Featured Research
About AbSPORU
The Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Support Unit (AbSPORU) is dedicated to improving the lives of all Albertans through patient-oriented research.
Their aim is to bridge the gap between research evidence and health decisions – in other words, to make sure health research has an impact for patients and the health system.
The AbSPORU services, programs, and opportunities are available to researchers, trainees, and clinicians, including
- access to health databases,
- assistance with study design and analysis,
- graduate studentships and health system impact fellowships,
- educational webinars, and
- resources to assist with knowledge translation, knowledge mobilization, and patient engagement for research projects.
AbSPORU is funded by CIHR, Alberta Innovates, and the University Hospital Foundation and receives in-kind support from the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, Lethbridge, and Athabasca, the Women and Children's Health Research Institute, the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Alberta Health Services, and Alberta Health.
— Finlay McAlister, Professor, DoM
In this talk, Drs. McAlister, Bakal, Buckreus, and Montesanti describe the Alberta Strategy for Patient Oriented Research Support Unit (AbSPORU) and explain how it fits into the CIHR Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) and the Health Data Research Network of Canada (HDRN-C).
MSc in Medicine with Specialization in Translational Medicine
The Department of Medicine's MSc in Medicine with Specialization in Translational Medicine began in 2013 and is open to graduate students and residents.
It consists of four courses (MED 602, 604, 606 and 608), in two semesters each year, and in a two-year cycle of one hour weekly sessions.
It offers educational credits enough for a MSc degree, attending three out of the four courses in three semesters, or a PhD degree attending all four courses (a supervisor and a thesis are of course required for both).
The program received the 2022 David Cook Award from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry for its novelty in teaching approaches.
Translational Research Implementation Fund
The Department of Medicine (DoM) Translational Research Implementation Fund is designed to support research to generate preliminary data or pilot data with the expectation that it would be used for future applications, particularly Tri-Agency (CIHR). These funds should not be used to supplement existing research-funded programs (but they could be used to supplement DoM start-up funds).
The types of research supported are typically projects eligible for CIHR funding and include:
- Translational research using animal models for human disease, tissues or cells from patients, etc.
- Clinical research
- Quality improvement
Maximum Value: $70,000
The DoM Translational Research Implementation Fund will operate for four years and be re-evaluated at that point. The fund will distribute $70,000 each year to successful applicants:
- up to one $30,000 award, and
- up to two $20,000 awards
Applicants can request up to $30,000; however, whether they receive $30,000 or $20,000 will depend on the ranking among the applicants based on the objective assessment formula (see below).
Competition Deadline
This competition takes place annually in late Spring/early Summer with a deadline in June, so that the applicants can coordinate their application with the University Hospital Foundation’s Medical Research Competition and/or the Kaye Competition grants (in other words, the applicants can have the same application for this project, as well as the other two to achieve cumulative funding, if needed). Success in this application does not require success in the other applications.
DoM Internal Review Process for CIHR Project Grant
The Department of Medicine (DoM) will conduct an internal peer review process for CIHR Project Grant competitions. These internal reviews will run parallel to the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (FoMD) Office of Research review process.