Grant: CIHR New Investigator

Chronic respiratory diseases, in particular asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are among the leading causes of death and disability, and contribute to our raising health care costs. Asthma is a major cause of patients missing school or work, and COPD is the number one reason for hospitalization in Canada. My goal is to improve patient care and reduce the burden of respiratory diseases by ensuring that decisions by policy makers and care providers are evidence-informed and result in the most efficient use of limited resources. To achieve this goal I propose a program of integrated research and knowledge translation activities. 1) I use Canada's high quality, population-based health databases to provide estimates of the costs of respiratory diseases and their trends, and use clinical research data to evaluate the impact of respiratory diseases on quality of life and work productivity. 2) I apply innovative analysis techniques to administrative data to generate evidence on the 'real world' adherence to, and effectiveness of, treatments. 3) I perform economic evaluations that combine the knowledge from these activities to estimate the costs and health consequences of interventions at the population level. This provides critical information for decision makers to identify and implement cost-effective solutions. 4) I implement effective knowledge translation through the early engagement of patients, policy makers, and clinical experts to ensure that my research is informed by their priorities and results in measurable improvements to care. I am embedded in a research environment that is considered a global leader in respiratory research, and I have developed an enduring network of collaborations with local, national, and international experts. By improving our ability to make evidence-informed decisions at multiple levels of care, my program will provide a lasting benefit to the health of Canadians and the efficiency of our health care system.