wellness was ignited while working with urban and rural Aboriginal communities in both Manitoba and Ontario during her training at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba. She went on to earn a PhD in public health at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, focused on protective and resilience factors for health within urban-based Aboriginal populations. Currie became an assistant professor at the U of L in 2012, and was awarded the AIHS Chair position in 2014.

Currie says that the U of L is exactly where she wants to be because the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s commitment to Aboriginal initiatives has been stalwart from the start.

“The U of L has a strong interest and focus on Indigenous peoples and communities, both currently and historically,” says Currie. She’s thrilled about the new Aboriginal health degree program that will launch in the Faculty of Health Sciences in September 2015, and believes the U of L can play a key role in building partnerships and strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities nationwide.

Two published studies by Currie indicate that there’s a long way to go toward equalizing opportunities and overall wellness for Aboriginal people. Her research highlights the protective impacts of Aboriginal cultural continuity on health. Her research also indicates that discrimination directed toward Indigenous people in Canada is extremely high, and that the trauma of these ongoing experiences impacts mental health and results in considerable psychological distress. Still, Currie believes that change is possible and the climate in Canada is now ripe for it.

“It’s time to start looking at factors that contribute to Aboriginal wellness; to take the “risk factor” approach we’ve utilized in the past, flip it around and highlight things that actually have a positive impact on the lives of Indigenous people,” says Currie. “This is an exciting time. The stage is set for change, and I’m ready to go to work.”

Study to examine how social and economic stressors affect Aboriginal health

trevor.kenney — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 17:03:05 +0000

In a first-of-its-kind study, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers are examining how the social and economic adversity faced by Aboriginal peoples may affect their biological health.

This new study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, will be co-lead by three researchers at the U of L, pulling together research strengths from health sciences, kinesiology and neuroscience.

"Aboriginal populations experience high levels of chronic stress as they are often marginalized both socially and economically in Canada. We know that over time, high unrelenting stress can have a profound influence on biological systems," says study Co-Lead, Dr. Cheryl Currie, who is a public health researcher at the U of L.

Stressful experiences are an inevitable part of life, but repeated and chronic exposure to uncontrollable stressors can disrupt the function of neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Markers of biological disruption can be identified well before the clinical markers of disease are detected.

"We tend to think about social and biological determinants of health separately. Connecting the two is a more comprehensive way to think about health- and may shed new light on why Aboriginal populations are disproportionately affected by chronic disease," says study Co-Lead, Dr. Jennifer Copeland, a U of L kinesiology researcher.

The study will also build on past research by Currie indicating that Aboriginal cultural practices promote resilience against alcohol and drug abuse within Aboriginal populations. In this new study, the team will examine the extent to which Aboriginal cultural practices may promote biologic resilience and improve health. Further, the study will examine the ways in which western approaches to wellness, such as regular physical activity, may also promote resiliency in these populations.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a neuroscientist at the U of L's Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and Co-Lead on the study says understanding the biological effects of adverse social conditions is an important step towards the development of interventions that can improve population health and wellness.

"Information gained from the study will be used to help identify new strategies that can reduce health disparities experienced by Aboriginal populations," says Metz.

The full research team includes Drs. Judith Kulig, Michelle Hogue, and Olu Awosoga from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and Dr. David Olsen from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. Working together with the Aboriginal community in southern Alberta, this cross-disciplinary team will examine how a range of factors - including adverse childhood experiences, poverty, unemployment, single parenthood, living in overcrowded housing and racial discrimination - impact the stress response and biological functioning among Aboriginal adults living in the Lethbridge area.

The U of L study will commence October 2013 with results expected in 2016-17.

Currie study says Aboriginal culture key to limiting drug problems

trevor.kenney — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:26:23 +0000

A new study by a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researcher has found that urban Aboriginal adults who embrace traditional culture are less likely to experience drug problems.

Dr. Cheryl Currie, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, collected data from almost 400 Edmonton-based Aboriginal Canadians. The study results, recently published in the prestigious journal Social Science & Medicine, suggest Aboriginal cultural practice is associated with reduced prescription and illicit drug problems for urban Aboriginal adults.

"More than half of all Aboriginal Canadians live in cities", says Dr. Currie, lead investigator of the study. "In fact, Aboriginal peoples are urbanizing rapidly around the globe, yet we know little about factors that support Aboriginal health and well-being in cities.

Results suggest Aboriginal adults with strong ties to traditional activities had higher self-esteem, and this helped explain why engaging in cultural traditions was protective.

"But statistically, increased self-esteem did not explain the protective effect entirely" says Currie. "Aboriginal culture was also protecting urban Aboriginal peoples through additional mechanisms that remain unknown."

Determining what these additional mechanisms are in collaboration and partnership with urban Aboriginal communities in Alberta will be a key focus of Currie's future research.

"To improve urban Aboriginal health, we need to start asking different questions and to start looking for different answers that are grounded in the knowledge of the community itself." Currie says.

When asked what it meant to practice Aboriginal culture in a city, those in the study described participating in Aboriginal ceremonies and cultural events; valuing spirituality and family; and respecting oneself, others, and the earth. As stated by one study participant: When one returns to the Red Road one has a community, one has an identity, one feels the Creator working in their life - spirit heals.

The Social Science & Medicine journal publication entitled: Illicit and prescription drug problems among urban Aboriginal adults in Canada: The role of traditional culture in protection and resilience can be found here.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ recognizes faculty excellence

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:21:16 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge honoured faculty and postdoctoral fellows across campus who received academic research awards of distinction, secured research funding or published their research findings in the last year at Thursday's Celebrating Research Reception in Markin Hall.

The U of L also recognized those who had books published within the last calendar year.

Below is a list of the awards presented.

Research Awards: External

Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Foundation (ASTech) Award: Excellence in Science and Technology Public Awareness
Kristy Burke | Conference & Event Services

American Oil Chemists' Society Timothy L. Mounts Award
Roman Przybylski | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Campus Alberta Innovates Program (CAIP) Chairs
Chris Hopkinson | Geography, Terrestrial Ecosystems Remote Sensing
Greg Pyle | Biological Sciences, Aquatic Health

Canada Research Chairs
Louise Barrett | Psychology, Cognition, Evolution and Behaviour, Tier 1
Stacey Wetmore | Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computational Chemistry, Tier 2

Canadian Insolvency Foundation Lloyd Houlden Research Fellowship
Gordon Hunter | Management

Confederation of Alberta Faculty Association (CAFA) Distinguished Academic Award
Trudy Govier | Philosophy

Pat Clifford Award for Early Career Research in Education
Michelle Hogue | First Nations' Transition Program

Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal
Reginald Bibby | Sociology
Peter McCormick | Political Science
Richard Mrazek | Education

World Council for Curriculum & Instruction Distinguished Leadership Award
Peter Heffernan | Education

Research Awards: Internal

Ingrid Speaker Medal for Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Performance
Joseph Rasmussen | Biological Sciences

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair

Igor Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy
Sergio Pellis | Neuroscience

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Scholars
Janice Rahn | Education
Peter Visentin | Music
Judith Whitehead | Anthropology

Research Grants: External

Alberta Advisory Committee for Educational Studies Grant
Noella Piquette | Education
Jennifer Thannhauser | Education

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Wei Xu | Geography

Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research Grant
(2) Claudia Malacrida | Sociology

Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Mary Kavanagh | Art
Taras Polataiko | Art
Janice Rahn/Michael Campbell | Education/Art Co-Principal Investigators

Alberta Gaming Research Institute Grant
Yale Belanger | Native American Studies
Cheryl Currie | Public Health
Gabriela Novotna | Addictions Counselling
Claudia Steinke | Nursing

Alberta Inflammatory Bowel Disease Grant
Sameer Despande | Management

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Grant
Gerlinde Metz | Neuroscience, Co-Director

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Sustainability Funds
Roy Golsteyn | Biological Sciences
Aaron Gruber | Neuroscience
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy
Paul Vasey | Psychology
Ute Wieden-Kothe | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Alberta Rural Development Network (ARDN) Grant
Shawn Bubel | Geography
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies
Jon Doan | Kinesiology & Physical Education
Leanne Elias | New Media
Carmen Mombourquette | Education
Monique Sedgwick | Nursing
David Slomp | Education
(2) Carol Williams | Women & Gender Studies

Alzheimer Society of Canada Grant
Shannon Spenceley | Nursing

American Cancer Society Grant
Raphael Lencucha | Public Health

ATB Financial
Gordon Hunter/Dan Kazakoff | Management

Canada Council for the Arts Grant
Mary Kavanagh | Art
Maria Ng | English

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Grant
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences
Olga Kovalchuk | Biological Sciences, Co-applicant

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Nadia Rochdi/Karl Staenz | Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre/Geography

Canada Foundation for Innovation Leaders Opportunity Fund Grant
Aaron Gruber | Neuroscience
Paul Hazendonk | Chemistry & Biochemistry
Andrew Iwaniuk | Neuroscience
Hans-Joachim Wieden | Chemistry & Biochemistry

CIHR Emerging Team Grant
Gabriela Novotna | Health Sciences

CIHR Café Scientifique Grant
Penny D'Agnone | Office of Research & Innovation Services

CIHR Operating Grant
Sameer Deshpande | Management, Co-applicant
Judith Kulig | Nursing

CIHR Research Planning Grant
Sameer Desphande | Management, Co-applicant

Canadian Space Agency Contract
Karl Staenz | Geography
(2) David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy

Canadian Wildlife Federation
Richard Mrazek | Education

Department of Defense Contract
Albert Cross | Neuroscience

European Union FP7 Grant
David Naylor | Physics & Astronomy, Co-applicant

Grand Challenges in Global Health Grant
Gerlinde Metz | Neuroscience, Co-applicant

Health Canada Grant
Judith Kulig | Health Sciences, Co-applicant

Heritage Canada Grant for Aid to Scholarly Publication
Peter Heffernan | Education

Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Grant
Judith Kulig | Health Sciences

Max Bell Foundation Award
Noella Piquette | Education, Co-applicant

Monieson Centre, Queen's Business School
Gordon Hunter | Management

National Science Foundation
Jennifer Mather | Psychology, Collaborating Consultant

NSERC Collaborative Research & Training Experience (CREATE) Grant
Robert Sutherland | Neuroscience

NSERC Discovery Grant
Louise Barrett | Psychology
Sarah Boon | Geography
Howard Cheng | Mathematics & Computer Science
Saurya Das | Physics & Astronomy
Jon Doan | Kinesiology & Physical Education
Cam Goater | Biological Sciences
Bruce McNaughton | Neuroscience
Jackie Rice | Mathematics & Computer Science
Elizabeth Schultz | Biological Sciences
Robert Sutherland | Neuroscience
Soroosh Yazdani | Mathematics & Computer Science

NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grant
Amir Akbary | Mathematics & Computer Science
Paul Hazendonk | Chemistry & Biochemistry

Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences
Shahadat Hossain | Mathematics & Computer Science

SSHRC Aid to Scholarly Journals Grant
Peter Heffernan | Education
Edward Jurkowski | Music

SSHRC Insight Development Grant
Abdie Kazemipur | Sociology, Co-applicant

SSHRC Insight Grant
Harold Jansen | Political Science
Heidi MacDonald | History
Noella Piquette | Education, Co-applicant
Paul Vasey | Psychology

SSHRC Partnership Grant
Yale Belanger | Native American Studies, Co-applicant
Henning Bjornlund | Economics, Co-applicant
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies, Co-applicant
Abdie Kazemipur | Sociology, Co-applicant
Richard Mueller | Economics, Co-applicant
Ivan Townshend | Geography, Co-applicant
Wei Xu | Geography, Co-applicant

SSHRC Public Outreach Grant
Debra Basil | Management

TECTERRA
Wei Xu/Karl Staenz | Geography

Research Grants: Internal

Emmy Droog Research Awards in Health Sciences Grant
Cheryl Currie | Public Health
Ruth Grant Kalischuk | Nursing

Interdisciplinary Research Development Fund Grant
Leanne Elias | New Media
Team: John Usher (Management), Janice Rahn (Education), Michael Campbell (Art) and Cheryl Meheden (Management)
Roy Golsteyn | Biological Sciences
Team: Olga Kovalchuk (Biological Sciences) and David Naylor (Physics & Astronomy)
Josephine Mills | Art
Team: Louise Barrett (Psychology), Lisa Doolittle (Theatre & Drama), Emily Luce (New Media), Bruce MacKay (Liberal Education Program) and Tiffany Muller Myrdahl (Women & Gender Studies)
Nicole Rosen | Modern Languages
Team: Inge Genee (Modern Languages), Robbin Gibb (Neuroscience), Claudia Gonzalez (Kinesiology & Physical Education), Fangfang Li (Psychology) and Noella Piquette (Education)
Carol Williams | Women & Gender Studies
Team: Glenda Bonifacio (Women & Gender Studies), Bonnie Lee (Health Sciences), Linda ManyGuns (Native American Studies) and Patrick Wilson (Anthropology)

Parkland Institute Faculty Research Grant
Claudia Malacrida | Sociology

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Community of Research Excellence Development Opportunities (CREDO) Grant
Jerimy Cunningham | Anthropology
Claudia Malacrida | Sociology
Janay Nugent | History
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Internal
Artistic/Creative Grant
Michael Campbell | Art
Dagmar Dahl | Art
Mary Kavanagh | Art

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Internal SSHRC Grant
Michelle Hogue | First Nations' Transition Program
Janay Nugent | History
Kent Peacock | Philosophy
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Research Dissemination Grant
Glenda Bonifacio | Women & Gender Studies
Inge Genee | Modern Languages
Catherine Kingfisher | Anthropology
Janice Newberry | Anthropology
Hillary Rodrigues/John Harding | Religious Studies
Arlan Schultz | Music
Amy Shaw | History

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Research Fund Grant
Vishaal Baulkaran/Ebenezer Asem | Finance
Sarah Boon | Geography
Shawn Bubel | Geography
Michael Campbell | Art
Arundhati Dasgupta | Physics & Astronomy
Larry Flanagan | Biological Sciences
Claudia Gonzales/Fangfang Li | Kinesiology & Physical Education/Psychology
Ute Wieden-Kothe | Chemistry & Biochemistry
Jason Laurendeau | Sociology
Raphael Lencucha | Public Health
Hua Li | Mathematics & Computer Science
Heidi MacDonald | History
Kimberly Mair | Sociology
Steve Patitsas/Saurya Das | Physics & Astronomy
Adriana Predoi-Cross | Physics & Astronomy
Drew Rendall | Psychology
Shelley Scott | Theatre & Drama
David Siminovitch/Tony Montina | Physics & Astronomy
D. Andrew Stewart | Music
Mark Walton | Physics & Astronomy
John Zhang | Mathematics & Computer Science

Post-Doctoral Fellow Awards Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Postgraduate Fellowship
Ben Clark | Neuroscience
Corinne Montes-Rodriquez | Neuroscience
Jake Ormond | Neuroscience
Ivan Skelin | Neuroscience
Aaron Wilber | Neuroscience

Canadian Space Agency Space Science Enhancement Award Postdoctoral Fellowship
Matthijs Van Der Wiel | Physics & Astronomy

CIHR Fellowship
Hendrik Steenland | Neuroscience

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship (Short-Term) for North American and European Researchers
Noelle Gunst | Psychology

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Research Support Allowance (Short-Term) for North American and European Researchers
Noelle Gunst | Psychology

Book Awards 2013 recipients

M. Gordon Hunter & Dan Kazakoff (authors): Small Business: Journey to Success

Shawn Bubel, James McMurchy & Duncan Lloyd (authors): Record In Stone: Familiar Projectile Points From Alberta

Jean-Baptiste Leca, Michael A. Huffman & Paul Vasey (editors): The Monkeys of Smokey Mountain

Sarah Glassford & Amy Shaw (editors): A Sisterhood of Suffering and Service: Women and Girls of Canada and Newfoundland during the First World War

Geoffrey Hale (author): So Near Yet So Far: The Public and Hidden Worlds of Canada-U.S. Relations

Aaron Taylor (editor): Theorizing Film Acting

Marc R. Roussel (author): A Life Scientist's Guide to Physical Chemistry

Glena Tibe Bonifacio (editor): Feminism and Migration: Cross-cultural Engagements

Robert J. Williams, Robert T. Wood & Jonathan Parke (editors): The Routledge International Handbook of Internet Gambling

Arundhati Dasgupta (editor): Recent Research in Quantum Gravity

John S. Harding (editor): Studying Buddhism in Practice

Yale D. Belanger (editor): First Nations Gaming in Canada

Yongjian Bao & Wenlong Yuan (authors): The Contrarian Way of Crisis Management

Keith Roscoe & Rick Mrazek (authors): Developing Scientific Literacy: Ideas and Strategies for Planning, Assessment, and Instruction

Blythe Shepard & Lorna Martin (authors): Supervision of Counselling and Psychotherapy: A Handbook for Canadian Certified Supervisors and Applicants

Margaret A. Winzer & Kas Mazurek (editors): International Practices in Special Education: Debates and Challenges

Judith C. Kulig & Allison M. Williams (editors): Health in Rural Canada

Olga Kovalchuk & Igor Kovalchuk (authors) Epigenetics in Health and Disease

UNews - Cheryl Currie

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