2021 Research Funding Roundup

More than 58 research funding grants were awarded to Faculty of Community Services (FCS) researchers in 2021. These research projects represent over $11.5 million in funding. We know that FCS researchers work to produce research that helps to improve the quality of life in our many communities, and it can be a challenge to show the range and depth of this work.

Research projects that received funding covered topic areas including children's rights, Indigenous youth, cervical health, housing, Black housing, diabetes, accessible musical instruments, cycling and traffic safety and automated (self-driving) vehicles, to name but a few projects with global, national or local impact. 

"FCS researchers regularly respond to some of the world’s most pressing problems by generating new knowledge and advancing evidence-based practices,” said Jennifer Martin, associate dean, graduate studies and scholarly, research and creative (SRC) activity, at FCS. “Through their work in cutting-edge labs, collaborations with community partners, and local and international partnerships, our researchers consistently provide innovative, practical contributions that will move us toward a better future."

Research and publishing timelines vary, so one way of representing the shared impact of our faculty over the previous year is to examine the range of the grants that have been awarded. We received a range of grants from granting agencies of all sizes, many of which have supported multiple research projects. 

Three of the largest grants represented approximately $2 million in funding or more each. 

• Professor Tara Collins, Child and Youth Care (CYC), received a $2,499,933 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for her work on the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership in April 2021. 
• Professor Judy Finlay, CYC, received a $2,496,567 grant from the Department of Justice for her work looking at National Indigenous Court Workers, a youth-centred justice project, in March 2021. 
• Professor Mandana Vahabi, of the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing (DCSN), received a grant of $1,999,954 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and a grant of $200,000 from Ryerson University for her work on the Women Empowerment-Cancer Awareness Nexus (WE-CAN): an implementation research study of cervical cancer prevention through HPV self-sampling and education in India in July 2021. Professor Vahabi also received a $250,000 grant from the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation in January of 2021 to do a feasibility study for this work.   

Granting agencies supporting multiple projects

FCS faculty have developed long-standing and meaningful relationships with community organizations and granting agencies. In 2021, 33 grants, reported to date, came from large granting bodies that made multiple grants to FCS. Included in this are 18 grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and The Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) funded six research projects, and MITACS also funded six projects. 

Below is a list of some examples of the range of research projects funded (this is not a complete list) by various agencies. Grants listed here range from $10,000 to $50,000 in funding with some outliers receiving up to $200,000 in funding.  

• Professor Nemoy Lewis, School of Urban and Regional Planning, received a grant from SSHRC for his research: Housing Insecurity for Black Renters, COVID-19 and the Fight to Remain Housed. 
• Professor Matthias Sweet, School of Urban and Regional Planning, received a grant from Metrolinx for his research: Public Opinions and Outlook for Automated Vehicles: the Outer Greater Golden Horseshoe and Test Shuttle Station Areas.
• Professor Funke Oba, School of Social Work, received a Partnership Engage Grant, from SSHRC, for her research: The COVID-19 Pandemic Food Insecurity in African Caribbean Black Identifying Households in the Waterloo Region.  
• Professor Enza Gucciardi, School of Nutrition, received a grant from the Lawson Foundation for her research project: Junior and Senior Chef; Food Skills Intervention for Children (7-12) with Type 1 Diabetes (based on the Summer Lunch + at Home program).
• Professor Jason Nolan, School of Early Childhood Studies, received a grant from the University of Calgary for his project: Canadian Accessible Musical Instruments Network.
• Professor Melanie Panitch, School of Disability Studies, received a grant from Eviance for her research: Innovating for Inclusive and Equitable Post-Secondary Education: A Pathway to Realizing Sustainable Development Goals.
• Professor Eliza Chandler, School of Disability Studies, received a grant from SSHRC for her project: Accessing the Arts: Centring Disability Perspective in Accessibility Initiatives. 
• Professor Nick Bellissimo, School of Nutrition, received a grant from the State of Florida for his research project: Effect of 100% Orange Juice on Subjective Appetite, Food Intake, Glycemic Response and Subjective Mood in Healthy Adults. 
• Professor Andrea Robertson, Midwifery Education Program, received a grant from the Association of Ontario Midwives for her research: Priorities for Midwifery Research in Ontario: A Delphi Study.
• Professor Shelagh McCartney, School of Urban and Regional Planning, received a grant from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Corporate Services for her research project: Identifying and Codifying Potential Long-Term Care Facilities for Nishnawbe Aski Nation: A Systems Approach.
• Professor Jennifer Martin, School of Child and Youth Care, received a grant from the Department of Justice of the Canadian Federal Government, for her work: Understanding the Impact of the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Counselling Program in Ontario
• Professor Mohamed Abdoli-Eramaki, School of Occupational and Public Health, received a grant from MITACS for his study: Automated Driver Drowsiness Control Technology Using Artificial Intelligence-based Decision Support Systems.
• Professor Nima Khahzad, School of Occupational and Public Health, received a grant from the NSERC for her work: Toward Safer Chemical Plants via Optimal Fire Protection and Firefighting.

We look forward to reporting to you about these and many other exciting research projects underway at FCS.