CFDR Funded Research
Insights into Food & Nutrition
CFDR is a community changing the face of Canadian health by funding and advancing the dietetic profession.
CFDR supports innovative research projects in Nutrition and Dietetics to enhance dietetic practice, and ultimately, to improve the nutritional health of all Canadians.
$3 Million
Invested in Nutrition and Dietetics Research
29
Peer Reviewed Publications of CFDR Supported Research Since 2011
125
Research Teams Supported
Researchers Tell Their Stories
Christine Nash MSc, RD
Principal Investigator of CFDR-funded Studies:
- Examination of dietary intakes and blood concentrations of folate, vitamins B6 and B12
- Association with nutritional status (SGA) and dialysis modality in 70 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing various types of dialysis
Christine states: “I wouldn’t have been able to do my research without CFDR. I wanted to complete a research-based Masters through U of T and I needed funding to accomplish this. I wouldn’t have been able to do my research as robustly, and to do gold standard lab work which made up the majority of my budget. It would not have had the same impact without the funding.”
“CFDR supported the growth and development of my research skills, and I feel that I can tackle and contribute to other research projects. I believe that this kind of funding is a gap in our profession.”
Thea Demmers MSc, RD
Sylvia Santosa PhD, RD
Co-Investigators of CFDR-funded Study:
- Examines the role of nutrition in muscle function of bariatric surgery patients
Thea states:
“The CFDR grant supports much of the work needed for research studies such as performing measurements for data collection via blood draws, lab work, obtaining supplies, conducting DXA scans, transcribing focus groups, and compensating participants’ time and travel….Being a part of this project allows for continued learning, generation of new knowledge and ways to support people after a challenging surgery and life-altering change.” “This is the passion of every dietitian; I am thankful to be a part of efforts like this.”
Sylvia States:
“The CFDR grant allowed me to enter the clinical stream of research. This is an important stream of research as there is very limited evidence for nutrition recommendations in bariatric surgery.
This research will allow me to directly contribute to the development of nutrition guidelines for the growing number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery in Canada.
We desperately need some evidence to determine how changes in diet may impact the functionality of these individuals in the short term and potentially in the long term as well…. It’s critical to have grants targeted specifically towards answering clinical practice questions.
This type of grant allows a broader number of dietetic practice-based research questions to be answered. It grows our field and provides the evidence we need to practice within dietetics.”
Current CFDR
Funded Research
2025 Successful Research Teams
Melissa Fernandez, PhD, RD, University of Ottawa
Enhancing dietitians’ social media skills for public engagement
This study aims to equip dietitians with the skills to effectively engage the public on social media by developing an evidence-based training toolkit. Through focus groups and an environmental scan, we will identify training needs and best practices for digital communication. The toolkit will then be evaluated for its impact on dietitians’ confidence, communication skills, and engagement. By strengthening dietitians’ social media presence, this project supports public access to credible, science-based nutrition information.
Sarah Finch, PhD, RD, University of Prince Edward Island
Development and Validation of the Nutrition Utilization and Treatment Response Insights tool for Rheumatoid Arthritis
This study aims to understand how people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) use nutrition-related complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies like supplements and special diets alongside their prescribed treatments. We will create a tool called NUTRI_RA, to measure how these therapies affect patients’ health and quality of life. The findings will help dietitians offer better guidance to patients, ensuring safe, evidence-based nutrition advice and improving patient care by addressing the risks and benefits of CAM therapies.
Leticia Radin Pereira, PhD, University of Calgary and Isabella Barbosa Pereira Carneiro, RD, Alberta Health Services
The relationship between body image and determinants of food choice in the postpartum period
Body changes after childbirth can impact body image, which may influence motivations for food choices. This study aims to survey Canadian individuals who have recently given birth, to investigate how body image and body dissatisfaction are associated with food choice motivations. Findings from this research have the potential to refine public health nutrition messaging, ensuring that food choice recommendations resonate with and meet the unique needs of those adjusting to body changes after childbirth.
Jennifer Yeung, RD, Bruyere Health Continuing Care and Krystal Kehoe MacLeod, PhD, Bruyere Health Research Institute
Indigenous Foods as Therapy: Supporting Person-Centered Palliative Care for Métis, Inuit, and First Nations Patients and Families through Culturally Relevant and Safer Food
This study will create an informational toolkit to increase awareness of and offer guidance and recommendations for, the procurement, preparation, storage, and serving of culturally safer food options to Métis, Inuit, and First Nations patients receiving palliative care in a hospital setting. Part of this will include guidance on how food options can be customized as the role of food changes as patients progress through their palliative care journey from terminal illness diagnosis through to the last days of life.
