Overview

My research focuses on Type 2 Diabetes in youth from a health equity lens. Self-reported racial/ethnic discrimination in healthcare is known to be associated with poor diabetes outcomes and complications. I am currently working with community and provincial partners to understand the lens of access to pediatric Type 2 Diabetes care, including those at high risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. My research focuses on the impact of family and youth experience in health care, notably self-reported exposure to microaggressions, racial/ethnic discrimination and stigma on diabetes distress, and self-care behaviours.

I am also involved in supporting a number of clinical trials as a co-investigator with Dr. Jean-Pierre Chanoine and Dr. Shazhan Amed for the Division of Endocrinology. These include the (1) X-linked Hypophosphatemia Disease Monitoring Program (XLH-DMP), (2) Global Safety and Efficacy Registration Study of Crinecerfont in Pediatric Patients with Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAHtalyst Pediatric Study), (3) A multi-centre follow up study of the effect of in-utero exposure to metformin in 5-11 year old offspring of mothers in the MiTy Trial (MiTy Tykes), (4) Pfizer Registry of Outcomes in Growth hormone RESearch (PROGRES) to collect safety and efficacy data in children receiving somatrogon and daily growth hormone.

Other areas of interest include medical education, particularly transition to practice programs for graduating residents, and complex obesity, particularly understanding of clinical care models for management of Prader Willi syndrome.

Publications

Hypertension in diabetes
Pediatric Nephrology
DOI: 10.1007/s00467-023-06163-x
2023

Proteins and proteases of Prader–Willi syndrome: a comprehensive review and perspectives
Bioscience Reports
Basak, S. and Basak, A.
DOI: 10.1042/BSR20220610
2022

All Aboard Meal Train: Can Child-Friendly Menu Labeling Promote Healthier Choices in Hospitals?
Journal of Pediatrics
Basak, S. and Steinberg, A. and Campbell, A. and Dupuis, A. and Chen, S. and Dayan, A.B. and Dello, S. and Hamilton, J.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.08.073
2019

A Qualitative Description of the Development and Evaluation of Our Voice, a Health Promotion Magazine Created by Pediatric Patients for Hospitalized Pediatric Patients
Hospital Pediatrics
Paola D. Luca and Melissa Chan and Sanjukta Basak and Audrey O. Segal and Michelle Porepa and Marie Pinard and Hosanna Au and Catherine S. Birken
DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2012-0038
01/2013

Erratum: (Journal of Cell Biology (2005) 170: 6 (913-924))
Journal of Cell Biology
Ferraiuolo, M.A. and Basak, S. and Dostie, J. and Murray, E.L. and Schoenberg, D.R. and Sonenberg, N.
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200504039091905c
2005

A role for the eIF4E-binding protein 4E-T in P-body formation and mRNA decay
Journal of Cell Biology
Ferraiuolo, M.A. and Basak, S. and Dostie, J. and Murray, E.L. and Schoenberg, D.R. and Sonenberg, N.
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200504039
2005

Research

Weight stigma in youth with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
This project aims to evaluate prevalence of weight stigma in our pediatric diabetes population. We intend to identify any patient level factors associated with higher prevalence of weight stigma as well as determine if experienced weight stigma and internalized weight bias are associated with poorer outcomes in patients with diabetes.

Reducing wait times for initiating insulin pump therapy at the BC Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic
This is a quality improvement project aimed to improve the efficiency and patient education experience of the insulin pump program. The second aim of this project aims to improve medical education of insulin pump within the endocrinology fellowship.

Evaluation of the Insulin resistance/Type 2 Diabetes program at the BC Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic
In collaboration with the diabetes team, this project will evaluate this program’s effect on diabetes, BMI, metabolic syndrome, in psychological outcomes, and lifestyle changes. In addition to assessing program outcomes, this project will also look at family and provider level barriers, and facilitators towards participation.

Honours & Awards

2022 Lionel Weinstein Clerkship Teaching Award, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children

2016 Dr. John Bailey Resident Research Award, Canadian Pediatric Endocrine Group

2012 The Christopher Ondaatje Award for Excellence in Third Year Resident Clinical Teaching, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children

Research Group Members

Rachel Dunn, Research Coordinator
Justin Ma, Research Assistant
Supraja Rengan
Rebecca Yang