Patients and their families have unique insights about themselves and what matters when they are receiving health care services. Through their lived experience, patients bring valuable perspectives to research into new and better ways of delivering care that will improve the health of all people in Canada.

“To provide Canadians with high-quality health care, we need research evidence to tell us what works. Patients, caregivers, and families help get at this evidence by adding their lived experience to the research process. Through this collaboration, we are strengthening the health care system and improving patient care for people in British Columbia.”

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Government of British Columbia on this patient-oriented research initiative. The BC SUPPORT Unit has created the foundation to not only facilitate meaningful engagement with patients throughout the province in research, they have also shown their tremendous value as a resource that can be rapidly mobilized to respond to health emergencies as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish the SUPPORT Unit team continued success as they embark on their next phase.”

Adam van Koeverden
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and the Minister of Sport

“Our work at CIHR has made patient-oriented research no longer just a concept in Canada. Patients and researchers are working together to produce measurable improvements in service delivery and health care practice across the country. Patient-oriented research wouldn’t be where it is today without the ongoing support and contributions from all SPOR-funded entities and their steadfast commitment to patient-oriented research in each of their jurisdictions.”

Dr. Michael J. Strong
President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

“In partnership with the federal government, we’re dedicated to growing and evolving the health research system and life sciences sector while valuing patients’ experiences. People across the province have and will continue to benefit from patient-oriented investments that advance high-quality health care.”

The Honourable Adrian Dix
Minister of Health, Government of British Columbia

“This is a great day for patient-oriented research. We’re proud to continue engaging patients and their caregivers across BC for their unique perspectives that will improve health research and care.”

Dr. Stirling Bryan
Chief Scientific Officer, Michael Smith Health Research BC

• SPOR is a pan-Canadian coalition of the federal government, provinces, territories, philanthropic organizations, academic institutions, and health charities with the goal of achieving better patient outcomes through patient-oriented research.

• SPOR is about moving scientific discoveries to the bedside and producing the information that decision-makers and health care providers need to improve care.

• SPOR SUPPORT Units are patient-oriented research centres in the provinces and territories that improve patient outcomes by enabling equitable access to data for health research, applying knowledge to improve health care practices, systems, and patient outcomes, providing training to conduct and use patient-oriented research, and engaging patients as active partners throughout the entire research process.

• SPOR SUPPORT Units develop tools and provide opportunities for researchers, policymakers, and patients to work together to foster a research culture and environment that addresses inequitable health outcomes and access to health care in Canada.

• There are also SPOR SUPPORT Units located in Alberta, Manitoba, the Maritimes, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. Discussions are underway to establish a SUPPORT Unit in Nunavut.

• The Government of Canada, through the CIHR, and the Government of British Columbia, are providing an investment of more than $32 million over five years to help the BC SPOR SUPPORT Unit continue its important work.

Associated links

• Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR)
• BC SUPPORT Unit
• SPOR SUPPORT Units

Marie-France Proulx
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.