SUMMER RESEARCH INSTITUTES
2018 Institute
McGill Summer Institute in Innovative Methodologies (Summary Report)
Dr. Belinda Nicolau headed a team of 12 investigators (senior, mid-career and junior) and trainees that organized and taught the 2018 McGill Summer Institute in Innovative Methodologies. Held in July 2018 at the McGill University Faculty of Dentistry, the event combined four courses that addressed specific methodological needs to tackle complex research problems.
The event brought together professors and students from across Canada and other countries (Brazil, Bangladesh, Portugal, Puerto Rico).
Life Course Approach to Oral Health Research (Summary Report)
Drs. Brondani, Amin, Nicolau and Poon organized and hosted a three-day interdisciplinary and multi-sectorial workshop in August 2016 at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Dentistry.
The institute covered the foundational ideas about population health and epidemiology as applicable to life course research in oral health. The Institute brought together local and national perspectives from junior and senior research trainees and academics. Participants were encouraged to brainstorm ways to better utilize the life course approach in oral health research.
The workshop had 21 participants representing Laval University, McGill University, University of Saskatchewan, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (Faculty of Dentistry and the School of Population ad Public Health), University of Montreal, University of Alberta, University of Indiana (U.S.A), and the Canadian Dental Hygienist Association (Ottawa, Ontario).
2015 Institutes
In late August 2015, Drs. Nicolau, Levine, Castonguay and Pluye organized and taught the 1st McGill Summer Institute in Applied Mixed Methods in Oral Health Research.
In the last decade, there has been a steady increase in the use of mixed methods in health research, including dentistry. This growth in popularity can be seen as a response to the increasing complexity of research problems relating to human health and wellbeing. However, the plurality of mixed methods designs is often difficult to cope with for novice researchers.
The event brought together professors and students from seven Canadian dental schools (UBC, Dalhousie, U Toronto, U Laval, U Montreal, U McGill, U Alberta), as well as from Brazilian and Mexican universities. The evaluations of over twenty participants (22) were very enthusiastic and the group produced a journal article for JDR Clinical & Translational Research.
Systematic Review Methodology Workshop (Summary Report)
In July 2015, the Network for Canadian Oral Health Research sponsored a one-week systematic review methodology workshop at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Alberta.
The workshop had two goals:
- to broaden the knowledge of oral health providers in Canadian dental schools about evidence-based practice principles through hands-on activities
- to provide workshop participants with hands-on experience in designing, conducting, writing and critiquing health care systematic reviews (SRs)
The workshop had 12 participants representing 4 dental schools (University of Manitoba, McGill University, Laval University and University of Alberta). Feedback from participants was very positive.
Attendees gained skills in conducting efficient searches and in the evaluation and knowledge translation of published evidence. Additionally, attendees developed core competencies in preparing a systematic review manuscript for consideration in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Attendees gained skills in conducting efficient searches and in the evaluation and knowledge translation of published evidence. Additionally, attendees developed core competencies in preparing a systematic review manuscript for consideration in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
2014 Institutes
Thinking Interdisciplinarity in Oral Health Research Symposium (Summary Report)
In September 2014, the Network for Canadian Oral Health Research sponsored a three-day symposium on interdisciplinary research methods at the Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University. The purpose of the symposium was to bring together early and mid-career Oral Health researchers from across Canada to explore the theory, philosophy and practicality of engaging in interdisciplinary oral health research.
The symposium had 20 participants representing 7 dental schools (Laval U, Dalhousie U, Western U, U of Saskatchewan, U of Toronto, U of British Columbia, McGill U) and the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (Ottawa, Ontario). Feedback from participants was very positive. A major outcome of the symposium is that four (4) interdisciplinary teams intend to continue working together in the future.
Advanced Imaging Methods for Craniofacial and Oral Health Research (Summary Report, Video Presentations)
In July 2014, the Centre for High-Throughput Phenogenomics (UBC Faculty of Dentistry) hosted a 1-week summer institute. The institute provided information on new and innovative imaging methods and how these techniques can be integrated to support oral and craniofacial basic science research.
