Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Enhancing breastfeeding rates remains an international public health priority. Canadian breastfeeding rates remain well below global recommendations, with disproportionally low levels among marginalized populations. Multidisciplinary research collaborations are thus critically needed to better address the multifactorial determinants of breastfeeding and to scale up effective strategies to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in Canada. The primary goal of this planning grant project is to bring together a national, multidisciplinary group of researchers to plan the creation of a Canadian Breastfeeding Promotion, Protection and Support Research Group. The objectives of this are to 1) survey breastfeeding researchers in Canadian universities to determine their interest in and needs for this research group and to inform the project's meeting activities, 2) hold a two-day virtual planning and consultation meeting with interested researchers to present their breastfeeding research programs; define a structure and funding mechanisms for the research group; and brainstorm how the group can enhance breastfeeding research capacity and mobilization of research findings to key stakeholders across Canada, 3) identify breastfeeding research priorities, knowledge translation activities and key stakeholders, 4) plan next steps in establishing the research group. This project will enable networking and new research collaborations among Canadian researchers at all stages of their career addressing the fragmented breastfeeding research landscape. As well, this initiative will increase research excellence, future implementation and scale-up evidence-based clinical practice and public policy to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in Canada.