Provincial Research Centre Seeks to Strengthen Ontario’s Capacity in Patient-Oriented Research

The McMaster Collaborative for Health and Aging, one of 14 Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit (OSSU) research centres, has received funding to continue to strengthen capacity in patient-oriented research in aging until March 31, 2024.  

Formerly the MIRA Collaborative for Health and Aging, the McMaster Collaborative for Health and Aging is led by Dr. Maureen Markle-Reid. Dr. Rebecca Ganann, co-lead of McMaster University’s Aging, Community and Health Research Unit (ACHRU), will be acting lead for the Collaborative in 2022. 

Formed in 2019 to advance health system performance and older adult and caregivers’ health care experiences, the Collaborative’s areas of focus include the science of engagement, older adult-centred interventions, and data platforms.  

Funding is provided by the OSSU, which is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Province of Ontario and partner Ontario hospital foundations and institutes. With this funding, the Collaborative’s researchers, trainees, and older adult and caregiver partners can build on previous work to align their skills and knowledge to support and advance patient-oriented research with a focus on advancing health and optimizing aging. Other goals are to mobilize knowledge to improve health care systems and practices to ultimately improve the health and well-being of older Canadians, and to support patient-oriented research capacity building and partnerships. 

“The Collaborative brings an aging perspective to health services and policy research, provides researchers with methods and tools needed to conduct patient-oriented research, and fosters relationships between older adults, researchers, policy makers, and health care providers to address health care issues relevant to older Canadians,” says Maureen Markle-Reid, who is also Co-Scientific Director of ACHRU and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Research Chair in Person-Centred Interventions for Older Adults with Multimorbidity and their Caregivers. 

She adds by addressing the unique needs of older adults and their caregivers through resources, consultation supports, data access, and technical services, the Collaborative will position Ontario as a hub for patient-oriented research in aging. 

For information on consultations, and supports for patient-oriented research with a focus on aging in Ontario please contact Manager, Strategic Initiatives, Soo Chan Carusone chansy@mcmaster.ca.