Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI): events
February 2020
Wellcome Workshop on Healthy Growth and Development
Principal Investigators (PIs) from the four HeLTI Linked International Intervention Cohorts (LIICs) teams (Canada, China, India and South Africa) attended a workshop on February 3-4, 2020 in London, UK hosted by Wellcome. In collaboration with researchers from different disciplines, HeLTI PIs were engaged in the development of study designs and identification of cutting-edge research questions that could use the HeLTI research platform to transform understanding of healthy growth and development.
October 2019
DOHaD World Congress
During the DOHaD 2019 World Congress held in Melbourne, Australia, HeLTI hosted a full-day pre-congress workshop on October 20, 2019, entitled: Complex Interventions and Study Designs: Moving DOHaD Forward. Numerous HeLTI Linked International Intervention Cohorts (LIICs) principle investigators and co-investigators presented and/or moderated during this workshop, which had a dedicated session about the Learning from HeLTI. Outcomes/takeaways from this pre-congress workshop included:
- Developing strategies to address the challenges of maintaining a long-term pre-conceptional intervention cohort;
- Strategies regarding working effectively within governmental regulations in relation to data and biospecimen sharing;
- Improving overall retention rates, especially of control groups and vulnerable populations; and
- How to balance expectations within the researcher - community relationship.
February 2019
DOHaD Teams 2nd annual meeting
Members from the Canadian Interdisciplinary Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Teams attended the 2nd CIHR DOHaD annual meeting in Mont-Tremblant, QC on February 11, 2019. The five funded teams provided an update on their respective research program/project and knowledge translation-related activities. They also had the opportunity to further discuss potential synergies and partnerships that can increase their capacity to carry out the funded research.
February 2018
DOHaD Teams 1st annual meeting
Members from the five successful teams funded through the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Team Grants competition attended the inaugural DOHaD annual meeting in Banff, AB on February 13, 2018. The teams shared information on their respective research program/project, knowledge translation-related activities, and progress to date. They also had the opportunity to discuss potential synergies and partnerships that can increase their capacity to carry out the funded research.
November 2017
On National Child Day (November 20), Bill Blair, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and to the Minister of Health, announced federal funding to support The Healthy Life Trajectories (HeLTI) initiative, as part of the Government of Canada’s investment into research that improves the health of children so that they can grow into healthy adults who go on to live long and productive lives.
Articles related to the ministerial announcement
Obésité infantile: quelle part est attribuable au milieu? (in French only) – La Tribune
Government of Canada announces investment of $17M for project led by St. Michael’s researcher – St. Michael’s Hospital
October 2017
10th World Congress on DOHaD
Principal Investigators (PIs) from the four HeLTI Linked International Intervention Cohorts (LIICs) teams (Canada, China, India and South Africa) and key leaders from their respective funding agencies (CIHR, NSFC, DBT and SAMRC) presented a session on HeLTI at the 10th World Congress on DOHaD on October 15, 2017. This session was an opportunity for funding agencies to share their reasons for supporting the initiative, including how evidence will be used to inform policy and decision-making; for research teams to present overviews of their study sites, interventions and measurement frameworks; and for the WHO to describe opportunities for research collaboration and partnerships.
September 2017
Data workshop
Members from all of the successful teams from the Chinese, Indian, South African and Canadian competitions attended a data workshop in September 2017, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The teams developed core approaches to data that will guide data management activities, and also documented roles and responsibilities to ensure that all functions relating to data are clearly articulated, well documented, and conducive to effective review. This workshop was convened jointly by the Secretariat and a Research Committee comprised of leadership from each of the teams.
December 2016
Strengthening workshop
Members from the teams that were successful at the LOI stage of the HeLTI Linked International Intervention Cohort (LIIC) competitions attended a strengthening workshop. The purpose of this workshop was to assist the successful applicant teams (both Canadian and participating country members) to discuss and agree to a common study design for the intervention cohorts, including approach to and scope of interventions, as well as to agree on overall project governance systems and principles of collaboration. The workshop was convened by CIHR and the WHO, and was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from December 12-16, 2016.
October 2014
International Collaborative workshop
In December 2014, key leaders from funding agencies interested in participating in an international collaboration designed to take a DOHaD approach to the rising global epidemic of NCDs met with the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss key priorities and approaches to this challenge. These leaders included representation from CIHR, NSFC and DBT, the eventual partners on the HeLTI Linked International Intervention Cohorts.
November 2013
Funders workshop
In November 2013 the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health convened an International Funder’s Meeting that was held in conjunction with the Eighth World Congress on DOHaD in Singapore (November 17-20, 2013). Discussions at this meeting focused on possible mechanisms, structures, and other methods to improve collaboration, reduce duplication of effort, and leverage resources for researchers working in the field, around the world.
September 2013
Community Consultation workshop
More than 70 thought-leaders in the field attended the day-and-a-half-long community consultation hosted by the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, including researchers, professors, clinicians, and administrators from universities and teaching hospitals across the country, patients, and representatives from all of the CIHR Institutes. Discussions ranged from issues and opportunities in Canada and Internationally around DOHaD-related themes, as well as potential approaches to funding through both traditional and more innovative approaches.
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