Thread by @littleann4ever

1/ 🧵Well, it took me awhile to organize all this research info. So many rabbit holes. I finally decided the best way forward was to divide into parts. So the following is Part 1 summary of BC's vast research funding sources/initiatives. Hold on to your hats, it's a ride! #bcpoli

2/ 1st up, @HlthResearchBC. Did you know that the MSHR launched a Covid-19 Research Response Fund at outset of pandemic w/call out to BC researchers to have results available in time to inform public health responses thru fall/winter 2021? #bcpoli msfhr.org/1/news_article…

3/ Also, did you know that there's a Covid-19 Strategic Research Advisory Committee (SRAC) that supports BC's coordinated research pandemic response? It's bridge btwn PHO, gov't & research community w/primary role to advise on priorities/funding/findings.msfhr.org/strategic-prov…

4/ According to the info, the SRAC members were appointed by the Chief of Health Emerg Coordination Centre & Ministry of Health (w/MSHR input) & thru their Co-chairs, they report to the Health Ministry Associate Deputy Minister & the PHO. #bcpoli msfhr.org/strategic-prov…

5/ Here's a rabbit hole. According to this, the SRAC established a BC Covid-19 Strategic Research Framework w/key goal to prioritize quality research that will "help control, mitigate & eliminate" harmful effects/impacts of Covid-19. It's evolving guide: msfhr.org/1/news_article…

6/ The SRAC released 1st Framework in Apr/20. In it they call for researchers "to provide, synthesize & mobilize evidence for actions leading to control of Covid-19 & mgmt of those infected.." And BC researchers had already attracted over 9 mil in funding. msfhr.org/wp-content/upl…

7/ Fast forward to Dec/20 & 2nd (& final) Framework issue. The SRAC is now moving into "a new phase of work" informed by feedback & emerging evidence. With new tools now, the goal is to provide answers needed to put an end to worst. A focus on vaccines. msfhr.org/wp-content/upl…

8/ Dec/20 issue App 6 (pg25): There's 500+ Covid19 research projects/118 surveys underway involving BC researchers; they are funded at total value of over $200 mil; @HlthResearchBC Response Fund is at 2 mil; @GenomeBC's Rapid Response Fund is now at 3.5mil msfhr.org/wp-content/upl…

9/ BC Researchers also rec'd funds from BC Health Sciences Network (merged w/MSHR), Cdn Institute for Health Research, Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation etc. & BC universities & other non-profit/non-gov't orgs msfhr.org/wp-content/upl…

10/ Moving on to May/21, at a combined value of 1.3 mil, @HlthResearchBC @GenomeBC & @BCCDCFoundation teamed up on 9 vaccine rapid response initiatives to ensure access to & confidence in BC vax programs. The project summaries: genomebc.ca/wp-content/upl…

11/ Speaking of BCCDC Foundation (I have unfinished business), one of their crowning research projects is BC's wastewater surveillance. "With Omicron variant, wastewater testing has become more critical & necessary component of Covid-19 monitoring" #bcpoli:bccdcfoundation.org/covid-19-respo…

12/ Yes, w/no testing/case #s & back to normal PH messaging, wastewater metrics is only barometer to "assess personal risks." If @BCCDCFoundation stays true to its message while continuing to ask for donor support then they'll ramp up surveillance/data reporting, right? #bcpoli

13/ But hold on. BCCDC Foundation, primary BCCDC partner is funded by indiv/orgs - incl. business sector. As per their Apr/20 blog post, they announced $320,000 had already been raised in few weeks, "thanks to diverse partners, incl. businesses, unions...bccdcfoundation.org/rapid-response…

14/...the BCCDC Foundation list includes: "independent apparel companies", "tech companies like Teradici Corp" & "media giants like Postmedia" & their blog post states that "the support from our private sector partners has been absolutely overwhelming." bccdcfoundation.org/rapid-response…

15/ Okay read those quotes again after noting that BCCDC Foundation is primary partner of BCCDC & now read this from same blog post: "If you would like to discuss how your company can get involved & help lead BC Covid-19 response, pls contact [us]."#bcpoli bccdcfoundation.org/rapid-response…

16/ Wait, what? Who's actually leading BC's Covid-19 response then? With that question on top of mind, let's take a peek at that top donor list again, er, I mean, the BCCDC Foundation's aptly named Public Health Heros: #bcpoli bccdcfoundation.org/our-donors/

17/ Also, w/ $320,000 raised in a matter of weeks & w/ @BCCDCFoundation still actively receiving donations to their Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund as of today, over 2 years later, just how much have they raised? Who is in charge? What are they funding? interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLin…

18/ While I can't find current fundraising total, the other questions are answered "Gifts to Emerg Response Fund are supporting 3 phases of PH research at BCCDC." Led by Dr.Gustafson & Dr.Sandhu, this work will "prevent spread, help save lives & protect BC"bccdcfoundation.org/support-the-re…

19/ Okay, Phase 1 incl infamous BC Covid-19 SPEAK survey & if you click on this link you will find there's SPEAK 3 Survey focussed on pandemic recovery to be released soon. "Thx to fundraising support from BCCDC Foundation" btw-fundraising still underway. bccdc.ca/health-info/di…

20/ Phase 2-serological blood sampling to "determine susceptibility & immunity...& how close we are to herd immunity" Prior to vaccines & message was "herd immunity is our population's protection" Btw- has debunked notion been formally echoed by BCCDC? bccdcfoundation.org/combating-covi…

21/ Phase 3 - sentinel surveillance which is described as critical "to alerting PH professionals to respond in rapid response wrap-around PH services to keep you, your family & community safe." Well, that's a pipe dream now, isn't it? bccdcfoundation.org/combating-covi…

22/Okay 1 more tidbit about BCCDC Foundation. You know all the discussion lately about real-time experimental studies re: BC's delayed dosing intervals? Well, in this newsletter, Dr.Skowronski, owns it proudly & thanks BCCDC Foundation for supporting it. bccdcfoundation.org/newsletter-35-…

23/ Okay, circling back to the SRAC now, did you know that #DrHenry's mentor/past BC PHO was a committee member? Also, Dr Bev Holmes, MSHR president/CEO & Dr David Patrick, BCCDC Director of Research are SRAC Co-chairs: msfhr.org/committee-memb…

24/& just recently, Dr.Holmes & Dr.Patrick spoke at Nanaimo Med Staff Engagement Society event incl. q like "As we come out of pandemic, what are lessons learned?" Sole purpose was to assess things "as BC research system builds back better after Covid-19."nmses.ca/events/event/b…

25/ Yes, that's right folks! According to the SRAC - the committee tasked w/prioritizing "high quality research that will help to control, mitigate & eliminate harmful effects of Covid-19 related disease & their impact" - the pandemic in BC is essentially over!

26/ So, what's been learned? Well, I'll tell you what I've learned. That for BC's researchers in Covid-19 field during pandemic, there's been windfall of avail funding, ample opportunities to gain credibility, become published & garner more respect from global research community.

27/ I've learned that while most findings gleaned may earn BC researchers back patting/accolades in silo of research community, they've not informed PH policies in own backyard. Then there's research that's influenced PH policies that don't reflect public safety prioritization.

28/ In sharp contrast, I've learned that for BC's HC workers & #bced teachers/staff, the moral injury, increased health risks & scarcity of even a trickle of funding to improve working conditions during the pandemic h/b an appalling travesty. #bcpoli

29/ To reiterate, after the SRAC's estimated over 200 million available to BC's research community at the end of 2020 - that has likely at least doubled by now - where has it gotten us? #bcpoli

30/Omicron raging, daily deaths high, HC system crashing, mass disabling #LongCovid imminent, the vulnerable more at-risk, & while many in BC med community model "back to normal" at super-spreader gatherings, the 1 PH message is "assess own risk." How. Is. This. Possible. #bcpoli

31/ More to come w/Part 2 - A dive into some eye-opening BC research that has & has not informed our PH Covid-19 policies. In meantime, for an expanded version of this thread w/complete sentences & full paragraphs, pls visit: docs.google.com/document/d/1ik…

32/ Just adding this to my kitchen sink Part 1 BC Research Overview Funding Sources/Initiatives thread:“As per June/22 the “CIHR has invested $394.3M in COVID-19 research, to which partner orgs have added $20.5M, for a total investment of $414.8M.” #bcpoli cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52447.html

@threadreaderapp Unroll please