Congratulations Anisha Mahajan
SHRF 2026-27 Establishment Grant recipient
$1.2 Million Invested in Health Research: 2026-27 Establishment Grant Recipients
Anisha Mahajan: South Asian Adolescents Thrive through Health (SAATH): A Culturally Adapted Lifestyle Intervention Study for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Type 2 diabetes is a health concern in Saskatchewan, affecting 29% of individuals and costing the healthcare system $114 million annually. South Asians are eight times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to individuals of European backgrounds. Despite this higher risk, limited research in Saskatchewan focuses on preventing type 2 diabetes in South Asian adolescents.
The South Asian Adolescent Thrive through Health (SAATH) study aims to address this gap by testing whether culturally tailored group sessions on nutrition, physical activity and mental wellness will build healthy lifestyle patterns that reduce risk for type 2 diabetes among South Asian adolescents. The SAATH study will recruit 120 adolescents aged 13-17 years from Saskatoon and surrounding areas. Participants will complete knowledge questionnaires, dietary recalls, activity monitoring, and health assessments. A photovoice (i.e. sharing experiences through photography) project with 20 participants will explore barriers and support type 2 diabetes prevention. Findings will be used to guide type 2 diabetes prevention efforts across Canada.
$1.2 million has been invested to support early-career researchers in Saskatchewan through the SHRF 2026-27 Establishment Grant.
This round of recipients features 8 new researchers working in a variety of fields, ranging from physiotherapy to cell metabolism to public policy and everything in between.