Grant: Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing epidemic diseases in Canada, with over 10% of the population diagnosed with this disease and another 20-30% living with pre-diabetes. There is a growing need to train experts and scientists in this area, to fuel innovation and provide support to the government in managing the rising health and economic burden caused by diabetes. Insulin, discovered 100 years ago in Toronto, is a major determinant of blood sugar control. This hormone is produced by specialized cells within the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans. The Canadian Islet Research and Training Network - Réseau de Recherche et Formation sur les Ilots du Canada (CIRTN-R2FIC) was formed in 2020 to grow opportunities for research exchange and training focused on the biology of insulin and the pancreatic islets of Langerhans (www.islets.ca). CIRTN-R2FIC brings together 45 islet-biology-focused laboratories at 11 institutions in 5 provinces. With this NSERC-CREATE grant we will provide CIRTN-R2FIC trainees with the opportunity to participate in a unique, islet- and diabetes-focused country-wide training program to better prepare them for a competitive and diverse job market. The program includes: enhanced mentorship; scholastic and technical training; industry or academic internship and international exchange; workshops on topics including advocacy, policy, regulatory affairs, communication, and business development; meeting and networking; and equity diversity and inclusion training. CIRTN-R2FIC CREATE trainees will be highly sought after by companies developing treatments for obesity and diabetes, biomarker discovery, and medical devices and biosensors, fuelling growth in both academic and industrial sectors across Canada and strengthening innovation in these areas.