Author: mskrehabnet

Categories
Announcements Newsletter

MSK Network Winter 2026 Newsletter

We are pleased to share the Winter 2026 edition of the MSK Rehab Research Network Newsletter!

MSK Rehab Research Network Newsletter Winter – 2026

This Winter has been an exciting period for the Network, filled with new initiatives, training opportunities, webinars, member achievements, and expanded support programs.

Included in this edition:

  • Announcements

  • Current Network Plans & How to Get Involved

  • Previous Initiatives – Webinars and Resources

  • Network Initiatives

  • Network Support Opportunities

  • Network Membership

  • External Opportunities

  • Members’ Publications, Presentations, and Awards

Thank you to everyone who contributed updates, announcements, opportunities, and accomplishments.

If you have news you’d like to share in our next newsletter, or on our website or social media, please reach out at: rehabnet@uwo.ca

Categories
Announcements Newsletter

MSK Network Meeting at WCB 2026

Save the Date!

The Canadian MSK Rehab Research Network will host an in-person meeting during the 10th World Congress of Biomechanics (WCB 2026) in Vancouver, Canada.

Date & Time: Monday, July 13, 2026 | 12:30 – 2:00 PM
Location: Vancouver, Canada

All MSK Network members and colleagues attending WCB are warmly invited to participate.

This meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect on the Network’s accomplishments over the past year and to identify strategic priorities moving forward. The session will highlight advances in biomechanics research across the Network, with a particular focus on collaborative initiatives, multi-centre studies, and data infrastructure developments.

Trainee development remains a central priority of the Network. The meeting will feature updates on trainee exchange experiences and trainee-led research initiatives, emphasizing both scientific contributions and professional growth.

In addition, working groups will share updates on ongoing projects and cross-institutional collaborations, demonstrating how coordinated efforts have strengthened research capacity and contributed to high-quality outputs in musculoskeletal rehabilitation science.

A key component of the meeting will be a priority-setting discussion, where participants will help identify future research themes, infrastructure needs, and training opportunities. This forward-looking dialogue will support strategic alignment across institutions and reinforce the Network’s role as a national leader in MSK rehabilitation research.

Categories
Uncategorized

CIHR-IMHA Dialogue Series – London, Ontario Session

The CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) is hosting a national Dialogue Series to engage the research community in shaping its upcoming Research Priority Plan. As part of this initiative, an in-person session will take place in London, Ontario.

Event Details

  • Date: Tuesday, May 6
  • Time: 9:00 – 10:30 AM
  • Location: Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB), Room 7110

This session is designed to foster meaningful discussion on advancing research across all areas within IMHA’s mandate. Participants from all roles and career stages—including trainees, clinicians, researchers, and community members—are encouraged to attend and contribute their perspectives.

Registration

Participants are asked to register by April 29 to secure a spot: Register Link

Additional Opportunity

Attendees who are interested in a smaller group meeting with IMHA Scientific Director Rae Yeung can contact:
📧 imha-iala@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Categories
Announcements

Save the Date! – MSK Network at CPS Symposium – May 2, 2026

We’re excited to highlight an upcoming session at the Canadian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting:

🧠 Innovative Technologies for the Assessment and Management of MSK Pain
📅 May 2, 2026
🕘 9:15 – 10:30 AM
📍 Room 303A

This interactive symposium will explore how emerging technologies are shaping MSK pain rehabilitation, including:
🔹 Virtual reality tools for persistent pain
🔹 ARISE augmented reality system for sensorimotor training
🔹 Co-designed digital education for remote care

💡 Participants will also engage in hands-on small group sessions, followed by discussion on real-world implementation in research and clinical practice.

This is a great opportunity for clinicians, researchers, and trainees interested in innovation in MSK pain care.

🔗 CPS Annual Meeting Website
🔗 Full Conference Agenda

We hope to see you there!

Categories
Announcements

17th Annual Muscle Health Awareness Day (MHAD17): Registration & Abstract Submission Now Open

The Muscle Health Research Centre at York University is pleased to invite registrations and abstract submissions for the 17th Annual Muscle Health Awareness Day (MHAD17).

This annual event brings together trainees, researchers, clinicians, and community partners to share and discuss research related to muscle health.

🗓 Event Details:

  • Date: Friday, May 1, 2026

  • Time: 8:00 AM – 4:15 PM

  • Location: York University, Keele Campus

  • Room locations: To be announced closer to the event

🎤 Program Highlights:

MHAD17 will feature:

  • Presentations from leading researchers in muscle health

  • Poster presentations from trainees and researchers

  • A lived experience session in partnership with MitoCanada

  • A presentation from MitoCanada’s CEO on their mission and work

  • Networking opportunities, including a student–faculty roundtable session

This year MHAD is pleased to welcome Dr. Jenna Gibbs, Dr. Arthur Cheng, Dr. Val Fajardo, Dr. Stephen Brown, Dr. Penny Gilbert, and Dr. Robin Duncan.

📝 Abstract Submission

Abstract submissions are now open for poster presentations.

We welcome submissions from:

  • Undergraduate and graduate students

  • Postdoctoral fellows

  • Faculty and research scientists

Topics may include (but are not limited to):

  • Muscle health (skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscle)

  • Exercise and rehabilitation

  • Disease and metabolism

  • Neurophysiology and blood flow

  • Any topic directly or indirectly related to muscle health

📌 Important notes:

  • Abstracts submitted by April 22, 2026 (midnight) will be considered for presentation prizes

  • All accepted abstracts will be published in the MHAD17 Conference Proceedings

  • Posters may be reused if presented within the past 12 months

  • Poster size must not exceed 48” (width) × 36” (height)

🔗 Submit your abstract here:

https://www.yorku.ca/mhrc/mhad/

📝 Registration Information

All attendees (except speakers) are required to register, regardless of whether they are submitting an abstract.

📌 Registration deadline: April 22, 2026 (midnight)

⚠️ Cash payments are not accepted

🔗 Registration page: https://health.payments.uit.yorku.ca/register?returnUrl=%2Fregistration-fee-2026

🔗 Payment page: https://health.payments.uit.yorku.ca/

📌 Important notes:

  • Registration and payment are separate steps

  • Each attendee must register individually

  • Each ticket must be purchased for one person

  • If paying for multiple attendees, separate registrations are recommended (group payment option available)

📬 Additional Information

For more details, please visit the official MHAD17 webpage:

https://www.yorku.ca/mhrc/home/muscle-health-awareness-day-mhad/

For inquiries, please contact: mhrc@yorku.ca

Categories
Current Research Seeking Participants Research

Clinician Participants Needed – Knee Osteoarthritis Practice Survey

Researchers at Western University are inviting healthcare professionals involved in the management of knee osteoarthritis to participate in a brief online survey examining current clinical practices.

This study aims to identify commonly used diagnostic and treatment strategies and explore potential differences between clinical guidelines and real-world practice. The findings will help inform future clinical recommendations and healthcare resource planning.

Participation Details

• Survey takes approximately 5–10 minutes

• Participation is voluntary

• Conducted securely via Qualtrics

• Participants may optionally indicate interest in a follow-up interview

Eligibility Criteria

Participants must be:

• A registered healthcare professional (e.g., general practitioner, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, rheumatologist, orthopedic specialist, or related provider)

• Currently treating or have experience managing patients with knee osteoarthritis

• Practicing for at least 1 year

• Able to read and write in English

🔗 Access the survey:

https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_23NJtoHRhsLgIcK

Categories
Announcements

MHRC Seminar Series – Dr. Christopher Adams – March 20

🔬 MHRC Seminar Series – Dr. Christopher Adams

The Muscle Health Research Centre (MHRC) is pleased to host an upcoming seminar featuring Dr. Christopher Adams (MD, PhD) from the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Adams will present “Investigating Mechanisms and Treatments of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy,” highlighting current research on the biological mechanisms of muscle loss and emerging treatment approaches.

📅 Date: Friday, March 20, 2026

🕒 Time: 3:00 PM (ET)

💻 Location: Online via Zoom

✅ All are welcome to attend.

📌 Please refer to the event poster for full details or contact MHRC for more information.

Categories
Announcements Opportunities

17th Annual Muscle Health Awareness Day (MHAD17)

The Muscle Health Research Centre (MHRC) at York University will host the 17th Annual Muscle Health Awareness Day (MHAD17) on Friday, May 1, 2026.

📅 May 1, 2026

📍 York University

This in-person event will bring together researchers, clinicians, trainees, and community partners to share the latest research and advances in muscle health and neuromuscular disease.

The program will feature invited presentations from leading researchers including Dr. Jenna Gibbs (McGill University), Dr. Arthur Cheng (York University), Dr. Val Fajardo (Brock University), Dr. Stephen Brown (University of Guelph), Dr. Penny Gilbert (University of Toronto), and Dr. Robin Duncan (University of Waterloo). 

The event will also include:

  • Poster presentation sessions
  • A lived experience presentation from a community partner in collaboration with MitoCanada
  • Networking opportunities including a student–faculty roundtable discussion
  • Awards recognizing outstanding poster presentations

Researchers and trainees are encouraged to submit abstracts for poster presentations. Abstracts submitted by April 15, 2026 (midnight) will be eligible for six poster prizes and inclusion in the official MHAD17 program.

📌 Registration deadline: April 15, 2026

💲 Registration fee: $30 (to support catering for breakfast and lunch)

To view the full program and agenda, please review the file:

Categories
Announcements Opportunities Trainee Opportunities

Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity

Professors Anne Hudon, Matthew Hunt, and Eric Racine are inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Laboratoire d’Éthique Vivante en Réadaptation (LEViER), based at the Gingras-Lindsay Rehabilitation Institute of Montreal. This fellowship focuses on advancing research in rehabilitation ethics and living lab approaches. 

The selected fellow will join a dynamic interdisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, students, and patient partners working to promote ethical practices in rehabilitation research and care.

As part of this fellowship, the postdoctoral researcher will contribute to:

• Participatory rehabilitation ethics research projects, including qualitative data collection and analysis

• Arts-based and living lab ethics initiatives

• Mentorship of graduate students

• Empirical and theoretical research on ethical considerations in living laboratory environments 

Eligibility requirements include:

• A PhD in a related field (e.g., rehabilitation sciences, health sciences, sociology, bioethics, anthropology, or philosophy)

• Experience or strong interest in ethics research

• Expertise in qualitative research, particularly participatory or arts-based methods

• Excellent writing skills and fluency in English and French

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively 

Funding is available to support the selected postdoctoral fellow, who will also be encouraged to apply for provincial and federal fellowship funding opportunities. 

For more information or to apply, please send your CV and cover letter to: camilledesforgeslevier@outlook.com

Categories
Announcements

Seminar: Accelerated Sarcopenia in Metabolic Disease – Dr. Leigh Breen – March 4, 2026

The Myology Institute at the University of Florida invites trainees, researchers, clinicians, and students to attend an upcoming seminar presented by Dr. Leigh Breen, Professor of Translational Physiology at the Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group.

This seminar will examine the clinical and molecular mechanisms contributing to accelerated sarcopenia in metabolic disease. The presentation will highlight emerging evidence on muscle loss, metabolic dysfunction, and implications for rehabilitation, prevention, and treatment strategies.

Event Details:

📅 Date: March 4, 2026

🕒 Time: 3:00–4:00 PM (ET)

📍 Location: Online via Zoom

💻 Zoom Link: https://ufl.zoom.us/j/99211803713

This seminar offers a valuable opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research in muscle biology and its relevance to musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation.