The McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) has launched a new initiative aimed at supporting cardiovascular and diabetes care in New Brunswick with support from Shoppers Drug Mart.
The i4 Initiative will inform, innovate, improve and implement health-care solutions through research and development projects. The first implementation of the initiative will focus on cardiovascular and diabetes care from projects previously announced in July 2024 as part of an ongoing collaboration between the McKenna Institute and Shoppers Drug Mart.
"The i4 Initiative marks a vital leap forward in confronting New Brunswick's cardiovascular and diabetes crises," said Frank McKenna, founder of the McKenna Institute. "By partnering with Shoppers Drug Mart, we're not just advancing research. We're driving bold, innovative solutions that tackle systemic disparities head-on and deliver real, lasting change for our communities."
The first phase involves research led by Dr. Chris Folkins with support from Dr. Ted McDonald from the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT) at UNB. Using provincial health data, the project explores how the burden of cardiovascular and diabetes disease and associated health service utilization are distributed across New Brunswick according to geography and sociodemographic characteristics like age, sex, and household income. The results are intended to inform the development of novel initiatives, such as pharmacy-based interventions, targeted to help the communities and populations with the greatest needs.
"One of our goals is to shine a light on where inequities exist whether by geography, income, or demographics," said Dr. Chris Folkins, NB-IRDT's project lead. "With that understanding, we can help inform strategies that bring better care to those who may have unmet needs."
The i4's second phase builds on these insights with a Rapid Innovation Challenge led by UNB's Pond-Deshpande Centre launched in March 2025.
This challenge aims to identify innovative solutions through collaborations with systems leaders, people with lived experience, and community health care providers that address identified disparities in diabetes and cardiovascular care, with a focus on underserved and female populations. The challenge builds on insights from the previous phase, led by NB-IRDT.
"The Pond-Deshpande Centre is proud to contribute to the i4 Initiative, driving innovation and collaboration to tackle cardiovascular and diabetes care disparities in New Brunswick," said Vanessa Paesani, executive director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre at UNB. "Together, we are advancing solutions that prioritize underserved communities and promote a more equitable health-care system."
The third phase of the initiative takes the results of this challenge to help inform the themes for a call for proposals the McKenna Institute will be organizing later in 2025 with the goal of providing funding for research and innovation projects that will help address the diabetes and cardiovascular health-care gaps in the province.
The i4 Initiative is a model designed to be applied to addressing a wide range of health-care topics. The intention is to replicate the model to address other health-care areas that need support on an ongoing basis.
About the McKenna Institute
The McKenna Institute fuels economic growth and social progress by advancing the use of digital technologies in New Brunswick. The Institute collaborates to accelerate our talent pipeline, nurture ideas and enable all New Brunswick communities to thrive in a digital world.
About the Pond-Deshpande Centre
The Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC) is New Brunswick's social innovation partner of choice. Founded at the University of New Brunswick in 2012 with a visionary donation from entrepreneurs Gerry Pond and Gururaj & Jaishree Deshpande, PDC uses social innovation and social entrepreneurship as tools to address and help solve some of society's most pressing challenges. We develop inclusive workforces, invigorate civic innovation, and create more just economic systems.
About Shoppers Drug Mart® Inc.
Shoppers Drug Mart® Inc. is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart® (Pharmaprix® in Québec). With more than 1,350 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada.
In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities and Lifemark Health Group, Canada's leading provider of outpatient physiotherapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, mental health and other ancillary rehabilitation services. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.
