The RDP is focused on providing seed funding to support building research initiatives relevant and specific to the substance use (SU) intervention needs within the Atlantic Region.
The CRISM Atlantic node aims to provide a dynamic research environment where clinicians, researchers, persons with lived experience, knowledge users and public health stakeholders converge to discuss and act on priorities in substance use research. The node is committed to supporting the development and implementation of funded protocols that are relevant, innovative and have the potential to accelerate the transfer of scientific knowledge in intervention and best practices in the management of substance use.
The Research Development Program aims to support CRISM Atlantic node members in the development of research projects and protocols that seek to:
Foster collaborations within the node, nationally, and internationally
Although this funding opportunity/competition attracts CRISM Atlantic Node members with experience in the competitive research grant application environment, we strongly encourage node members with less experience to seek collaboration opportunities with CRISM Atlantic Researchers to submit eligible protocols and projects to the RDP for review.
Applicants are invited to submit a concept sheet proposal to obtain financial support in order to:
A maximum of $10,000 can be awarded to an emerging project proposal (category 1 or 2). A maximum of $15,000 can be awarded to a promising project proposal (category 3). The number of awards will depend on funds available.
The 2025 RDP applications have closed.
If you have any questions, please email crismatlantic@gmail.com and reference ‘RDP inquiry‘ in the subject line.
For commonly asked questions, check out our 2025 Funding Call questions and answers page.
Project Title
Implementation of intravenous hydromorphone (injectable opioid agonist treatment) for hospital inpatient management of opioid use disorder
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicants
Dr. Michael Malek, Nova Scotia Health and Dalhousie University
Summary
This study will use qualitative interviews with both healthcare providers and patients to evaluate the implementation of intravenous hydromorphone to manage opioid withdrawal and treat opioid use disorder at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, the large acute care hospital in Halifax. Findings may help improve current practice, inform strategies to support a Nova Scotia-wide rollout, and identify how this model may be adapted and implemented in other hospitals and care settings.
Project Title
Trauma cue reactivity among early phase psychosis: A pilot study
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicants
Dr. Sarah DeGrace, Dalhousie University
Dr. Sherry Stewart, Dalhousie University
Dr. Philip Tibbo, Dalhousie University
Summary
This study will use a cue-reactivity paradigm to examine the effects of trauma cue exposure and PTSD symptoms on mood and cannabis craving in early phase psychosis (EPP) patients versus non-psychotic controls. Findings may help explain the high rates of cannabis use in EPP patients and may highlight the need for trauma cue exposure interventions in this population.
Project Title
Models of substance use care delivery in Atlantic Canada: Addressing complex health needs in primary and addiction care settings
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicants
Dr. Sara Davidson, Fredericton Downtown Community Health Centre and Dalhousie University
Dr. Mike Gniewek, Dalhousie University
Dr. Leah Genge, Dalhousie University
Dr. Thomas Brothers, Dalhousie University
Summary
Using community-based research methods, this study will develop a research advisory council to guide research development, and subsequently engage in exploratory, qualitative research to document safer supply and injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) programs in Atlantic Canada. Findings will begin to explore concurrent substance use and mental health concerns, as well as help guide decision making across Atlantic Canada in the implementation of safer supply and iOAT programs.
Project Title
Exploring patient navigation (PN) for youth and young adults (YYA) with mental health and/or addiction (MHA) concerns in NB
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicants
Dr. Shelley Doucet, University of New Brunswick
Dr. Alison Luke, University of New Brunswick
Summary
A needs assessment will be conducted using semi-structured interviews to gather information from diverse interest holders about their experiences with services for youth and young adults with mental health and/or addiction concerns in New Brunswick. This information will be used to inform the development and implementation of a patient navigation program for this population in the province.
Project Title
Assessing whether hope protects against the adverse effects of financial hardship on problem drinking among Nova Scotian emerging adults living in rural and urban communities
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicants
Dr. Laura Lambe, St. Drancis Xavier University
Dr. Kathryn Bell, Acadia University
Dr. Jennifer Khoury, Mount Saint Vincent University
Summary
This study will use a longitudinal design with emerging adults across Nova Scotia to examine how financial hardship and hope act and interact in influencing problem drinking. Findings may identify a modifiable factor (hope) that can help mitigate the effects of financial hardship on problem drinking, informing policy and intervention.
Project Title
Application of machine learning algorithms to predict substance use among youth: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicants
Dr. Mark Asbridge, Dalhousie University
Dr. Phillip Tibbo, Dalhousie University
Dr. Simon Sherry, Dalhousie University
Dr. Igor Yakovenko, Dalhousie University
Dr. Sherry Stewart, Dalhousie University
Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis will examine the ability of Machine Learning models to predict risk of substance use in youth. Findings will guide policy decisions, support evidence-based practices, and enhance the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Project Title
Identifying patterns of co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions and their impact on healthcare utilization in Nova Scotia
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicants
Dr. Mark Asbridge, Dalhousie University
Dr. JianLi Wang, Dalhousie University
Summary
This study will use a retrospective cohort design to comprehensively examine patterns and risk factors associated with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions, and their impact on healthcare utilization in Nova Scotia. Findings may reduce system fragmentation, enhance care pathways, and strengthen integrated services for concurrent disorders.
Project Title
De-implementation of prohibitionist substance use policies in the acute care hospital setting: a qualitative implementation science study
Principal Investigator
Dr. Tommy Brothers, Dalhousie University & Nova Scotia Health
Project Title
Mapping the Landscape of Cannabis Use in Progressive Neurological Conditions: A Scoping Review
Focus & Significance
This scoping review project explores how cannabis is used to help manage symptoms in people with progressive neurological conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis. As more people turn to cannabis—often without medical guidance—this study reviews existing research to identify key treatment-related factors—including product variability, patient characteristics, and long-term positive or negative outcomes—to inform safer, more effective decision-making for both patients and clinicians. By reviewing existing research, the project will help fill important knowledge gaps and guide future studies and care practices. Findings will inform research priorities, including long-term outcomes, clinical decision-making frameworks, addiction risk, and the potential role of cannabis in supporting daily functioning and enhancing quality of life.
Co-Applicants
Patient Partners & Collaborators
Project Title
Mi’kmaq Adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy – Understanding and developing supports required for the adaptation of the Mikwendaagwad model to the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq context
Principal Investigator
Dr. Charity Fleming
Project Title
Investigation of cannabis potency and products used in young adults with early phase psychosis in NS and NL
Focus & Significance
Cannabis use can be considered a modifiable risk factor for psychosis development and a variable of concern with respect to optimizing symptomatic and psychosocial outcomes in those who have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. What is unknown at this time regionally, is what are the preferred cannabis products used by our young adults in early phase psychosis programs (EPP). This data is important to use in any further external grant writing that is focused on comorbid cannabis use in EPP. Our aim of this data generation emerging project is to collect descriptive data on cannabis products used in EPP programs in NS and NL, with a focus on cannabis potency.
Principal Applicant
Co-Applicant
Project Title
Refining for Impact: Reimagining a CIHR funding application to support implementation, evaluation and sustainability of an innovative youth drug education strategy
Focus & Significance
An interprofessional research team at Memorial University has developed an innovative drug education and awareness strategy called Drug Education Centered on Youth Decision Empowerment (DECYDE). DECYDE’s mission is to provide access to evidence-based, trauma-informed, skills-based substance use education, with a focus on prevention and harm reduction for all youth, educators, and guardians. This grant assists our team to prepare targeted funding applications to support the full implementation and evaluation of DECYDE.
Co-Applicants
Project Title
Identifying and evaluating outcomes of the NL Health Services, Primary Care Program, Harm Reduction Team
Principal Investigator
Dr. Nikki Kiepek
For details see RDP 2023 Awards
Principal Applicant: Dr. Bilikis Banire, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University;
Co-Applicants:
Dr. Sandra Meier, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University;
Dr. Sherry Stewart, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University;
Nicholas Murray, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University;
Dr. Rita Orji, Department of Computer Science, Dalhousie University
Principal Applicant: Dr. Cindy Feng, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University
Co-Applicant: Dr. Mark Asbridge, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University
Principal Applicant: Dr. Candice Crocker, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University
Co-Applicant: Dr. Phil Tibbo, Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University
Principal Applicant: Laura Beach, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto and Coordinator, East Coast Prison Justice Society Visiting Committee
Co-Applicants:
Dr. Leah Genge, Department of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University;
Becky Marval, OT. Reg. (N.S.), Mobile Outreach Street Health and Dalhousie School of Occupational Therapy
Principal Applicant: Nicole Peters-Vuozzo, Health PEI, Mental Health and Addictions
Co-Applicants :
Dr. Jaqueline Goodwin, Health PEI, Mental Health and Addictions
Dr. Jo-Ann Birt, Health PEI, Mental Health and Addictions
Understanding Barriers to Treatment and Virtual Solutions in Addiction Services in PEI.
Dr. Amanda Hudson (Dalhousie University, NS)
Spotting opportunities and challenges to prevent overdose, HIV transmission and other drug related harms: A cross-Canada symposium.
Natasha Touesnard (Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs – CAPUD)
Sex Differences and Menstrual Phase Fluctuations in Cannabis-Related Psychiatric Emergency Department Presentations
Dr. Amanda Hudson (Dalhousie University, NS)
Developing an Innu First Nations evaluation framework for implementing a community-wide FASD prevention strategy in two communities
Dr. Melody E. Morton Ninomiya (Wilfrid Laurier University, NFL/ON)
Drinking to cope with interpersonal conflict as a pathway to problem drinking in women: Does romantic relationship conflict matter most?
Dr. Sherry Stewart (Dalhousie University, NS)
Exploring cannabis harm reduction strategies for women through community-based participatory research
Dr. Stephen Ellenbogen (Memorial University of Newfoundland, NFL)
Exploration of Therapies for Opioid Use Problems in a First Nation in Nova Scotia
Dr. Dennis Wendt, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (McGill University)
Treatment of Depression in Individuals with Opiod Use Disorder: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Dr Didier Jutras-Aswad (Université de Montréal, Qc)
Substance Use Cessation Therapies for those At-Risk in Early Intervention Services for Psychosis: Research Protocol Development
Dr Phil Tibbo (Dalhousie University, NS)
Opioid Use following Opiod Prescription for Non-Specific Low Back Pain in Nova Scotian Emergency Departments
Dr Jill Hayden (Dalhousie University, NS)
Suivi de la cohorte bas seuil en traitement de la dépendance aux opioïdes RELAIS du programme CRAN
Marie-Ève Goyer (University of Montreal, QC)
Evaluating the effectiveness of prescription monitoring programs to reduce inappropriate opioid prescribing and related-harms: A feasibility study
Mark Asbridge (Dalhousie University, NS)
Mon buzz
Mathieu Goyette and Dr. Jorge Flores-Aranda (University of Sherbrooke, QC)
Scaling up access to personality-targeted interventions for youth at risk of substance use disorders in the United States and Canada: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation facilitation trial.
Patricia Conrod (University of Montreal QC) and Dr. Sherry Stewart (Dalhousie University, NS)
A Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study of Desvenlafaxine for depression in patient with opioid dependence (DESV TRIAL)
Dr. Didier Jutras-Aswad (University of Montreal, QC)