New funds will empower women and Indigenous trainees through mentorship, scholarships, and community-focused research

The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is excited to announce new funding to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research. With support from the Desjardins Centre for Advanced Training, our EDI team has secured a $200,000 grant from the government of Quebec’s NovaScience program for the “Mentorat intégral pour la science inclusive” (MISI) program.

 

This initiative will offer comprehensive mentorship and scholarships to women and Indigenous trainees in health research programs, and knowledge mobilization (KM) grants for activities with Indigenous communities and women, following ethical, participatory, and inclusive practices. In partnership with the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtià:ke, Montreal InVivo, and the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay, the RI-MUHC will lead efforts to provide meaningful support to underrepresented students.

 

Over the course of the project, 22 trainees will receive inclusive leadership training designed to enhance their research environments and strengthen team collaboration. The program will also offer scholarships to four students who self-identify as women or Indigenous who wish to move towards a STEM-related career, and support 10 KM projects focused on women’s and Indigenous health. Students will develop skills to tailor KM approaches to the unique needs of Indigenous and women’s communities, ensuring their research has tangible community impact.

 

“This project fills a critical funding gap and provides young researchers with the tools and mentorship needed to succeed in their studies while also contributing to life sciences innovation,” says Diego Herrera, PhD, EDI Specialist at the RI-MUHC.

 

The MISI program reflects the RI-MUHC’s commitment to inclusive science and highlights the importance of building research teams that represent the diversity of the communities they serve.

 

For more details, visit the MISI program website.

 

The RI-MUHC MISI team would like to acknowledge and thank the following partners: