Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health among finalists in Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge

The Public Health Agency of Canada has just announced that the Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health (ICBH), based in the Faculty of Social Sciences, is one of seven finalists for the prestigious Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge Award.

Professor Jude Mary Cénat, an associate professor at the School of Psychology in the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Social Sciences and director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health (ICBH), has established himself as a recognized expert in the field of Black community health in Canada, with a particular interest in racial inequalities in health care and public health policy.

Besides the ICBH, he heads the V-TRaC Laboratory, which focuses on the themes of vulnerability, trauma, resilience and culture.

Cénat’s research covers a vast geographical area, encompassing North America, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. His areas of study include racial disparities in access to health care, the impact of natural disasters and epidemics on psychological well-being and global mental health issues.

Cénat’s in-depth understanding of cultural factors and their effects on mental health has made him an influential voice within the Faculty, particularly when it comes to the specific needs of Black communities in Canada. He was also recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work with the Black community.

This recognition comes with a $600,000 award, which will be used to implement an innovative project aimed at reducing the risk of diabetes in Black communities in Canada. The ICBH project, titled “Train, Inform, Involve and Transform to Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Black Communities in Canada,” aims to train students from various disciplines to become peer educators. They in turn will inform religious leaders and encourage Black communities to take part in diabetes prevention activities, thereby helping to raise awareness and reduce the risks associated with the disease. “This funding will enable us to implement tangible, sustainable solutions to improve the health of Black communities disproportionately affected by Type 2 diabetes,” says Professor Cénat. 

At this stage of the selection process, finalists will produce evidence that their approach reduces the number of people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in their community. At the end of the stage, they will have to present a plan demonstrating their ability to continue operationalizing their approaches once the challenge is over. In the final stage, the names of two grand prize winners receiving $1.25 million each will be announced.

Professor Cénat will be leading the project, along with Professor Idrissa Beogo from the School of Nursing of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Professor Beogo, currently ICBH acting director, will work with Professor Cénat, who will use his sabbatical year to step up his research into the health of Black populations in North America. The project also brings together researchers from four other faculties (Medicine, Health Sciences, Law — Civil Law and Common Law Sections — and Education).

The groundbreaking research carried out by Cénat and his team at the ICBH is both far-reaching and much needed. It contributes to a better understanding of the biological, social and cultural determinants of health in Black communities, and to the development of concrete solutions for tackling racial health disparities. The ICBH’s initiatives, including the above project, aim to actively engage these communities by informing them and equipping them to prevent health problems such as Type 2 diabetes. These efforts, backed by major funding, have the potential to make a lasting impact and guide policymakers and practice specialists in their efforts to reduce health inequalities.

For more about the work being produced by the Faculty of Social Sciences, including Cénat’s, discover the Collabzium. Be sure also to check out other exciting research by leading researchers in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa.