Mobile Health Unit to Support Vital Research with Three Launch Projects
A new mobile health unit will soon be deployed to enhance research and provide direct support to communities across the region, thanks to three key projects poised to utilize its capabilities. These initiatives focus on improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, leveraging the unit’s ability to bring research and care directly to those who need it moast.
1. Addressing Health Disparities in First Nations Youth
Professor Malek Batal is leading the FEHNCY (Food,Environment,health and Nutrition of First Nations Children and Youth) project,investigating the connection between food security,access to customary diets,and the health outcomes of First Nations youth on reserves. recognizing the disproportionately high rates of food insecurity, obesity, and diabetes within these communities, the mobile unit will facilitate on-site data collection and foster stronger relationships with community members. “This unit is crucial for bringing our research to the people and building collaborative partnerships,” explains Professor Batal.
2. Advancing understanding of a Rare Metabolic Disease
Full Professor and vice-Dean of Health Sciences, Chantal Bémeur, is focusing her research on lactic acidosis of Saguenay-lac-Saint-Jean, a rare inherited metabolic condition. Her project aims to gain a deeper understanding of the lifestyle factors and biological characteristics of children and families affected by the disease, ultimately leading to more effective interventions. The mobile unit will play a vital role in providing direct support to families, reducing travel burdens, and strengthening the personal connection inherent in research. “It will ease the challenges families face and reinforce the human element of our work,” says Professor Bémeur.
3. Enhancing Quality of Life for Young Cancer Patients
associate Professor and Director of the Department of nutrition,Valérie Marcil,is spearheading the VIE (Valorisation,involvement,education) project. This initiative seeks to improve the cardiometabolic health and overall quality of life for children and adolescents undergoing and recovering from cancer treatment. The project will deliver personalized interventions encompassing nutrition,physical activity,and psychosocial support. Professor Marcil emphasizes the benefit of the mobile unit: “By bringing interventions directly into families’ homes, we can reduce their burden and fundamentally improve their care experience.”