Grant: Operating Grant: CRISM Network Coordinating Centre

This proposal describes a national coordinating centre that will work to strengthen and expand CRISM activities in the areas of research, training and capacity building, and knowledge mobilization (KM). The coordinating centre will also better support the involvement of CRISM stakeholders and partners, including persons with lived or living experience (PWLLE) and Indigenous Peoples. With the additional resources available through this funding call, CRISM will be better able to identify national needs and opportunities around substance use research. Activities of the national coordinating centre will include four core platforms: 1) Knowledge mobilization to co-create various KM products and activities with stakeholders and partners; 2) Training and capacity building including providing cross node research placements and scholarships for trainees as well as mentorship of early career researchers and Indigenous scholars; 3) Trials and project support to standardize and accelerate planning, design and conduct of multisite studies, facilitate high-quality research environments for ethically approved and Good Clinical Practice compliant clinical trials and research studies, and facilitate Open Science data sharing and mobilization; and 4) Guideline development support to create a system processes and tools for the production of guidelines and best practice documents. A three level structure is proposed for the CRISM national coordinating centre- Node (Node Executive, Node Advisory Committees, Node Members), Network (National Executive, Support Platforms, Core Operations), and External (International Scientific Advisory, Indigenous Engagement Platform and CIHR). CRISM's existing nodes have made significant contributions to improving substance use interventions and supporting policy making and this opportunity to have national level coordination will serve to considerably increase its impact.