Arthritis Research Canada Scientist to lead Knowledge Translation Cluster as part of $80 million Investment in Patient-Oriented Research in BC

VANCOUVER, Dec. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jane Philpott, Canada's Minister of Health, and Terry Lake, BC's Minister of Health, announced $80 million in funding and in-kind contributions over five years towards the British Columbia Support Unit for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (the BC SUPPORT Unit). The BC SUPPORT Unit (the Unit) is a multi-partner organization created to support, streamline and increase patient-oriented research throughout BC.

Arthritis Research Canada's Dr. Linda Li, Senior Research Scientist and Professor at University of British Columbia, will lead the Knowledge Translation Methods Cluster with the specific mandate to develop and test new Knowledge Translation and Implementation Science methods.

"This project encourages patients to inform researchers about their experiences with their diseases and what treatments work best for them," said former senator Pat Carney, an arthritis research advocate. "This funding recognizes the importance of patient input."

The BC SUPPORT Unit has two main roles: providing services to researchers, patients, health care providers and health system decision makers, and facilitating initiatives identified as provincial priorities.

The Unit is also creating methods clusters (methodological communities of practice), and helping fund, plan and facilitate access to a multi-partner provincial data platform that will be separate but integral to the Unit much used by Arthritis Research Canada scientists and others.

About ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CANADA:

Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) was created in 2000 in recognition of the tremendous potential that research can bring to arthritis treatment in Canada and, indeed, the world. Building a strong multi-disciplinary research team of outstanding medical doctors and research scientists, ARC has facilities in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec dedicated to understanding, advancing and sharing knowledge about the causes of arthritis, and addressing issues that are impacting people with arthritis right now.

SOURCE Arthritis Research Canada

For more information or to arrange an interview with Dr. Linda Li, please contact: Kevin Allen, Marketing and Communications, Arthritis Research Canada (ARC), 604-789-6602 or [email protected]