Pain BC is taking part in a new large Canadian network pioneering developments in patient-oriented health care for chronic pain research and care.
Pain BC is a key partner in the Chronic Pain Network, a national collaboration project which will see patients work with researchers, health care professionals, educators and government policy advisors to increase care access for chronic pain sufferers and speed up the translation of the most recent research to the reality of care.
Federal Minister of Health Dr. Jane Philpott announced $12.5 million in funding for the Chronic Pain Network today at a meeting in Hamilton, Ontario. The grant was one of five chronic disease networks announced under Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), which will be managed by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
“This new research network will be a game-change for chronic pain research in Canada and will have a positive impact on the lives of the 1 in 5 Canadians who lives with chronic pain,” says Maria Hudspith, Executive Director of Pain BC. “Our non-profit organization has partnered with researchers across Canada to secure this investment from CIHR, and we’ll continue to be involved, bringing patient voices into the process and ensuring the knowledge generated through this reaches frontline health care providers and patients. This network is the first of its kind in Canada and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
The Chronic Pain Network is led by Dr. Norm Buckley, professor and chair of anesthesia for McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and scientific director of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care.
“We know that in Canada, the cost of chronic pain has been measured as greater than that of cancer and heart disease combined,” said Buckley. “Although Canada is recognized as a world leader in pain research, the investment in pain research has been the lowest of any developed country. We will be changing that, for the benefit of Canadians.”
Patient-oriented research refers to investigation that engages patients as partners, puts a focus on patient-identified priorities and improves patient outcomes. This research, conducted by multidisciplinary teams in partnership with relevant participants, aims to apply the knowledge produced to improve healthcare systems and practices.
