On June 10th, principal investigators (PIs) and co-principal investigators (co-PIs) from various research projects within the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) gathered for an engaging "Meet the PI" event. This virtual meeting served as a platform for networking, sharing research progress, and exploring future collaborations. Our 50 attendees gained valuable insights into research developments in Canada, India, South Africa, and China, and discussed career development and guidance on grant writing, work-life balance and collaborations within various research fields.  

PIs and Co-PIs presented HeLTI projects and research progress on: 

• Jean-Patrice Baillargeon: HeLTI China 
• Kumar Gavali & Kalyanaraman Kumaran:  HeLTI India
• Stephen Lye: HeLTI South Africa 
• Cindy-Lee Dennis: HeLTI Canada

Breakout sessions included:

• Career Development and Work/Life Balance: Led by Jean-Patrice Baillargeon, Catherine Draper, and Andraea Van Hulst.
• Research Grant Development Considerations: Led by Stephen Lye and Linda Booij
• Leadership, Collaborations, and Team Development: Led by Raejean Hung and Alessandra Prioreschi.

The event emphasized community engagement, sustainability, and the importance of harmonization across projects. Early career researchers were encouraged to engage with PIs for collaboration opportunities and career development. 

Thank you to our Capacity Building Group for making this event a success!