Grant: SPOR SUPPORT Unit Extension

The Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit (AbSPORU) is a collaborative initiative that bridges the gap between scientific discovery, healthcare practice, and system impact. Since 2015, AbSPORU has helped transform Alberta's research landscape by advancing patient-oriented research (POR) and fostering a Learning Health System (LHS) that prioritizes care quality, patient and provider experience, system efficiency, and health equity. AbSPORU engages people with lived and living experience, researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to co-design and implement research aligned with system priorities. AbSPORU has achieved significant milestones: reducing data access timelines from over 180 weeks to 6-7 weeks for over 3300 requests so far; providing more than 800 training opportunities to over 23,000 participants; advancing the science and practice of patient engagement; and catalyzing Alberta's LHS through integrated research and implementation support. These accomplishments, in alignment with national objectives, have helped position Alberta as a hub for research excellence, attracting top talent and driving meaningful system improvements. During 2026-2028, AbSPORU will continue its four core components: Data and Research Services facilitating access to administrative health data, expertise in research design and advanced analytics; Capacity Development building POR skills through training and eLearning initiatives; LHS integrating evidence into practice and supporting implementation for quality improvement; and Patient Engagement ensuring meaningful involvement of patients and communities in research. AbSPORU's governance structure prioritizes patient and partner voices, while its collaborations advance long-term POR sustainability. By leveraging its strengths and addressing emerging opportunities, AbSPORU will continue to drive improvements in health care and outcomes, patient and provider experience, and system performance, while fostering health equity.