Overview
The Frank Gavin Patient Engagement Leadership Awards are granted annually by the CHILD-BRIGHT Network to research partners with lived and living experience (PWLEs) in recognition of their exceptional leadership in Canadian pediatric brain-based disability research. Established in 2021, the awards were named in honour of Frank Gavin, our former Director of Engagement, for his vital contributions to the network’s impressive growth as a SPOR entity.
In this fourth iteration, we will be granting a Frank Gavin award to two PWLEs: 1) a youth or former pediatric patient with lived and living experience of a brain-based developmental disability and 2) the parent, caregiver, or family member of a child or youth with lived and living experience of a brain-based developmental disability.
We are now welcoming applications for the 2025 Frank Gavin Patient Engagement Leadership Awards.
Note that members and non-members of the CHILD-BRIGHT Network are welcome to apply! You can review the eligibility criteria and submission guidelines below.
Learn all about our previous award recipients:
2024: Mohammed Merchant and Claire Dawe-McCord
2023: Carrie Costello
2022: Donna Thomson
Eligibility
PWLEs can self-nominate or be nominated by another PWLE or individual. By PWLE, we mean a research partner who is 1) a youth or former pediatric patient with lived and living experience of a brain-based developmental disability or 2) the parent, caregiver, or family member of a child with lived and living experience of a brain-based developmental disability. The nominees should have considerable experience participating in patient-oriented research (POR) activities and a proven track record of research engagement leadership.
Submission
1-2 page(s) describing your reasons for nominating yourself/the PWLE, your/their experience participating in POR activities, and your/their engagement leadership in pediatric brain-based disability research
CV highlighting POR activities (optional)
2 letters of support
Any other relevant information about yourself or the PWLE that you would like us to consider
Application procedure
Click on the ‘Apply’ button below to submit your application package by the deadline (specified in the form). Both awardees will receive a personalized plaque and be featured on our website and in our newsletters. The selected parent, caregiver, or family member will receive a registration and travel allowance of up to $800 for a conference* of their choice (in Canada or the US). The selected youth will receive up to $800 to attend a POR training event of their choice (e.g., FER) or to support a POR research project of their choice.
*Conference: A special event that focuses on one or more distinct themes in the health sciences and is open to Canadian and international researchers, as well as students, both graduate and, where appropriate, undergraduate. A conference program or agenda will be requested from the award recipient.
Applications will be reviewed by:
The Director of Engagement
The Engagement Program and Projects Manager
The Youth and Engagement Initiative Coordinator
Two PWLES who are members of the CHILD-BRIGHT Network
A representative of the Central Office team
A representative of the Executive Committee