Grant: SPOR SUPPORT Unit Extension

The BC SUPPORT Unit is British Columbia's centre for health research that works closely with patients and community partners. Started in 2016 and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the BC government and BC's health research sector, it brings researchers, health providers, patients and health system leaders together so that research is focused on patient priorities. In its first five years, the Unit built a province wide system. It helped create the Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC), an online data resource that gives researchers rapid access to extensive health data. It also launched the yearly Putting Patients First conference and formed specialist groups that built tools for involving patients, sharing results, using data science and measuring what outcomes that matter to patients. From 2021 to 2026 the Unit expanded these successes. HDPBC was launched and holds 32 datasets, supports over 50 projects, and can approve data requests in three days or less. It added clinical data from hospitals, and co-created REACH BC, an online site that matches volunteers with research studies. Strong partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities were also built, and focus was given to hearing from diverse patient voices. The Unit now seeks extra funding to continue and extend its work. The extension will (a) bring in new data and make the data platform easier to use, (b) grow learning health system programs such as the signature work on strengthening home and community care for seniors, (c) expand patient partner recruitment through REACH BC, (d) improve training on both equity, diversity and inclusion, and sex and gender analyses, and € continue supporting Indigenous health research collaborations. Securing this extension delivers a provincial system that accelerates the use of evidence to improve care, ensures that patient leadership is fully integrated across health research, and leaves a legacy of better outcomes for British Columbians.