The Social Determinants of Health in Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Teams听will develop guidance on integrating the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) into specific areas of neuroscience research primarily carried out in human participants. Interdisciplinary teams will:听
- Develop specific advice on how to appropriately integrate the SDoH into one particular area of neuroscience per team;
- Develop guidance that is multi-tiered, providing users with a sliding scale of options for SDoH integration to facilitate uptake (e.g., bronze, silver and gold levels of SDoH integration);
- Work collaboratively with other funded teams and the Umbrella Team to share knowledge and ensure complementarity across guidance materials being produced.
The duration of each grant will be one year (non-renewable) from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025.听
Funded Interdisciplinary Teams
Funded Projects Summaries
Harnessing Social Determinants of Health in Digital Phenotyping
Co-leads:听David Benrimoh, 91丝瓜视频; Jai Shah, 91丝瓜视频
Co-investigators: Laurence Kirmayer, 91丝瓜视频; Sara Jalali, Douglas Research Center; Deven Parekh, Douglas Research Center
Trainees: Ashley Choucroun, 91丝瓜视频; Ivy Guo, 91丝瓜视频; Parnia Akhavansaffar, 91丝瓜视频; Matthew Raymond, 91丝瓜视频; Vincent Paquin, 91丝瓜视频; Manuel Soulard, 91丝瓜视频
Summary: A significant challenge in mental healthcare is collecting the right information to make good care decisions. Until recently, this information has been obtained through clinical interviews, which only capture snapshots of a patient鈥檚 life. Digital phenotyping- using digital sensors to track behavior and provide more complete information about function in the real world- is a new way to provide real-time data that can guide care. To best use this technology, it will be important to understand how the meaning of these measures change based on people鈥檚 socioeconomic and cultural circumstances. For example, the interpretation of an activity measure might change based on whether or not someone with depression can afford food delivery. We will use literature review, and interviews with and data from a diverse set of patients, to develop guidelines for collecting and interpreting digital data in a way that benefits from understanding social determinants of health.
HBHL Research Theme: 1
Amount听received: $85,000
Tracking social determinants of health in lifespan neuroimaging among diverse populations
Co-leads: Boris Bernhardt, 91丝瓜视频; Robert-Paul Juster,听Universit茅 de Montr茅al
Co-investigators: Anna MacKinnon, Universit茅 de Montr茅al
Trainees: Judy Chen, 91丝瓜视频; Mina Gu茅rin, Universit茅 de Montr茅al
Summary: Social determinants of health (SDOH) play key roles in brain organization, development, and cognition. Ultimately, SDOH shape health and well-being throughout life. To date, SDOH factors are still largely neglected in neuroimaging studies. Capitalizing on HBHL pilot projects, we propose to track SDOH within three ongoing neuroimaging initiatives across the lifespan: (1) during the perinatal period on early childhood brain development, (2) during neurotypical and atypical brain development among older children and adults, and (3) during emerging adulthood into old age among sexual and gender diverse people. We hypothesize a marked effect of SDOH in the three initiatives. Within the HBHL network, we will collectively refine SDOH measurement across the lifespan with sex and gender as well as EDI considerations adapted for neuroscience. Our team includes experts in SDOH, developmental neuroscience, physiology, neuroimaging, and connectomics. Data and methods will be openly shared for rapid adoption, reproducibility, and broad impact.
HBHL Research Theme: 1,4
Amount received: $100,000
Developing guidance for representative recruitment and the integration of social determinants of health in research on aging and Alzheimer鈥檚 disease
Co-leads:听Maiya Geddes, 91丝瓜视频;听Nancy Mayo, 91丝瓜视频
Co-investigators:听Martin Guhn, University of British Columbia; Laurence Kirmayer, 91丝瓜视频; Sylvia Villeneuve, 91丝瓜视频; Neil Andersson, 91丝瓜视频; Pedro Rosa-Neto, 91丝瓜视频
Trainees: Vasvi Dhir, 91丝瓜视频; Ezinne Ekediegwu, 91丝瓜视频; Arnima Singh, University of British Columbia; Juhi Tulsi, 91丝瓜视频; St茅fanie Tremblay, 91丝瓜视频
Summary: This project brings together a team of collaborators with diverse experiences and expertise in neuroscience, Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias (ADRD), and social determinants of health (SDoH). Our team will include researchers, clinicians, trainees, individuals with lived experience of ADRD, and diverse community leaders and partners including from Indigenous and minoritized groups. Together, we will develop guidance on diverse and representative participant recruitment in research on aging and ADRD. In addition, we will develop a framework for SDoH measurement relevant to age- and disease-related brain health outcomes. This battery will be pertinent to the Canadian context, include novel person-centered measures, and adopt a lifespan approach to aging by considering the influence of early life experiences. Finally, we will integrate this guidance and battery in two 91丝瓜视频 longitudinal Open Science cohorts on aging, PREVENT-AD and TRIAD, to advance our understanding of the impact of SDoH on neurodegenerative disease risk and prevention.
HBHL Research Theme: 1,2
Funding Received: $89,400
Social Determinants of Health in Psychedelic Research: A Three-Phase Exploration of Barriers, Shaping of Reporting Guidelines, and Convening Experts for Consensus
Co-leads: Kyle Greenway, 91丝瓜视频;听Michael Lifshitz, 91丝瓜视频
Co-investigators: Phoebe Friesen, 91丝瓜视频; Ana Gomez-Carrillo, 91丝瓜视频; Alexandre Lehmann, 91丝瓜视频
Trainees: Sara de la Salle, 91丝瓜视频; Lena Adel, 91丝瓜视频; Sara Gloeckler, 91丝瓜视频; Chlo茅 Pronovost-Morgan, 91丝瓜视频; Nathan Fisher, 91丝瓜视频
Summary: The study of psychedelic substances is a new frontier in neuroscience. Social Determinants of Health play a critical role in psychedelic research and practice by shaping an individual鈥檚 mindset and the drug-taking environment. This impact is significant because psychedelic experiences are closely tied to an individual's personal developmental trajectory and broader social-structural context. Calls to improve data collection and reporting have been hindered by practical constraints and lack of structured guidelines. Our project aims to provide a practical/pragmatic roadmap for integrating Social Determinants of Health into psychedelic neuroscience. Our approach will include (i) an exploration of existing barriers and potential solutions in consultation with experts, (ii) a systematic evaluation of existing practices, and (iii) a convening of experts for consensus through a 鈥楽et and Setting鈥� conference (Spring, 2025). Anticipated outcomes include tiered (gold/silver/bronze) reporting of Social Determinants of Health in psychedelic research and a continuous learning system for researcher-clinician collaborations.
HBHL Research Theme: 1
Amount听received: $119,242
Social Determinants of Health in Pediatric Neuroimaging
Co-leads: Tasmia Hai, 91丝瓜视频;听Jacob Burack, 91丝瓜视频
Co-investigators: Rachel Kronick, 91丝瓜视频; Laurence Kirmayer, 91丝瓜视频
Trainees: Amy Jolin, 91丝瓜视频; Karen Arias, 91丝瓜视频; Sarah Caimano, 91丝瓜视频; Christina Ghaleb, 91丝瓜视频; Ashley Toombs-heavisides, 91丝瓜视频
Summary: Child development, especially among Indigenous and racialized communities, is heavily influenced by social determinants of health (SDH) like poverty, racism, and family stressors. These factors can impact a child's well-being, leading to increased hospitalizations, poorer health, and barriers to accessing primary care. Neuroimaging studies have shown how poverty and discrimination affect brain development, highlighting the need to address these issues in research. Our project aims to fill this gap by examining how SDH influence brain development in pediatric populations. We will conduct a literature review, develop guidelines for researchers, and conduct a pilot study with Indigenous and racialized youth. By integrating SDH considerations into neuroimaging research, we hope to improve outcomes and promote health equity for all children, acknowledging cultural diversity for more effective healthcare practices.
HBHL Research Theme: 1,4
Funding Received: $90,986
Towards a better integration of social determinants of health in the measurement of cognition in aging
Co-leads:听Maxime Montembeault, 91丝瓜视频;听Annette Leibing, Universit茅 de Montr茅al
Co-investigators:听Machelle Wichelsky, 91丝瓜视频; Isabelle Royal, CIUSSS Ouest-de-l鈥櫭巐e-de-Montr茅al
Trainees: Enqi Wang, 91丝瓜视频; Parsa Afrooz, 91丝瓜视频; Cynthia Lazzaroni, 91丝瓜视频; Anna Marier, Universit茅 de Montr茅al
Summary: Our project aims to enhance the accuracy and fairness of cognitive assessments in older adults by integrating social determinants of health (SDoH) into neuropsychological evaluations. While age, sex/gender, and education are commonly considered in cognitive testing, other SDoH such as language, occupation, psychosocial stress and economic status are often overlooked. By conducting a systematic review, interviewing clinicians and patients, and developing comprehensive guidance, we seek to address this gap. Our approach will provide clinicians with a better understanding of their patients' life experiences and how SDoH impacts their cognitive health. Ultimately, this project aims to improve early detection of cognitive impairments, promote equitable healthcare outcomes, and support the well-being of older adults.
HBHL Research Theme: 1,2
Funding Received: $74,880
The role of social determinants of health in the neuroscience and progression of psychotic illness: From mobilizing knowledge to improving next-generation research
Co-leads: Jai Shah, 91丝瓜视频;听Martin Lepage, 91丝瓜视频
Co-investigators:听David Benrimoh, 91丝瓜视频; Genevi猫ve Sauv茅, Douglas Research Centre; Mallar Chakravarty, 91丝瓜视频; Jean-Baptiste Poline, 91丝瓜视频; Srividya Iyer, 91丝瓜视频; Laurence Kirmayer, 91丝瓜视频; Amal Abdel-Baki, CHUM
Trainees: Vincent Paquin, 91丝瓜视频; Matthew Danyluik, 91丝瓜视频; Giuseppe D'Andrea, Douglas Research Centre; Ashley Toombs Heavisides, 91丝瓜视频; Christina Ghaleb, 91丝瓜视频
Summary: Through a comprehensive set of literature searches, this project will identify the role of social determinants of health in the progression of psychosis, especially during the earliest stages of illness when treatment can be most effective. We will have a particular focus on how social determinants relate to the evolution of early brain changes as measured by three key neuroscience technologies: neuroimaging, electroencephalography, and neurocognition. Working together with the umbrella grant and stakeholder advisory groups, we will translate this knowledge into guidance and recommendation geared towards researchers interested in future data collection, how to analyze datasets, and how to ensure that their research samples include populations with relevant social determinants.
HBHL Research Theme: 1
Funding Received: $90,000
