Indigenous researchers out of the University of Saskatchewan will join a national heart failure research network. An issue that, according to the university is on the rise and disproportionately affects indigenous people.
Dr. Alexandra King and Professor Malcolm King are lead researchers of Indigenous health at the university.
They were recently asked to join the Canadian Heart Failure Transformation Alliance, which is striving to halt the progression of heart failure in Canada.
“We are thrilled to be providing leadership nationally,” said Dr. Alexandra King, Cameco Chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness in the College of Medicine. “We have a team that combines rich and diverse Indigenous research expertise and patient-oriented research expertise, especially that involving Indigenous people with lived and living experience.”
The Kings often combine their research efforts with Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers to help develop Indigenous-led approaches to issues they are researching. The research duo says the process will be the same when addressing heart failure in Indigenous people.
“Our vision is to find the harmonies between the Indigenous and Western approaches to create sustainable, community based, culturally safe and responsive approaches to HF services,” said Prof. Malcolm King from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology.
The Canadian Heart Failure Transformation Alliance was recently supported by two research grants – $5 million from Heart and Stroke Canada and $27 million from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.