Grant: SPOR SUPPORT Unit Extension

The George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI) is a collaborative organization housed within the University of Manitoba and serving as Manitoba's central hub of patient-oriented research. With strong ties to both the provincial health ministry (Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care), and the provincial health authority, Shared Health, its organizational mission is to "connect people, systems and science to improve health outcomes for Manitobans." CHI has updated its goals for 2025-2028, based on past progress and changing provincial needs. It is expanding data services, including use of advanced statistics and tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning. It also supports clinical research through a new academic clinical research organization. In 2024-2025, Shared Health shifted the leadership of both its patient engagement and clinical project management portfolios to within CHI. This expanded health system role allows CHI to support planning and improve quality and safety in health care services, alongside its work in health research, contributing to Manitoba's learning health system. Together, this strengthens the integrated relationship between research evidence (what we know), and health care practice (what we do). CHI works closely with Indigenous partners, especially Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute for Health and Healing, to improve Indigenous health and ensure research and health system initiatives reflect community priorities. CHI continues to host training and events to support patient-oriented research and connect researchers, patients, and health professionals. Plans for the extension period include expanded tools for engaging patients and the public, annual events to build skills and partnerships across Manitoba and strengthening the relationship between health research and health systems engagement.