On May 11 and 12, 2026, the iCARE Platform held a strategic planning meeting in Montreal (Canada)
The meeting objectives were to explore and identify priority research questions that could be answered using existing iCARE data, new modules for upcoming iCARE surveys, and an international research strategy for combatting mis/disinformation and building trust. View full agenda
iCARE Platform Executive Committee members in attendance
- Valeria Raparelli (Italy representative) – presenter
- Mariantonia Lemos (Colombia representative and Community Engagement Axis Co-Lead) – presenter
- Gerry Molloy (Ireland representative and Data Collection Axis Co-Lead) – presenter
- Keven Joyal-Desmarrais (Data Analysis & Modeling Axis Co-Lead) – presenter
- Nazeem Muhajarine (Community Engagement Axis Co-Lead)
- Vincent Gosselin Boucher (Knowledge Mobilization Axis Co-Lead)
- Samir Gupta (Knowledge Mobilization Axis Co-Lead)
- Jack Jedwab (Association for Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute) – presenter
- Paul Holley (Association for Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute)
iCARE Platform Collaborators in attendance
- Jeanine Guidry-Drost (Netherlands) – presenter
- Jet Sanders (Netherlands) – Keynote speaker
- Joanne Liu (Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab, Canada)
- Prativa Baral (Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab, Canada)
- Emily Vraga (USA) – Keynote speaker
- Jessica Malaty Rivera (USA) – Keynote speaker
iCARE Platform Team in attendance
- Maximilien Dialufuma (iCARE Platform Data Management Team) – presenter
- Mariam Atoui (iCARE Platform Data Management Team) – presenter
- Kirsten Packwood (iCARE Platform Coordinator)
- Guillaume Lacoste (Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre Administrative Director)
- Genevieve Szczepanik (Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre Research Coordinator)
iCARE Platform Students and Trainees
- Christina Bertachas, PhD(c) – Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre
- Patrick Boudreau, PhD – Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre
- Marianne Berthiaume, PhD(c) – Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre
- Frédérique Deslauriers, PhD(c) – Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre
Meeting Objectives
- Identify priority research questions answerable using existing iCARE data
- To help establish behavioural science as necessary and useful to public health initiatives and policy making
- To help answer questions from policy and decision makers
- To explore how the representativeness of samples can help elucidate sex differences, geographical differences, intentions compared with actual behaviours, etc.
- To develop training tools for professionals
- Identify modules for new surveys
- To assist in the development of a new survey for a December 2026 to January 2027 data collection period
- To potentially cover themes like trust, misinformation, and equity and policy impacts
- To perform general surveillance of attitudes and adherence relating to preventive behaviours, and applicable to broader health emergencies beyond infectious disease (e.g., climate change, war, migration, etc.)
- Identify an international research strategy for combating mis/disinformation and building trust
- By capturing data in new surveys, globally
- By consulting policy makers
- By addressing the population directly
- By sharing success stories of knowledge translation
