HeLTI’s recent "Meet the PI" event has been a resounding success, showcasing the consortium’s dedication to fostering collaboration and engagement among researchers. Held on June 10, 2024, this virtual event featured presentations on HeLTI’s ongoing trials in India, South Africa, China and Canada. The research consortium is making significant strides in participant recruitment and the overall progression of the four harmonized, yet unique trials.  Ultimately, HeLTI addresses childhood obesity by improving parental and child cardiometabolic and neurocognitive health outcomes.  

Event Highlights  

• Community Engagement and Sustainability: Presenters highlighted the importance of community involvement and the sustainability of health interventions across different regions and suggested potential avenues for future cross-site collaboration. 

• Early Career Researcher/Trainee Engagement: Interactive breakout room sessions included HeLTI PIs, co-PIs and mid- and early-career researchers. These smaller groups facilitated the opportunity to discuss research details and offer feedback and suggest topics for future seminars. 

HeLTI China’s co-PI, Jean-Patrice Baillargeon presented the SCHeLTI-LIFE TREE project. This aims to reduce childhood obesity in Shanghai through interventions addressing nutrition, physical activity, and parental involvement. The BioBank project, containing half a million samples, was also discussed, with invitations extended for collaborative research. 

HeLTI South Africa’s co-PI, Dr. Stephen Lye described the BUKHALI study. This uses individualized randomization and employs HeLTI’s harmonized interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Soweto, South Africa.  

HeLTI Canada’s co-PI, Cindy-Lee Dennis presented updates on initiatives such as successfully recruited over 6,200 participants virtually across Canada within HeLTI Canada.  

HeLTI India’s co-PIs Kumar Gavali & Kalyanaraman Kumaran highlighted the high prevalence of malnutrition, anemia, and increasing overweight status in rural Mysore, India.  

Anticipate more engaging events and updates on our collaborative research initiatives!