Rheumatic Diseases in INA Populations Symposium

International Symposium on Rheumatic Diseases in Indigenous North American Populations …from Molecules to Communities

University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
September 24 & 25, 2009

As the Chairs of the International Symposium on Rheumatic Disease in Indigenous North American Populations (INA)… from Molecules to Communities, we invite you to join us at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on September 24 and 25, 2009.This unique symposium will feature distinguished national and international speakers and will bring together leaders and Elders from First Nations communities, scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists, ethicists and policy makers with the aim of defining a state-of-the-art research agenda for arthritis and autoimmune rheumatic diseases in indigenous North American populations.

Target Audience:

> Researchers involved in indigenous population research
> Clinicians working with INA populations
> Policy makers looking to guide policy
> Community leaders
> Trainees

Symposium Objectives:

> Summarize existing data regarding the epidemiology, clinical features, biological basis, and treatment of rheumatic diseases in Indigenous North American (INA) populations
> Explore the ethics, study design, and logistics of undertaking rheumatic diseases research in INA populations
> Discuss approaches to effective knowledge translation of the research to INA communities
> Develop a research agenda and foster collaborations around studies focusing on rheumatic disease in INA populations

Expected Outcomes and Significance of the Symposium: In bringing together the full spectrum of stakeholders to this multidisciplinary symposium we anticipate an unprecedented discussion of the questions being addressed by arthritis and rheumatic diseases researchers worldwide, how these questions impact on INA populations, why INA populations are particularly well suited for addressing a number of key questions, how the questions should be addressed in various INA communities, and how the research findings can improve the health of individuals and communities.

Other specific outcomes of the symposium will include:

> More effective collaboration between the researchers and a discussion regarding further opportunities for collaboration
> Enhanced support from the leadership of the communities for the research, and
> Develop a better understanding of how to effectively disseminate research results in an effective timely manner to the communities
> Identification of specific ethical and logistical study design issues for research in INA populations that need to be addressed as the study progresses
> Increased awareness by the funding organizations of rheumatic diseases research in INA populations such that future strategic funding may be earmarked for research in this area

Symposium Chairs:

Hani El-Gabalawy MD FRCPC
Professor of Medicine and Immunology
Rheumatology Research Chair
Director, Arthritis Centre
University of Manitoba
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine

Dr. Brenda Elias
Assistant Professor
CIHR New Investigator
Co-Director,
Centre for Aboriginal Health Research
Universityof Manitoba
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Community Health Sciences

http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine/units/intmed/about/rheumsympos.html