The MyRoad General Travel Award Competition enables students to attend major conferences and enhance their academic experience. Here is a testimonial from a student who has benefited from the scheme.
"Participating in the summit was an extremely valuable experience that contributed meaningfully to both my academic development and future career goals. Presenting my research on the Canadian Institutes for Health Research obesity funding trends allowed me to engage with a diverse audience of clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. The feedback I received was insightful and will directly inform the next
stages of manuscript development, particularly in strengthening the discussion around research prioritization and equity.
Beyond presenting, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to deepen my understanding of current challenges in obesity research and care. Attending sessions on weight stigma, patient-centered language, and implementation science reinforced the importance of aligning research with lived experience and clinical impact. These perspectives are highly relevant to my ongoing work and will shape how I approach future research questions.
The networking opportunities were equally impactful. I was able to connect with researchers and trainees from across Canada, including those working in public health, family medicine, medical education and health policy. These conversations opened the door to potential future collaborations and provided valuable insight into different career pathways within obesity research.
Overall, attending the Canadian Obesity Summit strengthened my commitment to pursuing clinically meaningful, patient-centered research. I am grateful to the MyRoad program for making this experience possible."
Brady Duiker - medical student - University of Calgary
Keep an eye out for the launch of the next travel award competitions.