"Building Bridges: Bridging Science and Patients" is an event series that will connect emerging researchers and the patient partner communities in the neuromuscular fields. The event’s mission is to foster meaningful collaboration between patient partners and researchers to ensure that scientific communication is accessible, empowering, and inclusive.
Why this Event Matters:
Researchers and patient partners gain the opportunity to advance scientific research in accessible, straightforward terms by collaborating directly, thereby fostering mutual understanding and inspiring innovative research strategies.
Who This Event is For:
- Basic research trainees conducting neuromuscular research in a lab setting.
- Patients and family members interested in becoming a patient partner or learning about neuromuscular research.
Registration is now open!
Register now to attend the in-person Building Bridges event in Ottawa!
In-Person Event Details
Date: Monday May 26, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM ET
Venue: CHEO Rooms W1305-W1308 (located near Max Keeping Wing)
Event Objective:
To provide an opportunity for trainees to present flash talks and attend a poster session to present their research to patient partners and other researchers in accessible research language. Patient partners and trainees will be given the opportunity to engage directly with each other, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. By fostering meaningful interactions between emerging researchers and patient communities during the designated flash-talks and poster sessions, not only is scientific communication advanced, but both researchers and patients are empowered through mutual understanding and collaboration.
This schedule is designed to foster an inclusive, engaging, and educational experience where patient partners and researchers work side by side to promote better scientific communication collaboration in research.
Trainees participating in the Bridging Science in person will be required to complete the NMD4C imPORTND Patient Engagement in Research Training and submit a screenshot of completion prior to the event.
Travel Reimbursement for Patient Partners
To make this event accessible for patient partners and family members who wish to attend, transportation costs will be covered up to $150. This includes parking, transit, private taxi or other expenses associated with attendance at the event. Attendees must save travel receipts for reimbursement after the event.
In-Person Event Schedule
Hosts: Shatha Atieh and Kelly Ho
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment: We pay respect to the Algonquin people, who are the traditional guardians of this land. We acknowledge their longstanding relationship with this territory, which remains unceded.
Details: Introduce the goals of the in-person event; this includes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and accessible science communication between researchers and patient partner communities.
Event Resources
Prepare for the event with curated materials designed to enrich the experience for all attendees.
Registration and Important Dates
In-Person Event (Ottawa, ON)
“Building Bridges: Understanding through Collaboration"- May 26, 2025
- Registration deadline: May 19, 2025
Contact
For any questions about the Building Bridges event, please email organizers Shatha Atieh or Kelly Ho.
Virtual Workshop
The first event of the Building Bridges series was held on February 20, 2025. This workshop prepared student trainees for the in-person event by learning about the importance of patient engagement in research and providing tools and examples to relay scientific research in plain language.
Virtual Event Agenda
Linda Niksic is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and building capacity in organizations, to be purposeful, inclusive by design, user centric and high performing. With over 20 years of experience in federal public service and in non-profit, municipal government, private and academic sectors, Linda’s leadership and experience living with muscular dystrophy, has led to sustainable results improving our community. This includes public relations work to help save Ottawa’s historic Aberdeen Pavilion from demolition, to leading a Youth Safety Audit in Ottawa’s Chinatown where young women requested a bus stop relocation from in front of a pool hall, to in front of a drug store, where they would feel safer waiting for their bus. Linda was also listed by the principal of Ottawa’s St. Anthony’s School at its 100-year celebration as one of the people who made a difference for St. Anthony School, 15 years after she worked at the school as a Community Developer. Linda has also interviewed Canadians across Canada who are homeless, living on the streets or living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions, and she has used their stories and insights to further policy development, research, and evaluation in the federal government.Building Bridges Organizing Team
Shatha Atieh
PhD Candidate, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa
Kelly Ho
PhD Candidate, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa
Linda Niksic
Patient Partner, Researcher, Educator, Infrastructure Developer
Angela Woollam
Patient Partner
Erin Beattie
Network Manager, NMD4C
James Davis
Communications Coordinator, NMD4C