Canadian Health Research
Patients and caregivers are actively partnering in health research globally – and Canada is no exception.
Patients and caregivers are actively partnering in health research globally – and Canada is no exception.
As partners, patients and caregivers are helping to set research priorities to evaluate research and to partner on research teams. Researchers are starting to value the perspective of patients and caregivers as an essential piece of the research puzzle.
Federally, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) launched its Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) initiative in 2011. More about SPOR
SPOR Networks
Currently there are several pan-Canadian SPOR Networks focused on a condition and/or population. Learn more about each network here.
SPOR SUPPORT Units
There are SPOR SUPPORT Units in most provinces/territories that work within their jurisdictions to promote the inclusion of patients and caregivers as partners in research. Many of these Units support groups of patients and caregivers active as partners on research teams with training and networking. Complete List of SPOR Support Units
The Patient and Community Engagement Research or PaCER program is offered through the University of Calgary’s Continuing Education, the Certificate in Patient and Community Engagement Research is a non-credit three-course program that teaches 160 hours of patient-engagement research content over 12 months.
Other National Organizations
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides essential information on Canada’s health systems and the health of Canadians.
Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) is a pan-Canadian organization that focuses on improving healthcare with – and for – everyone within the country. Launched in spring 2021, Healthcare Excellence Canada brings together the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement.Â
International Organizations
In the English-speaking world, there are some key international organizations that promote patient and caregiver involvement in health research.