BRN, U of T and University of the West Indies fund research on climate resilience, health and AI
Five research teams have received funding through a joint initiative supported by the University of Toronto’s Black Research Network (BRN), the Office of the Vice-President, International and the University of the West Indies (UWI).
New collaborations tackling climate resilience, public health and artificial intelligence to improve daily life are among the projects receiving support through the program. The joint call was created to strengthen research collaborations between the two institutions while supporting projects that address pressing challenges facing communities in Canada, the Caribbean and beyond.
Projects are led by two principal investigators; a member of the BRN and a faculty member from UWI. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing research excellence through international collaboration and supporting Black-led scholarship.
These projects highlight the breadth of expertise across both universities and demonstrate the value of cross-border collaboration in addressing complex global issues. The teams will receive funding for a one-year period.
Learn more about the projects:
Husam Abdel-Qadir, associate professor (status-only), Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a cholesterol-related particle linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Largely determined by genetics, Lp(a) levels are highest among people with West African ancestry, including Black Caribbeans.
This project will examine whether higher Lp(a) levels correspond to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease by gathering pilot data from Jamaicans of African descent with aortic stenosis, cardiovascular disease and healthy older adults. The findings aim to improve how elevated Lp(a) levels are defined, measured and interpreted, supporting more equitable cardiovascular risk assessment. This work is also supported by the BRN Faculty Fellowship.
The co-principal investigator for the project at UWI Mona campus is Racquel Gordon, an associate lecturer in the department of medicine. Tahira Redwood, a consultant of structural and adult congenital cardiac intervention at UWI, is a co-applicant.
Mohammed Basheer, assistant professor, department of civil and mineral engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
Climate change is expected to increase flooding in the Caribbean through rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns, placing coastal communities at greater risk. Focusing on northern Trinidad and Tobago, this project will examine differences between scientific assessments of flood hazards and how local communities understand and experience climate change and its associated risks. Using a participatory scenario-planning approach, the research aims to support community-led climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Basheer will work with Julia Kotzebue, a lecturer in the department of geomatics engineering at UWI, St. Augustine campus in Trinidad & Tobago.
Rachel Goffe, assistant professor, department of human geography at the University of Toronto Scarborough
In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and amid the expansion of coastal development projects, this project aims to support Jamaica’s historic fishing communities as vital stewards of coastal ecosystems and local food systems. Working in partnership with the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JaBBEM) and three fishing communities along Jamaica’s northern coast, the project will host community meetings and workshops focused on strengthening awareness of land rights and supporting community-led conservations.
Goffe is a recent recipient of the Connaught Major Research Challenge for Black Researchers. She will collaborate with Marcus Goffe, a lecturer at the School of Law at UWI Mona campus in Kingston, Jamaica.
Imara Ajani Rolston, assistant professor, Social & Behavioural Health Sciences Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
In response to the growing impacts of climate change across the Caribbean, this research initiative aims to strengthen community resilience in vulnerable regions such as the Scotland District of Barbados. Bringing together researchers, practitioners and local experts, the project will explore how climate-resilient building design and agroforestry practices can be integrated to support healthier communities, sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection. The project seeks to develop practical, community-focused solutions that can be adapted across the Caribbean.
At UWI, the project will be led by Evangeline Innis Springer, director of the Global Institute for Climate Smart and Resilient Development.
Karla Washington, associate professor, department of speech-language pathology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Many children in Jamaica learn to read in environments where the language spoken at home differs from the language used in school. While Jamaican Creole is commonly spoken in everyday life, classroom instruction is delivered in Standard Jamaican English, which creates challenges for existing speech technologies not designed for linguistic realities. This project will build the first dataset of Jamaican children’s speech, ages four to 10, and develop tools and methods to responsibly support AI-powered literacy tutors that can provide personalized reading in classrooms.
Washington will work with André Coy, a senior lecturer in the department of physics and associate dean, external engagement at UWI Mona campus.
Recent News
