Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health among finalists in Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge

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The Public Health Agency of Canada has just announced that the Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health (ICBH), based in the Faculty of Social Sciences, is one of seven finalists for the prestigious Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge Award.

This recognition comes with a $600,000 award, which will be used to implement an innovative project aimed at reducing the risk of diabetes in Black communities in Canada. The ICBH project, titled “Train, Inform, Involve and Transform to Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Black Communities in Canada,” aims to train students from various disciplines to become peer educators. They in turn will inform religious leaders and encourage Black communities to take part in diabetes prevention activities, thereby helping to raise awareness and reduce the risks associated with the disease. “This funding will enable us to implement tangible, sustainable solutions to improve the health of Black communities disproportionately affected by Type 2 diabetes,” says Professor Cénat. 

At this stage of the selection process, finalists will produce evidence that their approach reduces the number of people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in their community. At the end of the stage, they will have to present a plan demonstrating their ability to continue operationalizing their approaches once the challenge is over. In the final stage, the names of two grand prize winners receiving $1.25 million each will be announced.

Professor Cénat will be leading the project, along with Professor Idrissa Beogo from the School of Nursing of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Professor Beogo, currently ICBH acting director, will work with Professor Cénat, who will use his sabbatical year to step up his research into the health of Black populations in North America. The project also brings together researchers from four other faculties (MedicineHealth Sciences, Law — Civil Law and Common Law Sections — and Education).

Read the full article on Collabzium.