Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit

The Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) is a pan-Canadian initiative established by the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) whose goal is to engage patients, caregivers, and families as partners in the research process. Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit (OSSU) represents Ontario as the provincial arm for the SPOR. OSSU supports patients and caregivers, researchers, health care providers, policy-makers, and other partners from 14 health research centers and 8 research initiatives in conducting patient-oriented research. OSSU provides expertise, infrastructure, and training resources for those conducting patient-centred research, and funds projects that highlight patient-centred research. OSSU also promotes knowledge transfer and the sharing of the latest research data. OSSU thus aims to improve health policy and clinical practice in the province.