New research headed by Sherry Sandhu claims to improve the lives of substance abusing Punjabi men. Sandhu will enhance her clinical research skills through a new internship program. “Our research focuses on improving the lives of Panjabi men who use substances and their family members by creating interventions using a community and patient-centred approach,” says Sandhu, a research assistant with Roshni Clinic. “The skills I will gain through the internship will help us get ready for the next phase in which we will test our interventions, understand their outcomes and determine clinical relevance.”

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

SURREY – New research headed by Sherry Sandhu claims to improve the lives of substance abusing Punjabi men. Sandhu will enhance her clinical research skills through a new internship program.

“Our research focuses on improving the lives of Panjabi men who use substances and their family members by creating interventions using a community and patient-centred approach,” says Sandhu, a research assistant with Roshni Clinic. “The skills I will gain through the internship will help us get ready for the next phase in which we will test our interventions, understand their outcomes and determine clinical relevance.”

Sherry has been awarded funding to participate in the Canadian Consortium of Clinical Trial Training (CANTRAIN) and Michael Smith Health Research BC Internship/Practicum for Clinical Research Professionals program.

The CANTRAIN clinical research internship program, in partnership with Michael Smith Health Research BC, offers a unique blend of online training, engaged learning opportunities and mentorship. It will provide Sherry with invaluable skills and experience in clinical research. She will complete her internship at the B.C. Centre on Substance Use and Changemark Research + Evaluation.

“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to develop my clinical research skills,” says Sherry. “My entire team and I are excited as this opportunity will provide us with new learnings and innovations for our research.”

Sherry is currently supporting a research program called Rahi, which means ‘a companion along a path’ in Panjabi and Hindi. Rahi is co-led and co-created by Dr. Nitasha Puri and team at Roshni Clinic in collaboration with people who have lived and living experience using substances and their families. Together, they aim to develop and test the feasibility of culturally relevant interventions to treat substance use disorder among Panjabi men in the Lower Mainland.

As the team prepares for the next phase of testing the intervention, Sherry is using this unique opportunity to gain clinical research skills that she can share with her team as they test their community-led interventions. The research will be crucial in changing the landscape of culturally tailored health care for South Asians across B.C.

“I’ve always been passionate about research and its power. Research is a cornerstone of health care, and we need to understand the needs and the barriers a community may face to support them,” says Sherry.

“Growing up in the Panjabi community, I’ve seen these challenges firsthand and always wanted to help build a stronger community. I’m grateful to contribute to this important work at Fraser Health.”