The TRIANGLE program will prepare trainees for careers not only in academic research but will also offer exposure to career paths in industry, health policy, regulatory affairs and science communication.
Courtesy the Snyder Institute
April 11, 2022
Training the next generation of researchers in gastroenterology and liver studies: Snyder Institute researchers leading the way
The TRIANGLE program will prepare trainees for careers not only in academic research but will also offer exposure to career paths in industry, health policy, regulatory affairs and science communication, to ultimately increase Canada’s intellectual capital.
Courtesy Snyder Institute
A recent grant for $2.4 million has been awarded to a team of researchers led by Dr. Nicola Jones, MD, PhD (U of T) and three members of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, along with other Canadian colleagues. The grant, called Training Researchers In the Next Generation in Gastroenterology and Liver (TRIANGLE), was awarded by the CIHR Institute for Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes through the prestigious Health Research Training Platform (HRTP) Pilot competition.
This Canada-wide, six-year grant focuses on PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, residents in gastroenterology and hepatology, and early career investigators. The program will advance discovery in gastroenterology/hepatology, with plans to accomplish significant capacity building within the discipline, and to be transformational in developing holistic approaches to trainee development.
“We are delighted this training program has been funded by the CIHR Institute for Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes,” says Dr. Derek McKay, PhD, Director of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases and one of the principal applicants on the grant. “Our program is timely, forward looking, and will contribute to keeping Canada at the forefront of research in gastroenterology, hepatology and healthcare delivery. The Gastrointestinal Research Group (GIRG) and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in UCalgary’s Snyder Institute are world-renowned, and this training grant is further recognition of the groups’ advancement of digestive health.”
The TRIANGLE program will use existing mentorship and career development tools to enhance accountability between trainees and their mentors, providing trainees the necessary training, resources, and experiences to meet their career goals. A fulsome approach to knowledge translation and emphasis on collective activity, diversity and equality are key components of the training.
Trainees in GI and liver research in Canada will access formalized mentorship (college of mentors), training (experiential learning opportunities; skills workshops) and networking opportunities to best excel in the Canadian research and innovation space and beyond. Supporting the next cohort of talented researchers will help ensure that Canadian GI and liver research will be strong for years to come.
By supporting skill development, networking, mentorship and experiential learning, trainees will be offered an exceptional learning experience, beyond the academic research environment.
“The TRIANGLE program will prepare trainees for careers not only in academic research but will also offer exposure to career paths in industry, health policy, regulatory affairs and science communication, to ultimately increase Canada’s intellectual capital,” says Dr. Simon Hirota, PhD, also a principal applicant on the grant and a member of the Snyder Institute. “Ultimately, our role as supervisors is to prepare our trainees for their next career steps. Support from TRIANGLE and their partners will only help us be more effective in this goal.”
The research team includes nominated principal applicant, Dr. Nicola Jones, MD, PhD (UToronto), assisted by principal applicants Dr. Derek McKay, PhD (Snyder Institute, UCalgary) and Dr. Bruce Vallance, PhD (UBC), along with 11 additional principal applicants, including Snyder Institute Members Dr. Simon Hirota, PhD, and Dr. Gilaad Kaplan, MD, MPH.