Grant: SPOR SUPPORT Unit Extension

Health research helps make life better for people in Ontario. New studies and discoveries can improve health care and make it more affordable. The Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit (OSSU) believes that research works best when patients, families, and caregivers are part of the process. Research that involves patients as partners is patient-oriented research. Patient partners can work with researchers to help shape research to be more meaningful and meet everyday health needs. This includes patients and community members from all areas of Canada including First Nations' and Indigenous populations, immigrants, and people who do not speak English. OSSU started in 2014 and continues to be a leader in patient-oriented research. OSSU researchers work with other research teams across the province to help make their research more meaningful. OSSU also provides researchers and patients with training to help them work successfully on projects together. OSSU can also help researchers share their results with government policy makers and doctors. OSSU can arrange public and private meetings to share discoveries with those who can use the new knowledge. OSSU is asking for additional funding to continue this work for two more years. This funding will support research teams across Ontario to help other researchers and their patient partners do patient-oriented research.