UHN Research IDEA Committee
Summary of Activities 2020-Present
Establishing the Research IDEA Committee
The "Empower research teams and collaboration" priority within the UHN Strategic Research Plan 2019–23 speaks to our efforts to support and develop the world's top research teams, comprising diverse groups ofscientists, clinicians, trainees, staff and other partners. We recognize that there are systemic barriers for many
underrepresented groups and have been reminded of the need for us to tackle systemic racism and all forms ofdiscrimination within our community. This includes a clear need to do more to implement concrete, measurable
actions to increase inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA).
As part of this strategic priority, the IDEA Committee for Research at UHN was established by Dr. Bradly
Wouters in July 2020 to synthesize knowledge and diverse experiences from across UHN and develop strategies
on what UHN can do to promote IDEA in research. Scientists, staff and trainees at all levels were invited to join
to help guide the committee's initiatives—including those with lived experience or an understanding, knowledge
or interest in IDEA principles (Appendix I).
From the outset, the UHN Research IDEA Committee has organized initiatives to change policies, provide
education, create opportunities and safer spaces for staff and researchers, and support the next generation ofresearchers through career and enrichment opportunities (Appendix II). Four subcommittees were established towork separately to develop and implement committee initiatives focusing on supporting researchers, staff andtrainees, facilitating data collection and engaging youth from underrepresented and underservedcommunities. This document summarizes the achievements of the committee from July 2020 to present.

Researcher Support Sub-committeeThe researcher support initiative has two main goals that centre on addressing the underrepresentation of
structurally marginalized groups in research by supporting faculty with diverse perspectives, lived experiences,accomplishments and career paths. This initiative is also aimed at helping researchers address potential sources ofbias in research methodology and providing resources to support the integration of IDEA principles in research.
The following activities were launched by members to support these goals:•••••••••••••Developed targeted calls to address underrepresentation in UHN's Canada Research Chair (CRC) program.
CRCs are held by faculty at the University of Toronto and researchers employed by the affiliated hospitals
within the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN). CRC positions are filled through anomination selection process that is managed by the university or TAHSN hospital that owns the chair. The
CRC has set equity and diversity targets to increase the representation of members of the four federally
designated groups (FDGs; i.e., women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visibleminorities) in its program. The committee took several actions to help UHN meet these targets:o Making recommendations to improve the fairness, transparency and equitable distribution of newCRCs.
o Launching several special calls, in collaboration with the university and People & Culture, to increase
the representation of researchers who identify with the FDGs.
o Providing Strategic Research Initiative Development (StRIDe) grant editing support to CRC nominee
applicants from equity-seeking groups.
o Taking active steps to encourage underrepresented groups to apply to CRC vacancies.
Supported the inaugural Black Excellence in Science Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics(BE-STEMM) Conference hosted by the Canadian Black Scientist Network.
Launched the research IDEA seminar series (11 events to date) to create a forum where researchers, staff andtrainees can learn about IDEA-related topics from peers and experts.
Worked with the Research Support Services Analytics team to incorporate IDEA principles into the Annual
Activity Report assessment for UHN principal investigators.
Through an initiative led by Lisa Murphy from People and Culture, the EVP Science and Research and theresearch institutes, advocated for a process to provide institutional support for parental leaves.
Developed Recommendations for IDEA in Research for the Research Council Executive and ResearchInstitute Directors.
Developed a job distribution list to support the recruitment of diverse candidates to research leadership
positions.
Provided implicit bias training for research institute directors and researchers. The training was facilitated incollaboration with The Toronto Initiative for Diversity & Excellence (TIDE)–a grassroots service group
comprising University of Toronto faculty members from across disciplines that focuses on supporting equity,diversity, and inclusion. The workshop was led by Dr. Maydianne Andrade (Professor, Dept. BiologicalSciences, University of Toronto, Scarborough; President, Canadian Black Scientists Network) and Dr. Bojana
Stefanovic (Professor and Canada Research Chair in Functional Brain Neuroimaging; Director, PhysicalSciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences).
Provided feedback for a Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Parenthood Survey that was aimed at increasing ourunderstanding of how parenthood affects scientists and trainees.
Drafted an SBAR for a potential mentorship program for researchers who belong to a structurally
marginalized group. Mentorship is targeted explicitly to career sponsorship and career advocacy.
In collaboration with UHNWomen, launched an Institutional History of IDEA at UHN research project tocreate a repository of artifacts and a report that will document UHN's equity journey.
Launched the Research Inclusion, Diversity, Equity Accessibility and Antiracism website to share resources tosupport IDEA. A SharePoint site is being developed with additional resources for research teams, including
guidelines and resource documents on how to address IDEA in research grant applications (launch in 2023).
Developed Integrating IDEA in Research Methodologies module curriculum for translational research (launchin 2023). Two additional curricula are planned for basic and clinical researchers.

Data Collection Sub-committee
The data collection group was created with two goals in mind. To advise on policies, procedures, infrastructure
and logistics of diversity data collection/analysis/reporting and to generate evidence-informed consensus onpriority diversity indicators/measures and related best practices. The data collection group undertook thefollowing actions to advance these goals:• Developed a charter for a literature review and environmental scan on best practices for promoting IDEA.
• Worked with the University of Toronto to develop a survey for collecting diversity data from eligible CRC
holders. This survey provided the first insight into the diversity of our research faculty and informed thedevelopment of CRC-targeted calls.
• Conducted a scoping review of 1255 published articles plus an environmental scan of 141 websites andreports to identify unique strategies and measures for supporting IDEA in research.
• Collaborated with the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Antiracism (IDEAA) People and Culture
team to coordinate efforts for collecting diversity data from TeamUHN.

Staff and Trainee Support Sub-committee
Research staff, postdoctoral researchers and trainees are invaluable contributors to the research enterprise. Amajor goal of the staff and trainee support group was creating spaces where community members could voice
issues as well as identifying and addressing barriers that prevent equity-deserving staff from fully contributing toour research enterprise. To support this, the committee took the following actions:• Guided the selection of speakers for IDEAS–a virtual seminar series to discuss IDEA topics, highlight healthequity research programs and discuss ways to incorporate IDEA in research methodology.
• Provided feedback for the Office of Research Trainees Code of Conduct.
• Advocated for and received funding to create a multifaith room at the Princess Margaret Cancer Tower.
• Collaborated with the Office of Research Trainees and the Research Application Support Initiative (RASI) in
the Community of Support program at the University of Toronto to support students from backgrounds
historically underrepresented in science in obtaining summer research positions. The program provided
subsidies for five summer students in the summer of 2022 and will support 10 additional students this year.
• Contributed to a working group that included the 2SLGTBQIA+ Committee, Bioethics, Synapse teammembers and other groups to guide the development of questions for EPIC that enable patients to self-identify
their gender, sex, pronouns and sexual orientation.
• Collaborated with the 2SLGTBQIA+ Committee on a pronoun pin and sticker campaign to help normalize thesharing of pronouns. As part of the campaign, pronoun pins were made available at all sites across UHN. A 2+LGBTQIA website was also created to support the campaign and the 2+LGBTQIA members of TeamUHN,patients and our community.
• Co-hosted an in-person event in collaboration with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine Office of Inclusion andDiversity to support members of the Iranian community. The event included speeches by Iranian women andopportunities to network and share experiences. Speakers included Dr. Gelareh Zadeh, Solmaz Barghi, Dr.
Mojgan Hodaie, Solmaz Alizadeh, Mana Modares and the Research IDEA Chair, Dr. Azadeh Yadollahi.
• Collaborated with Bioethics and the Office of Research Trainees to develop assessment criteria for a needsbased scholarship for postdoctoral researchers. The scholarship will provide funding to researchers who face
additional barriers due to factors such as race, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexualorientation, nationality, ability or caregiver responsibilities (launch in 2023).

Youth Outreach Sub-committee
There is significant underrepresentation of certain groups in the STEM fields, including women, BIPOC (Black,Indigenous, People of Colour) individuals, people with disabilities and individuals from structurally marginalizedcommunities. To address this gap, the committee developed and implemented a program to encourage youth todiscover the joy of STEM by creating spaces and opportunities where all youth, regardless of socioeconomic
status, age, background or experience, can participate, feel included and have their voices heard. The following
actions were taken to support the program:• Performed an environmental scan of youth outreach programs at UHN to identify researchers and trainees
who are involved in outreach.
• Worked with the Ontario Hospital Association Taskforce on Antiracism to host twoYouth DiverSTEAM Symposia, in 2021 and 2022. The inaugural event was attended by 100 high school
students and 200 researchers, trainees and volunteers.
• Connected with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) science teachers in collaboration with the Ontario
Hospital Association, to discuss implicit bias among teachers and in the curriculum.
• Developed partnertships with Let's Talk Science, Visions of Science, Science Rendevous, TDSB, Toronto
Catholic School Board and the Science Teachers Association of Ontario.
• Secured financial support to create the UHN STEM Pathways program, with dedicated youth outreachcoordinators. Since its launch in May 2022, the program has engaged 228 volunteers to host 114 events thatwere attended by 10,000+ youth. The team partners with various internal (e.g., Office of Research Trainees,Research Institute Directorates, Research Facilities, Research Safety) and external (TCSB, TDSB, Visions ofScience, the MINA project and the Canada Association for Girls in Science) partners to host events. The
program is fully embedded in the Research Support Services Research Strategy portfolio, which reports to theEVP, Science and Research.

Upcoming Initiatives••

Environmental scan to reassess the needs of the research community and develop new a strategy to address
those needs.
Work with IDEAA to analyze survey data to assess IDEAA-related barriers and opportunities for research.

Appendix I. UHN Research IDEA Committee Members
The committee is chaired by Dr. Azadeh Yadollahi and currently comprises the following individuals:• Amanda Veri (Coordinator, Office of Research Trainees)• Anam Islam (Research Quality Associate, Research Quality Integration)• Anastasia Tikhonova (Scientist, TGHRI)• Anna Gagliardi (Senior Scientist, TGHRI)• Azadeh Yadollahi (Chair; Scientist, KITE)• Courtney Jones (Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)• Darlene Reid (Senior Scientist, KITE)• Evan Foster (Trainee, KITE)• Jennifer Campos (Scientist, KITE)• Jackie Bender (Affiliate Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)• Karen Davis (Senior Scientist, Krembil)• Moira Kapral (Scientist, TGHRI)• Nikki Woods (Research Director, The Institute of Education Research [TIER])• Patti Leake (Development Officer, TIER)
Former members• Alya Heirali (Postdoctoral Fellow, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)• Anusha Ratneswaran (Postdoctoral Fellow, Krembil)• Diana von Appen (Manager, Diversity Office - Research)• Hodan Mohamud (Research Clerk, KITE)• Kyle Francis (Scientific Associate, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)• Paul Chartrand (Project Manager, TGHRI)• Rob Cairns (Scientific Associate, TGHRI)• Rose Karithanam (Clinical Research Coordinator, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)• Rossanne Kagaoan (Research Administrative Assistant, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)• Treesa Joseph (Research Administrative Assistant, KITE)• Lisa Murphy (Director, Human Resources – Research)• Stephanie Susman (Research Impact Analyst, Research Strategy and Planning)
Research IDEA Committee working group members• Margaret Kinyanjui (Manager, Research Strategy Development, Strategic Research Initiatives
Development [StRIDe])• Patti Leake (Research IDEA Educator)• Anna Gordon (Director, People and Culture – Research)
Former Research IDEA Committee working group members• Lisa Murphy (Director, People and Culture – Research)• Diana von Appen (Diversity Manager – Research)

Appendix II. Research IDEA Committee Terms of Reference (ToR)
PurposeThe Research Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Committee will provide advice and guidance on theResearch IDEA Action Plan. The committee will also develop and implement a strategic plan to foster IDEA across UHN's
research community.

Executive Sponsor

Bradly Wouters, Executive Vice President (EVP), Science and Research

Membership••••Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Chair of the IDEA Committee with advice from theStrategic Research Initiatives Development (StRIDe) team and People & Culture consultants.
The committee will be composed of 15-20 members from across the research community and include staff, trainees
and researchers at different stages of their research career.
Members will be selected based on their lived experience, with the goal of including representation from the four
federally designated groups (women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and people of color) and LGBTQ+communities.
A Chair will be appointed by the EVP to oversee committee activities.

Roles and Responsibilities•The Committee members will:o Develop a plan to promote and sustain IDEA principles within UHN's research community.
o Oversee analysis of current policies, procedures and initiatives to identify challenges and opportunities forpromoting IDEA.
o Advise the EVP on the implementation of IDEA strategic initiatives.
o Work with various internal and external partners to launch and implement IDEA initiatives.
o Attend at least four IDEA Committee meetings per year.

Resources

The committee will be supported by staff from StRIDe, People & Culture and UHN's Diversity and Mediation Services.

Meeting and Quorum•••

The IDEA Committee will meet at least four times per year.
At least five members must be in attendance in order for quorum to be met at a meeting.
Agendas and meeting minutes will be distributed to members prior to the meeting.

Deliverables
The IDEA Committee will provide reports to the EVP and the Research Council Executive, which will include
updates on all IDEA-related activities.

Review
The ToR will be reviewed annually. The next review is expected to be in June 2023.