Research

11/2022-11/2024 Phelan, S., Aston, M., Egilson, S., Sheriko, J., Spencer, N., & McConnell, D. Promoting health and well-being of children experiencing disability through inclusion in child culture. Research Nova Scotia  New Health Investigator Grant $99,990

12/2022-12/2024 Stairs, J., Stirling-Cameron, E., Aston, M., Scott, H., Brown, C., Brooks, M. (2022). Exploring patient decision-making about contraceptive preference: A qualitative analysis of Syrian refugee women in Nova Scotia. IWK Research Grant $7,247.42

09/2021-09/2023 Keys, E., Olsson, K., Atomic, M., Stone, A., Atomic, D., Aston, M., Price, S., MacDonald, M. Understanding how parents build and mobilize personal support networks to obtain tangible social support. SSHRC partnership engagement $32,000

09/2021-09/2023 Aston M. (Co-PI), Price, S. (Co-PI), MacLeod, A. (Co-PI), Etowa, J. (Co-I), Joy, P. (co-I) Jack, S. (co-I), Marcellus, L. (co-I), Tomblin Murphy, G. (co-I), Sim, M. (co-I), Elliott Rose, A. (co-I), Iduye, D., (c-I) Benoit, B. (co-I) Ollivier, R. (co-I)). The virtual village: How do videoconferencing technologies influence experiences of postpartum education during a pandemic? ($150,440) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

09/2021-09/2023 Joy, P. & Aston, M. (Co-PI). Transformative Compassion: Understanding the Attitudes, Beliefs, Values, and Experiences of Compassion within LGBTQI2S Communities using Poststructural and Queer Methodologies. ($79,588) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

09/2021-09/2023 Joy, P., Aston, M., Ferlatte, O. (Co-I). "Puppy philms: Exploring body image within gay, bi, trans, and queer men who identify as pups using cellphilming". ($79,588) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Insight Development Grants

09/2021-09/2022 Joy, P., Aston, M, Ferlatte, O. (Co-I). Creating Awareness of Eating Disorders within LGBTQ Communities. ($49,797) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Individual Connection Grants

09/2020-09/2021 Price, S. (PI), Aston, M. (Co-PI) Etowa, J., Phillip, J., Benoit, B., Ollivier, R., Iduye, D., Tomblin Murphy, G., Sim, M.,  Rose Elliott, A., Marcellus, L., Jack, S. Understanding the impact of COVID 19 on new mothers/parents in the early postpartum period. Nursing Research and Development ($5,000).

06/2020-06/2021 Aston M. (PI), Price, S. (Co-PI),  Etowa, J. (Co-I), Jack, S. (CO-I), Marcellus, L. (Co-I),Tomblin Murphy, G. (Co-I),  Sim, M. (Co-I),  Rose Elliott, A. (Co-I), Goldberg, L. (Co-I) Iduye, D., Benoit, B. Ollivier, R. (Co-I)). To understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mothers/parents across Canada caring for a child 0-12 months. (unfunded)

06/2019-06/2021 Goldberg, L. (PI) Aston M. (co-I) What to expect when you aren’t expected: Queer women’s birthing experiences SSHRC Connections Grant ($50,000). Theatre production

04/2020-04/2022 MacIsaac, J. L., (co-investigators) Aston, M., Janus, M., Maich, K., Philpott, D., Leonard P., Montelpare, W., McCuaig, K., Rossiter, M., Penney, S., Bertrand, J., Ramos, M., Morris, S., Richard (2020) Grant Building Atlantic Canadian Connections for Early Childhood Development. SSHRC Connections ($50,000)

09/2019-09/2023 Aston, M. (Scientific Co-PI), Sweet, K. (Administrative Co-PI), Price, S. (co-PI), McGrath, P., Filliter, J., Sheriko, J., Walls, C. & Bye, A. (2018).  Snap Shot: Achieving Better Care Through a One Page Personal Health Profile. Translating Research into Care (TRIC) Heath Care Improvement Research Program. ($55,869)

04/2019-04/2021 Aston M. (PI), Price, S. (Co-PI),  Etowa, J. (Co-I), Tomblin Murphy, G. (Co-I),  Sim, M. (Co-I),  Rose Elliott, A. (Co-I), Goldberg, L. (Co-I) Lukeman, S. (Co-I), Ollivier, R. (Co-I) Kay, J. (Partner) Hart, C. (Partner).  Mommy Dialogues. Social Mapping. Nursing Research and Development ($5,000).

01/2017-01/2022 Dol, J., Campbell-Yeo, M. (co-PIs), Tomblin Murphy, G., Aston, M., McMillan, D. & Kohi, T. (2017-2018). Essential Coaching for Every Mother (ECEM): Evaluating a modified education training program for mothers of newborns in Tanzania. Laerdal Foundation, $30,000USD. [No cost extension until January 16, 2022].

04/2018-12/2020 Aston M. (PI), Price, S. (Co-PI), Etowa, J. (Co-I), Tomblin Murphy, G. (Co-I),  Sim, M. (Co-I),  Rose Elliott, A. (Co-I), Lukeman, S. (Co-I), Pickles, M. (Partner) Hart, C. (Partner).  Mommy Dialogues. Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation ($9,555).

11/2017 – 12/2020 (Co-PIs) Nyamtema A, LeBlanc J, Tomblin Murphy G, Mtey G (Co-Is) Keyambew , Abel Z, Bulemela J, O’Hearn S, Scott H, Aston, M., Campbell-Yeo M, McMillan D. Leadership and managerial capacity strengthening for quality pregnancy and newborn outcomes in Tanzania ($500,000)

06/2017 – 06 2020 Manjnemer, A., McGrath, P.J., Aston, M., Huguet, A., Lingley-Pottie, McLean, J., Monaghan, P., Sangster, M., Sweet, K., Wozney, L., & Thomson, D. 2016-2021.  CHILD-BRIGHT: Child Health Initiatives Limiting Disability- Brain Research Improving Growth and Health Trajectories, Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategy for Patient Oriented Research and IWK, $1,395,046

04/2018-04/2019 Jessie-Lee McIsaac (PI), (Co-Is) - Megan Aston, Sara Kirk, Isabel Smith, Linda Mann, Christine McLean, Joan Turner, Shelley Doucet, Melissa Rossiter. (Collaborators)-Sarah Melanson, Brenda Poon. Mobilizing connections to build early childhood partnerships in Nova Scotia. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Connections Grant. (Supporting organizations)-Mount Saint Vincent University, Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation, Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, Healthy Populations Institute (Dalhousie University), Human Early Learning Partnership (University of British Columbia), Nova Scotia Health Authority. SSHRC: $24,927 Total funds from other sources: $19,970

09/2017-09/2020 Hamilton-Hinch, B., Hughes, J. (Co-PIs) Aston, M., Chircop, A., Harkins, M. J., McIsaac, J., Rossiter, M. Optimizing school-based services for marginalized families. Inter-University Research Network $27,373

06/2017-06/2018 Goldberg, L. (PI) Aston M. (co-I) Valentina, A. (2017-2018). What to expect when you aren’t expected: Queer women’s birthing experiences Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Knowledge Sharing Support Award ($9,555). Theatre production

4/2017 – 4/2018 Curran J, (PI) Aston M, (co-investigator) Bishop A, Cassidy C, Chorney J, Moore J, Straus S, Breneol, S., Traynor R, Lawton J, Macdonald B, Mackay R, McGrath P Building a strategy to support parent partnership in patient-oriented research in the Maritimes Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Patient-Oriented Research Collaboration Grant Total Funding ($40,427)  

09/2017-09/2018 Aston, M. (Scientific Co-PI), Sweet, K. (Administrative Co-PI), Price, S., & Walls, C. (2017).  Achieving Better Care. Translating Research into Care (TRIC) Heath Care Improvement Research Program. ($3,000)

09/2016/2020 (extended) Aston, M., (PI) Mann, C. (Co-PI) Cashen, N. (co-I) McLeod, L. Achieving better bereavement care for perinatal loss.  TRIC Translating Research into Care ($2,983)

09/2016 Principal Investigator Aston M. Price, S., Walls, C. Mindful Matters: Understanding the hospital experiences of children with intellectual disabilities and their parents. Knowledge Translation. Nursing Research Fund School of Nursing Dalhousie University. $1,500.

05/2016-05/2017: Co-investigator Clarke, E., & Vine, J. (Co-PIs) Aston, M., Campbell-Yeo, M., Curran, J., Fitzpatrick, E., Latimer, M., LeDrew, M., Price, S., Ritchie, K., Sheffer, C., Walls, C., Prendergast, S. (Co-investigators) Title: Evidence Based Practice Fellowship NSHRF Knowledge Sharing and Support Award. $10,000

05/2016-08/2017: Co-investigator *Munroe E, *Hughes J, *McIsaac JLD, Aston M, Kirk SFL, Melanson S, Price S, Rossiter M, Taylor N, Turner J. (2015) Closing the Achievement Gap in the Early Years: Establishing a focused Professional Learning Community for Early Childhood Educators within the public school system. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Inter-University Research Network, Redressing the Achievement Gap. (* = principal applicants) ($40,000)

07/2015 – 07/2016: Co-Principal Aston, M., Price, S., Etowa, J., Tomblin Murphy, G., Sim, M., Rose Elliott, A., Young, L., Hart, C., Lukeman, S. & Wood, S. MUMs: Mapping and understanding mothers’ social networks. Canadian Institute of Health Research, Bridge      Funding ($100,000)

04/2015 – 04/2016: Co-principal Aston M., Price, S., Breau, L., Walls, C. & Cashen, C (2015). Challenging fear and stigma: Creating a better health care experience for children with Intellectual Disabilities. Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation Knowledge Sharing Support Award. ($9,948.80)

06/2015 – 06/2018: Co-investigator Kirk SFL, Heath S, McIsaac JL, Summers M, Turner J, Aston M, Hughes J, Kuhle S, Le Blanc J, Mann L, Price S, Rossiter M. Evaluation of Early Years Centres in Nova Scotia, Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation and the Province of Nova Scotia. $399,925)

01/2015 – 01-2016: Chircop, A. (PI), Aston, M., Price, S., Walsh, A., Vukic, A., MacDonald, J. Practice Education Partnerships (PEPINS). Nursing Research Fund School of Nursing Dalhousie University ($4,973).

06/2014 – 12/2015: Co-principal. Aston, M., Tomblin Murphy, G., Kohi, T., Mbekenga, C., Mselle, L., Leshabari, S., Tarimo, E.A.M., Price, S., White, M., Macdonald, D., O’Hearn, S., Neufeld, V., Ross, J. Innovation exchange: Strengthening evidence based maternal childcare in Nova Scotia and Tanzania. IDRC, Canada Africa Research Exchange Grant. ($80,000)

05/2013 – 05/2014: Co-investigator. Price, S., Kirk, S., Aston, M., Curran, J., Rehman, L. & Vallis, M. Behind the Scenes: Understanding Patients' and Practitioners' Interactions and Experiences with Obesity Management. Canadian Institute for Health Research, Dissemination Grant. ($24,164)

09/2012 – 09/2015: Co-principal. Goldberg, L., Aston, M., Simmonds, A., Burrow, S., & Guptill, E. Birthing Relationships and Rural Health Practices: The Experiences of Queer Women and Their Perinatal Care Providers. Canadian Institute for Health Research, Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation and Matching Funds (applications forthcoming for matching funds) ($226, 456)           

12/2010 – 12/2014: Principal Applicant. Aston, M., Etowa, J., Price, S., Vukic, A., Young, L., Kay, J., & Hart, C. Listening to the voices of mothers and public health nurses. Personal,         social, and institutional aspects of early home visits. Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. ($148,794)          

09/2010 – 02/2014: Principal Applicant. Aston, M., & Breau, L. Hospitalization from the perspectives of parents, nurses, and children with intellectual disabilities. CIHR. ($107,000)

09/2011 – 09/2014: Co-investigator. Sim, M., Kirk, S., Aston, M., & Price, S. An exploration of breastfeeding practice in obese, low-income, food insecure Nova Scotian mothers. Danone. ($91,000)

09/2011 – 09/2014: Co-Principal. Storey, S., Aston, M., Price, S., & Irving, L. Women’s Experience with Vaginal Pessary Use under the age of 65. Nurse Practitioner’s Association of Nova Scotia. ($5,000)

09/2008 – 09/2011: Co-investigator. Kirk, S., Aston, M., Price, S., Lyons, R., Vallis, M., Curran, J., Lehman, L. Obesity management: the invisibility of a visible epidemic. Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. ($149,925)

09/2011 – 09/2013: Co-investigator. Lang, A., Aston, M., Cadell, S., Fleiszer, A., Mawani, A. Evidence Informed Primary Bereavement Care: A Knowledge-To-Action Approach. CIHR. ($99,722)

09/2008 – 09/2011: Co-principal. Aston, M., Breen, G., Price, S., & Carson, G. The influence of religious beliefs and practices on women’s experience of high-risk pregnancy for women who come from diverse religious traditions. Dalhousie School of Nursing Research Fund. ($5,000)

09/2010 – 09/2011: Co-principal. Aston, M., & Duinker, E. Competent for Community Practice? Undergraduate Nursing Students Application of the Community Health Nurses of Canada Standards of Practice. Unfunded

09/2008 – 09/2009: Co-principal. Aston, M., MacConnell, G., Randall, P., & Zwaagstra, N. Nurses’ experience of bereavement follow up. IWK and CNF. ($6,000)

01/2008: Principal Investigator Aston, M., Vukic, A., Doucet, S. Sheppard-Lemoine, D. Family Nursing and Reflective Writing. Nursing Research Fund Dalhousie University. ($4,302.50)

09/2007 – 09/2009: Co-principal. Saulnier, C., Aston, M., & Calliste, A. Beyond Patient Satisfaction to Assessing Health System Responsiveness: An innovative approach that captures women’s maternity care experiences. Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation (NSHRF), Development Grant. ($10,000)

09/2006 – 09/2008: Co-investigator. Storey, S., Aston, M., Price, S., & Irving, L. Women’s Experiences with Vaginal Pessary Use. IWK Health Centre and Canadian Nurses Foundation. ($6,000)

01/2006 – 01/2008: Co-investigator Lang, A., Duhamel, F., Gilbert, K., Sword, W., Aston, M., Peterson, W., Goodwin, S., Leiterman, J., & Edwards, N. Tailoring RNAO Best Practice Guidelines to a Bereavement Context. Canadian Nurses Foundation/RNAO ($60,000)

09/2005 – 09/2008: Co-investigator. Yanchar, N., Snowdon, A., Bruce, B., Aston, M., LeBlanc Cormier, G., MacDonald, R., Pettit, S., Mundle, K. Effectiveness of Education on Knowledge and the Use of Child Car Seat Safety Among Nova Scotia Families. Networks of Centers of Excellence, Auto 21 Network. ($16,300)

09/2002-09/2004: Co-Principal Investigator Meagher-Stewart, D., Aston, M., Edwards, N. & Young, L Fostering Citizen Participation and Collaborative Practice: Tapping the Wisdom and Voices of Public Health Nurses in NS. NSHRF ($100,000)

09/2002: Principal investigator Aston, M., Meagher-Stewart, D., Sheppard-LeMoine, D., Vukic, A. & Chircop, A. Family Health Nursing and Empowering Relations. Nursing Research Fund ($5,000)