What do Indigenous health research and respiratory research have in common?
Indigenous health is a critical issue Canada-wide. But historically, dedicated Indigenous health research has been chronically under-funded, slowing progress and putting generations at risk of breathing breakdowns instead of breakthroughs.
Sound familiar? Respiratory research is chronically under-funded, too. When these two gaps intersect, it becomes clear that urgent action is needed to promote Indigenous respiratory research.
Coming together for a new initiative: Our partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Through a partnership with Canada’s federal funding agency for health research, the Lung Health Foundation is proud to announce $100,000 in funding for one impactful research project.
What kind of research will this initiative fund?
CIHR will initiate and manage a competitive process to identify research to be funded jointly by LHF and CIHR. The successful applicant’s research study will explore one of the following:
- Prevalence and determinants of lung disease in Indigenous communities
- Environmental, social, and cultural factors influencing lung health disparities
- Culturally adapted interventions for prevention, management, and education
- Respiratory health promotion through Indigenous knowledge systems
- Examining structural barriers impacting Indigenous access to respiratory care
Why is this work so critical?
The Lung Health Foundation is dedicated to ending gaps in the prevention, diagnosis, and care of lung disease across Canada — gaps that disproportionately affect Indigenous Peoples.
Past research in this area has highlighted that:
- Indigenous populations experience greater smoking levels, increased indoor air pollutants due to inadequate housing and higher rates of obesity. These challenges could be attributed to inequities such as socioeconomic disadvantages, which are driven by historical injustices including colonization and residential school enrollment (Purnam, P, Abonyi, S, Naytowhow,A, Seeseequasis, J, et al, 2015)
- There is an intergenerational link between attendance at a residential school, smoking and chronic bronchitis (Purnam, P, Abonyi, S, Naytowhow,A, Seeseequasis, J, et al, 2015)
- Indigenous children are disproportionately affected by respiratory infections such as viral bronchiolitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Causes for high rates of infections include poverty, overcrowding, housing in need of major repairs and better ventilation, and increased exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Kovesi, 2012).
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has long recognized these gaps, too. Click here to learn more about CIHR’s commitment to building a healthier future for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
KEY DATES
- Funding Opportunity Launch: July 4, 2024
- Registration Deadline: August 14, 2024
- Full Application Deadline: September 11, 2024
- Notification of Decision: January 29, 2025
- Funding Start Date: April 2025*
Note: The timelines above are estimates and are subject to change.
Eligibility & Application
In addition to other eligibility criteria, applicants must outline their plan for meaningful and culturally safe involvement of Indigenous Peoples in their research and/or research team.
For full funding opportunity details, including eligibility and application procedures, please view this Fall 2024 Priority Announcement’s entry on ResearchNet.