Amanda Willms is a PhD student in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education at the University of Victoria. She is passionate about using technology to improve health outcomes and works on projects that create and test physical activity apps. Her research focuses on finding innovative ways to support individuals in making long-term physical activity changes. Â
Her PhD research is funded by the CBITN-CTTP & Michael Smith Health Research BC Doctoral Studentship. This project takes place in BC and focuses on improving digital health tools for people with type 2 diabetes. Â
Dr. Sam Liu, the director of the Digital Health Lab, leads this research. He is an expert in digital health interventions and behaviour change. Amandaâs research studies whether an adaptive physical activity intervention can help people with type 2 diabetes be more active. The goal is to give them personalized exercise suggestions when they need them, based on their preferences and physical activity levels, through a mobile health app. Â
In this study, BC residents with type 2 diabetes will participate in a 12-week mobile app program. The research hopes to help people get more active, manage their blood sugar levels better, and improve digital health tools. This work aims to make it easier for people to access personalized health programs through digital tools.Â
Spencer Skaper is a Master of Science student at the University of Victoria and is leading a research project aimed at understanding how exercise improves blood flow to the brain in individuals with Down syndrome. This project is funded by the Canadian Consortium of Clinical Trial Training Platform-Clinical Trials Training Programs (CANTRAIN-CTTP) & Michael Smith Health Research BC Mastersâ Studentship, which is a BC-based initiative with mentorship and support from the Cerebrovascular Health Exercise and Environmental Research Sciences laboratory under Dr. Kurt Smith, an expert in cerebrovascular health. Individuals with Down syndrome have lower blood flow to the brain, resulting in advanced aging and a higher risk of early Alzheimer’s disease and other cerebrovascular disorders. However, limited studies have demonstrated brain blood flow responses in a Down syndrome population, with fewer proposing early intervention strategies that preserve cerebrovascular function. Thus, this study aims to determine how moderate exercise affects brain blood flow in Down syndrome. We believe that aerobic exercise will improve brain blood flow in this population. These findings may be valuable for implementing early intervention strategies that preserve brain blood flow and limit early onset cerebrovascular complications in Down syndrome. The research findings could inform exercise recommendations to support brain health in Down syndrome, benefiting individuals, caregivers, and BCâs healthcare system. The results may also contribute to broader efforts in preventing cerebrovascular diseases in the aging Down syndrome populations.Â
This project will bring together diverse stakeholders to plan an evaluation of peer involvement in the High Hopes Cannabis Substitution Program at Drinkers’ Lounge. During a one-day facilitated workshop, a planning committee including peer workers, MAP participants, staff, and researchers will co-develop an evaluation framework and a plan for moving forward with research activities. The committee will identify priority research questions, outcomes, indicators, and data collection methods, emphasizing principles of community-based participatory research and cultural safety.
This project aims to build partnerships for community-driven research, generate a comprehensive evaluation plan grounded in lived experience perspectives, and produce insights on best practices for meaningful peer engagement in harm reduction programs. Outputs will include a collaborative research agreement, final report, and funding proposal to implement the evaluation. These activities will contribute to the evidence base on community-led solutions to the opioid crisis, refinement and scale-up of peer-involved cannabis-enhanced MAPs, and improving health outcomes for MAP participants.
Do you know someone affected by a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? In Canada, about 1 in 50 people live with brain injuries, dramatically altering lives and making navigation through the healthcare system challenging. Further, many survivors lack the necessary support from family and peers, which makes the recovery journey difficult. The Wolvesâ Den, part of the Brain Changes Initiative, is a peer support and education group dedicated to improving the lives of TBI survivors. It promotes six pillars of brain health: exercise, cognitive training, mindfulness, nutrition, sleep, and reducing harmful exposures. Here, TBI survivors can share stories, meets experts, and learn how to enhance their recovery. This project aims to evaluate and expand the Wolvesâ Den program. We aim to conduct a comprehensive assessment to evaluate Wolvesâ Den. This includes qualitative and quantitative methods to collect feedback from members, refine the program, and improve offerings. The funding will also support expert sessions, facilitation, the creation of TBI-accessible session recaps, and outreach to attract more participants. Our goal is to ensure the program remains a leading resource for TBI recovery, continually adapting to meet community needs.
In rural and remote communities across North Vancouver Island, there is a growing number of older adults who need supports to stay at home. This region has a disproportionately higher proportion of older adults in the province. With changing demographics due to out-migration of young workers (for urban job opportunities) and in-migration of older adults (due to lower cost of living and desirable retirement area), keeping up with services has been more challenging than in other places.
This project seeks to build community-engaged patient-oriented research partnerships with social-sector agencies, service providers, private businesses, government partners, and people from local communities in rural and remote locations within North Vancouver Island. Together, we will gather uncertainties facing vulnerable older adults in rural and remote communities about staying at home, and jointly plan a co-design workshop to develop a plan to engage researchers, research users, and funders with our findings.
Project outcomes include 1) research agenda on aging at home in rural and remote communities; and 2) network of partners and collaborators for future research and grant applications.
Hip and knee replacements are common procedures in Canada that improve mobility and reduce pain for individuals suffering from severe arthritis. To support pre- and post-surgical care, tailored exercise programs are integral. Unfortunately, access is often limited. This is especially true in rural areas, where cultural and language barriers persist. The Healthy Hips and Knees program offered by YMCA BC caters to those awaiting or recovering from surgery. Despite high demand, the program is currently available only in Prince George. To address this, YMCA BC hopes to expand its reach across British Columbia. The research team will collaborate with YMCA-BC to co-develop a research agenda. We will develop a plan to increase program reach and accessibility, particularly in underserved communities and groups. We will also ensure the program can continue over time. In addition, we have an evaluation plan to check how effective the program is, how well it is being adopted and implemented, and how it is maintained. This project will enhance care delivery for people with hip and knee replacements while identifying funding opportunities to sustain program expansion.
Adolescence (ages 12-18) and young adulthood (ages 19-29) are typically the time when individuals establish autonomy and independence, develop healthy habits (e.g., exercise and nutritional food preferences), form and maintain healthy relationships, and build capacity for economic success. Poor physical health and health habits in these life periods contribute to later risks for disease and associated costs. Yet, we do not have Canadian data that connect health across adolescence and young adulthood to long-term health in early mid-life (ages 35-45). The proposed project builds on an existing and robust community-based sample, the Victoria Health Youth Survey (V-HYS) which began in 2003 (N=662; ages 12-18). Our team will partner with Drs. Fyfe and Kay (Island Health) and Dr. Thumath (Ministry of Health) to develop a plan to collect follow-up data from these now adults including evidence-based measures of physical health, mental health, substance use, healthy relationships, and social determinants of health. Our partnerships will ensure findings provide information about what matters for health long-term for Canadians and inform policy responses that can support midlife health, mental health, education, labour, and social supports.
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a likely precursor to dementia. With no known cure for dementia, and a rapidly aging world population, there is great need for research that targets reducing risk. Our team has developed and pilot-tested an mHealth-app-based psychoeducation intervention targeting cognitive health promotion for older adults; the results of this pilot study reflected a highly feasible intervention, but that many participants wanted an âextra challengeâ in learning and applying their new knowledge. The proposed project will work with knowledge users (e.g., people with SCD or lived experience of dementia and related disorders, family members, caregivers, clinicians, and advocates) to develop a plan for enhancing engagement through gamification. We will achieve this goal by consulting with knowledge users through a working group of persons with lived experience (PWLE), researchers, developers, and a clinician. This working group will identify the priorities of knowledge users for the enhancement of the intervention and how to move forward. This project will also disseminate knowledge gained from the working group consultations to research users via a public forum, an academic paper, and a series of infographics.
We propose to come together with MAP site partners and people with lived and living experience of substance use to discuss findings from a recent pilot evaluation of cannabis substitution in MAPs, with the aim of contributing evidence to the well-established knowledge base for MAP. During this gathering, attendees will co-develop a KT strategy to package evidence for different audiences and plan to disseminate this evidence. Developing a KT strategy, including opportunities for knowledge mobilization, will support partners to review robust data related to cannabis as a harm reduction alternative to alcohol and other drugs, improve and sustain their current programs, and create evidence-based recommendations for other harm reduction organizations that want to implement cannabis substitution.
Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the development, implementation, and improvement of cannabis programs in harm reduction organizations, providing a safer alternative to alcohol and positively influencing the health of people with alcohol disorders. Dissemination of evidence will also grow the body of knowledge around cannabis substitution for other drugs, including opioids, to influence advocacy efforts and policy change.
This project aims to expand a well-established online video blog that brings together pain researchers, clinicians and patient partners to share critical insights about pain challenges and management. Season 5 will reintegrate our initial approach by mixing responses from all stakeholders. The project plans to align with an event co-hosted with Pain BC or the Canadian Pain Society to maximize impact and outreach.
