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Four University of Toronto researchers are receiving the Connaught Global Challenge Award, supporting projects that explore everything from student mental health to the impact of health care on climate, access to COVID-19 vaccines and energy harvesting technologies for biomedical applications.

“The Connaught Global Challenge Award recognizes leading researchers who are working across disciplines with colleagues, students and thought leaders, making significant contributions to society by advancing knowledge and developing innovative solutions to some of the world's most complex challenges,” says Professor Alex Mihailidis, associate vice-president, international partnerships.

“I'm delighted that this year's winners include the first recipients of the Connaught Global Research Impact Program (C-GRIP) award, funded by Office of the Vice-President International to provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with unique global opportunities by supporting global mobility and exchange.”

This year’s winners and their projects are:

• Kamran Behdinan, department of mechanical and industrial engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Advanced Technology for Harvesting in Biomedical Device Applications
• Kristin Cleverley, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing: Building a Global Research Network to Advance Student and Youth Mental Health (C-GRIP)
• Lisa Forman, Dalla Lana School of Public Health: Advancing Rights-based Access to COVID Vaccines as part of Universal Health Coverage (C-GRIP)
• Fiona Miller, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health: Research Capacity for a Climate Positive Health System: The International Research Network for Climate Positive Care

The Connaught Global Challenge is supported by the Connaught Fund – the largest, internal university research funding program in Canada. Established in 1972 through the sale of the Connaught Medical Research Laboratories, the fund has provided nearly $170 million to ��������οscholars through a range of programs including the Connaught New Researcher Award, the Connaught Community Partnerships Research Program, the Connaught Innovation Award, the McLean Award and international doctoral scholarships.