The Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) encompasses various components, including SUPPORT Units, Chronic Disease Networks, Access Open Minds, the Canadian Data Platform, the National Training Entity, the Primary Care Research Network, and the Evidence Alliance.

In early March 2024, representatives from these entities gathered in Ottawa for the first in-person meeting since February 2020. Michelle Leach, Scientific Director for YSPOR attended for the Yukon. They were accompanied by the Chairs of the SPOR Communities of Practice and Working Groups: Learning Health Systems, Patient Engagement (SPENCOP), Training and Capacity Development, Indigenous peoples, Communications, and Performance Monitoring.

Dr. Amy Lang and Jennifer Campbell represented CIHR at the meeting, which was facilitated by Jaymi Cormier of Cormier Inc. and chaired by Christina Weise (Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research) and Catharine Whiteside (Diabetes Action Canada).

The meeting aimed to:

  1. Identify common priorities among SPOR-funded entities crucial for SPOR’s success, to be presented to CIHR with recommendations. These suggestions will contribute to the SPOR refresh consultation managed by CIHR.
  2. Determine key enablers and collaboration pathways that create value for both SPOR-funded entities and the SPOR Program. This effort will facilitate sharing best practices among SPOR entities, reducing duplication of work, and maximizing the impact and value of the SPOR initiative.

The resulting meeting report will delineate common priorities and key enablers, while highlighting the reality northern SPOR units face. Equally significant, the meetings fostered the rebuilding of close working relationships across the SPOR community.

[L-R] Front Row (sitting): Tracy McQuire, Executive Director Diabetes Action Canada; Heather Harris, Executive Director Can-SOLVE CKD; Catherine Street, Director NL SPOR SUPPORT Unit; Marina Hamilton, Executive Director, Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Vasanthi Srinivasan, Executive Director, Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit; Maria Torrejon, SPOR Specialist, BC Support Unit; Monica Mamut, Unit Director, BC SUPPORT Unit; Christina Weise, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research. Middle row (standing): Sharon McCarry, Director of Lived Experience Program, CHILD-BRIGHT; Mylène Lévesque, Adjointe exécutive à la direction scientifique, Unité de soutien SSA Québec; Sharmila Sreetharan, Research Coordinator I, SPOR Evidence Alliance; Kelli Buckreus, Executive Director, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit; Sharon Skaling, Chair, Training and Capacity Development CoP, Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit; Catharine Whiteside, Director Strategic Partnerships, Diabetes Action Canada; Anni Rychtera, Co-chair SPENCoP, Patient Research Partner, MB; Carly Leggett, Executive Director, George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation; Anne Pleydon, Executive Director, Hotıì ts’eeda NWT SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Brandon Van Dam, Managing Director, Chronic Pain Network; Michelle Leach, Scientific Director, YSPOR SUPPORT Unit; John Riley, Assistant Director, Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit; John Lavis, Chair, Learning Health System Community of Practice, Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit. Back row (standing): Renee Greene, Chair, Communications CoP, Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research; Ingrid Neilson, Co-chair SPENCoP, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit; Annie Leblanc, Directrice, PASSERELLE; David Parker, Director of Operations, Health Data Research Network Canada; Jamie DeMore, Executive Director, Canadian Primary Care Research Network; Waqar Mughal, Chair, Performance Measurement and Impact Evaluation Working Group, BC SUPPORT Unit. Not Pictured: Jennifer Campbell, Deputy Director, Strategy for Patient Oriented Research, CIHR