Michael Taylor Wins Western’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition and Provincial People’s Choice Award

Exploring which populations in Canada between immigrants and aboriginals maintain higher diabetes rates, Michael Taylor's 3MT competition presentation titled: 'Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes: An Immigrant Story' was awarded first place at Western University's competition held on April 16.

3MT is a research communication competition where graduate students have three minutes or less to present their research and its impact to a panel of non-specialist judges and peers.

Michael, an Epidemiology & Biostatistics MSc student, captivated the audience with his personal reflections, rationale and potential impact of his research. He proposed that when comparing the two groups in Canada to see who maintains higher diabetes rates, Aboriginals would possess the higher rates (based on previous research). However, using the largest combined sample of the Canadian Community Health Survey ever to investigate this disease in these populations, Michael found that immigrants consistently had higher diabetes rates than any other Canadian subpopulation from 2001 to 2010. (Watch Michael's winning presentation from Western's 3MT competition below)

Michael's research has significant implications on a national level. "My hope is that my research will help convince provincial health ministries across the country to reallocate slashed public health funding back towards preventative and remedial care for low socioeconomic status Type 2 diabetics who can't afford their daily regimens. I've experienced this myself, and so has my family; that's why I was motivated to conduct research in this particular area" explained Michael.

As the winner of Western University's 3MT competition, Michael - and second place winner Caroline Strange - advanced to the Provincial 3MT finals April 18, hosted at Queen's University in Kingston, ON. The event featured presentations from the first and second place winners from 16 schools totaling 30 participants competing for four prizes: first, second and third place as well as the People's/Participant's Choice Award. Michael's presentation was awarded the People's/Participant's Choice Award.