Welcome to SPOR Update – an e-bulletin providing the latest news on Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)!

What is SPOR?

Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) is a national coalition of federal, provincial and territorial partners (patients and caregivers, researchers, health practitioners, policy makers, provincial/territorial health authorities, academic institutions, charities, pharmaceutical sector, etc.) dedicated to the integration of research into care.

Why is SPOR needed?

Canadian research excellence is recognized globally and the country ranks amongst the top in the world in terms of scientific impact of its health research. Yet, evidence shows that 50% of patients do not get treatments of proven effectiveness and up to 25% get care that is not needed or potentially harmful.

Incentives for health research are not focused on these problems – bringing research and decision-makers/patients together requires a change in culture and approach. The challenge is to develop and apply research that will ensure a more effective use of existing health resources and the introduction of more cost-effective diagnostic and treatment strategies, so as to curb costs while offering high quality care.

This integration of research into care is what SPOR has set out to achieve.

How is this different than traditional approaches to research?

SPOR involves researchers working collaboratively with the provinces and partners, and putting patients and health care professionals at the heart of the process. It involves leveraging resources to support transformational research. It is about more than discovering new diagnostic approaches and therapies. It is about evaluating the effectiveness of these approaches and sharing the results with health professionals across the country, to create change throughout Canada's health care system.

How will SPOR be delivered?

The strategy identifies a number of critical elements that will help achieve the vision for SPOR. These include:

• Networks;
• SUPPORT Units;
• Capacity building (training, mentoring and career development);
• Improving the environment for clinical research; and
• Patient/caregiver/public engagement.

In this first issue, learn more about the elements of SPOR:

SPOR Networks

SPOR Networks are a formal collaboration of patients, health professionals, decision makers, health researchers and their partners from across Canada. These patient-oriented research networks bridge the gap between research evidence and health care practice. To date, two targeted SPOR networks have been identified: the Network in Youth and Adolescent Mental Health; and the Community-Based Primary Health Care Network

SUPPORT Units

SUPPORT Units are state-of-the-art research service centres that provide and develop the necessary (and often highly-specialized) methodological expertise to those engaged in patient-oriented research. In addition, they facilitate decision-making within the health services setting and facilitate the implementation of best practices. Representatives from each jurisdiction are developing SUPPORT Unit business plans to present their priorities, governance, resourcing, and budget requirements.

Developing Capacity

There is a need to train and mentor health professionals and researchers, to build Canadian expertise in patient-oriented research. SPOR will improve Canada’s capacity to attract, train, and mentor these professionals and researchers, as well as to create sustainable career paths in patient-oriented research.

Improving our Competitiveness in Conducting Clinical Trials

SPOR will create a national public-private patient collaboration to establish a modernized Canadian clinical research infrastructure, engage patients, and attract financial support for patient-oriented clinical studies.

Patient Engagement

The involvement of patients is an integral part of SPOR. This includes involving patients in both the decision-making and the research processes.

National Steering Committee

The National Steering Committee oversees the development and implementation of an action plan for SPOR. Members include leaders from health research funders, universities, health care organizations, clinical research, health charities, industry, federal and provincial/territorial governments, and citizens.

SPOR News – TRAM Network (Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health)

After extensive consultations, the mental health network is taking shape. A strengthening workshop will be held June 26-28, involving invitees currently working on the network development process. This workshop will provide opportunities to explore potential synergies and partnerships among participants. It will also assist shortlisted applicants in strengthening their proposals, to ensure that the desired transformative change is successfully delivered.

Visit the Transformational Research in Adolescent Mental Health website.