Arthritis Society Canada supports patient engagement amongst researchers and consumers throughout the research continuum. Consumer engagement in health research can be defined as consumer participation in any stage of the research continuum, beyond the role of study participants. The level of advisory and/or decision-making responsibilities may vary in any stage of the research process, however, participation must be meaningful and actively collaborative. The term “consumer” or “patient” is an overarching term that includes individuals who have personal experiences with arthritis or their caregivers, which may include family or friends.

Consumer engagement support – for consumers:

The following resources have been created to help support consumers as they navigate the research continuum.

Arthritis Society Canada recommends that all consumers review the Consumer Engagement Resource for Consumers [PDF 117kB] prior to getting involved in any research project. Additional resources have been created to provide an introduction to research, grants, and the peer review process. Please view these additional resources here:

Consumer engagement support – for researchers:

Arthritis Society Canada recommends that all researchers review the Consumer Engagement Resource for Researchers [PDF 319KB] prior to engaging with consumers.

Study recruitment: We support recruitment of people living with arthritis by posting study details on our website. It is important to note that Arthritis Society Canada does not recruit volunteers directly for clinical trials. To submit your study, download the Patient Study Checklist [PDF 162KB] and submit to [email protected]. Please note that we will not post studies that do not meet the criteria set out in our checklist.

Consumer collaborator recruitment opportunities: We support consumer recruitment to research study teams by posting details on our website. Please view the new consumer collaborator opportunities section on our Study Recruitment webpage to view current opportunities. To submit a consumer engagement opportunity (e.g., consumer collaborator or partner for a grant proposal), download the Consumer Collaborator Checklist [PDF 638KB] and submit to [email protected]. Please note that we will not post opportunities that do not meet the criteria set out in our checklist.

Study dissemination: Arthritis Society Canada is happy to support Arthritis Society Canada-funded researchers to disseminate their research outcomes (email [email protected] with publication updates).

To receive updates on Arthritis Society Canada competitions, award announcements, volunteer opportunities, and research-related events, please fill out this Form to be added to the research mailing list.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies involving volunteer participants to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of health interventions. The interventions may be new treatments including drugs, behavioural therapies or alternative or new methods of diagnosis. A clinical trial is designed in phases:

  1. Phase I. The trial involves a small group (20-100) of healthy individuals to evaluate the safety of the intervention (e.g. to determine safe dose range and side effects);
  2. Phase II. The trial involves a group (100-300) of patients to test for efficacy (e.g. therapeutic dosage) and safety;
  3. Phase III. The trial involves a larger group of patients (1000-2000) to confirm effectiveness, to monitor side effects, and to compare the new treatment to commonly used treatments;
  4. Phase IV. Phase IV is sometimes referred to as Post-market Surveillance. The trial is conducted after the treatment is being used to monitor for long-term effects.

For those interested in learning more about clinical trials or volunteering for a clinical trial, a few resources are listed below.

NEW!

Clinical Trials Quebec

  • Clinical Trials Quebec, powered by CATALIS Quebec, offers a Personalized Clinical Trials Support Service. It is a bilingual, free and user-friendly research service designed to help Quebecers find clinical trials that meet their needs.
  • Clinical Trials Quebec – Personalized Clinical Trial Support Service

Cell Therapy Research in Ontario – Participants Needed!

Study Title: Investigating the effect of bone marrow aspirate vs. saline injection on osteoarthritis (OA)

Research Host Institution: University Health Network

Study Aims: This study aims to help researchers understand how different injections may help people with knee pain. Participants will be randomly assigned (50% chance) to receive treatment (bone marrow aspirate) injection or a water injection into their affected knee.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Mild-moderate knee OA
  • 30+ years old
  • BMI < 30 kg/m2
  • ​Chronic knee pain

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recent knee injections
  • Knee surgery candidate
  • History of inflammatory autoimmune disease or cancers
  • Ligamentous tear (ACL, MCL, PCL)

Participation Requirements: 

  • 2 on-site visits (baseline & 6-month follow-up)
  • 4 Online survey’s
  • Maintain pain diary
  • Sample collection (baseline & 6-month)
    • Blood
    • Urine
    • Knee Fluid

Interested? Contact the research team!
Toronto Western Hospital Fracture Clinic: Dr. Kim
Email: [email protected]
For more information, please call the ortho research study team at UHN +1 (877) 818-7340
You can also check out this study on clinicaltrials.gov.

NEW: Recruitment Poster

Research Grant Reviewers

Panel Membership:

Arthritis Society Canada composes review panels for our research grant and award competitions. Panel membership includes both scientific and consumer reviewers. Arthritis Society Canada’s review panels follow a rigorous peer-review process to assess research proposals. For more information on current research grants and awards competitions, please view our Research Programs & Awards webpage.

Consumer Reviewers:

Arthritis Society Canada strongly values the voice of consumers in research and includes consumer reviewers on its research peer-review panels. The consumer reviewer’s role is to assess the feasibility, relevance, and potential impact of the research as well as the quality of the lay sections (i.e., sections written for non-scientific audiences). Detailed scientific knowledge is not required as consumers are not required or expected to review the scientific methodology or approaches.

If you are a person living with arthritis or supporting someone with arthritis and would like to volunteer to serve on a peer review panel, please reach out to [email protected]. Please note that submission of a form does not guarantee participation on a panel.

Scientific Reviewers

Scientific reviewers are recruited for various roles on Arthritis Society Canada’s research review panels (i.e., chair, member and scientific officer). Composition on a panel will depend on the expertise needed for the applications under review. If you would like to volunteer to serve on a peer review panel, please email the below information to [email protected]. Please note that submission of a form does not guarantee participation on a panel.

  • Personal Information: Name, email address, primary affiliated institution, primary title, province
  • Area of Expertise: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Avascular Necrosis, Degenerative Disc Disease / Chronic Back Injury, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Felty’s Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Infectious Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), Lyme Disease, Myositis / Polymyositis, Osteoarthritis, Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis, Paget’s Disease, Psoriatic Arthritis, Pseudogout (CPPD), Raynaud’s Phenomenon, Reactive Arthritis, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (Complex Regional Pain Disorder), Repetitive Stress Injuries (Carpal Tunnel, Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow, DeQuervain’s, Tendosynovitis, Bursitis, Tendonitis, etc.), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Scoliosis, Seronegative Arthritis, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis, Still’s Disease, TMJ Disorders, Vasculitis (Giant Cell, Bechet’s, PMR, Wegener’s Granulomatosis, etc.), Other
  • Role(s) of Interest:
    • Peer Reviewer: Recruited for various Arthritis Society Canada research review panels. Scientific peer reviewers, along with consumer peer reviewers, assess award/grant applications for each award/grant cycle. Composition on a panel will depend on the expertise needed for the applications under review.
    • Subject Matter Expert (SME): Provides a professional review of content for our website, resources, or educational materials. A SME may be contacted to provide input on a resource in development, to review a newly developed resource for accuracy, or to help update existing materials. This role may be assumed by someone with significant professional experience and expertise relevant to the content to be developed/reviewed.
  • Additional Areas of Interest:
    • Reviewing or develop health information for Society consumers
    • Participating in Arthritis Society Canada symposia or patient engagement workshops
    • Participating in government advocacy activities
    • Participating in training programs – either for patients or for students and researchers
    • Participating in activities to educate the public about scientific research projects
    • Other

To receive updates on Arthritis Society Canada competitions, award announcements, volunteer opportunities, and research-related events, please fill out this Form to be added to the research mailing list.

Study Recruitment

Through studies such as these, arthritis will be better understood and new and improved approaches to management will be identified and implemented. We hope to:

  • link you with Canadian researchers who are using the Internet, telephone or mail to conduct national arthritis research;
  • provide you with opportunities to participate in research studies in your geographic region, if available
  • provide an opportunity for people with arthritis from across Canada to be able to participate in arthritis research from the comfort of their homes.

Please note: The research studies listed on this site have received ethics committee approval. The opportunities posted here do not include clinical trials.

How can I submit my study?

Download the Patient Study Checklist [PDF 162KB] and submit it to [email protected] / 1.800. 321.1433. Please note that we will not post opportunities that do not meet the criteria set out in our policy.

Current Studies

Project Title:
Understanding Changes to Muscle Health in People with Knee Osteoarthritis

Research Team:
Dr. Cameron Mitchell (Principal Investigator), Dr. Jackie Whittaker (co-investigator), and Allyson Schweitzer (co-investigator)

Research Host Institution:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus

Background & Purpose:
Previous research has shown that the muscles of people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) look different to those without knee OA and might respond differently to exercise. The purpose of this study is to understand why these differences exist.

Eligibility Criteria:
You may be eligible to participate if you:

  • Are recreationally active
  • Have a diagnosis of knee OA, and
  • Are older than 30 years of age

More detailed eligibility criteria will be provided upon contact with the researchers.

Participation Details:
The study will involve:

  • 1 telephone visit & 3 lab visits – total time commitment = 5 hours
  • Maximal fitness testing
  • 1 bout of resistance exercise
  • 2 muscle biopsies

Participants must be willing to travel to UBC’s Vancouver campus three times. The first visit takes two hours and participants will receive their body composition, bone mineral density, and fitness scores from this visit. The second visit takes one hour, and participants will have a muscle biopsy taken and complete a session of lower body weightlifting. The final visit takes 30 minutes and consists of a muscle biopsy. The muscle biopsy is taken from the thigh muscle, about six inches above the knee and is a very low risk procedure. The amount of tissue that is removed is about the size of a small pea.

Participants will be compensated for their time.

Risks & Confidentiality:
Each participant will be assigned a unique code to de-identify them from their data.

Recruitment Start Date: April 1, 2025
Recruitment End Date: June 30, 2026

Contact Details:
For more information, please contact Allyson Schweitzer at: [email protected]

Principal Investigator: 
Dr. Claire Barber

Research Host Institution: 
University of Calgary

Background: 
Researchers at the University of Calgary are inviting adults under rheumatology care to take part in a study about how we can better understand and respond to what patients experience. We’re exploring the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) – tools that collect information directly from patients about symptoms like pain, fatigue, sleep, mental health, and physical function, along with social factors like income, housing, and transportation. These are all important parts of your health, and we’re working to understand how they might be better incorporated into care in the future.

Purpose: 
If you choose to take part, you’ll be asked to share your thoughts in a one-hour interview (online or by phone) about collecting this kind of information in rheumatology care.

Eligibility Criteria:
Individuals are eligible to participate if they are 18 years or older under rheumatology care and have access to a device with internet or a telephone.

Participation Details:
Participants will be asked to share their thoughts about collecting PROMs in a 1-hour interview (online or by phone), which will take 1 hour.

Risks & Confidentiality: 
There are no known risks to participating in this study. The survey is hosted on Qualtrics, a Canadian survey platform. The consent form hosted on Qualtrics and the following survey responses are encrypted and stored on secure servers in Canada. Interviews will be done using the University of Calgary’s licensed version of Zoom as it is more secure.

Geographic Location: 
Alberta 

Recruitment start date: September 2, 2025
Recruitment end date: May 29, 2026

Contact Details: 
For more information, please contact the research team at [email protected].

This study has been approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (REB24-1902).

Principal Investigator: Professor Marius Henriksen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
Institution conducting the research: Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

Collaborators: 

  • Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark (Drs. Tanja Schjødt Jørgensen, Cecilie Bartholdy, Thomas Bandholm and Mathias Ried-Larsen)
  • University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (Drs. Lauren King and Esther Waugh)
  • University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia (Prof. Kim Bennell)
  • Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Drs. Jos Runhaar and Dieuwke Schiphof)

What is the study about? 

Exercise and physical activity is important for a healthy life. However, many people with painful knee osteoarthritis have difficulties doing exercise and being physically active due to limitations caused by knee pain and other symptoms. But not all types of physical exercise limit all people, and many people ask for inspiration for ways of doing exercise despite having a painful knee.

This study aims to generate a catalogue of exercise types that are “knee-friendly” based on inputs from a large number of people with knee osteoarthritis from across the world. The catalogue will serve as an inspiration for people with knee osteoarthritis who can find activities that people with similar traits have rated as knee friendly.

This study is part of an international collaboration with surveys collected in Australia, Canada, Denmark and Holland. The research collaboration involves researchers from University of Melbourne, University of Toronto, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam and Copenhagen University Hospital. The research is funded by the Danish health insurance company Sygeforsikringen “danmark”.

Who can participate? 

People with painful knee osteoarthritis who are interested in sharing their experiences and/or thoughts about doing physical exercises in a “knee-friendly” way.

How do I know if I have knee osteoarthritis? 
If you have knee pain and your doctor has told you that you have osteoarthritis of the knee.

If you do not have a diagnosis from your doctor, you can participate if you

  • Are 45 years or older, and
  • Have knee pain with activity (e.g. walking, standing, exercising), and
  • Have either no morning knee joint stiffness or morning knee joint stiffness that lasts no longer than 30 minutes

What will I have to do? 

This study consists of 3 phases

PHASE 1: 

Initially you will be asked to complete a questionnaire regarding eligibility.

Then, the survey will ask you to share your experiences and/or thoughts about physical exercises that you can imagine are feasible to engage in without provoking your knee symptoms to an unacceptable level. By unacceptable level, we mean that the exercise would cause symptoms that are severe and/or last for more than 24 hours.

Please be aware that it can be OK to do physical exercise with some knee pain, but the knee pain should be no more than mild-to-moderate. It is well established that exercise will reduce knee pain over time. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes.

PHASE 2: 

The experiences and thoughts generated by all the participants will collected in a list of exercises. This list will be reviewed by experts in osteoarthritis and exercise physiology and each proposed exercise will be labelled with a frequency, intensity and duration to meet the requirements for increasing health.

PHASE 3: 

The list will then be returned to the participants (you) who now will rate the exercises for “knee friendliness” based on the additional information from the experts. To be part of this phase, we need your email address, which you can provide in phase 1.

There is no in-person contact during this study. Consent, questionnaires, and list generation/review are completed online and via email contact. There are no known risks to participating in this study.

What are the benefits to participating? 

By participating you may get inspired by other participants to try new exercise types that you may find fun and beneficial for your health. Your participation will also provide wider benefits to the community by providing important information on how people like you can exercise despite having painful knee osteoarthritis and thereby maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Confidentiality: 

If you chose not to provide us with our email address in phase 1, you will remain 100 per cent anonymous, but cannot partake in Phase 3.

Only information necessary to meet the scientific goals of this study will be collected. To ensure the security and confidentiality of electronic data, data collected online will be stored on a secure server located at the Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. For security issues, information that is transmitted will be sent securely via encrypted HTTPS connection, preventing interception by a third party.

Contact: 

You can contact the research group by sending us an email: exercise-catalogue.bispebjerg-frederiksberg-hospitaler@regionh.dk

Project Title: 
Pregnancy and People with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions

Lead Researchers: 
Dr. Hilary Brown (University of Toronto Scarborough), Dr. Joel Ray, (Unity Health Toronto), and Dr. Simone Vigod (Women’s College Hospital)

Research Team Members: 
Dr. Karen Campbell (York University), Dr. Eyal Cohen (The Hospital for Sick Children), Dr. Liz Darling (McMaster University), Dr. Cindy-Lee Dennis(University of Toronto), Dr. Sonia Grandi (The Hospital for Sick Children), Dr. Laura Rosella (University of Toronto), Dr. Catherine Varner (Mount Sinai Hospital), Dr. Jannah Wigle (University of Toronto Scarborough), and Dr. Walter Wodchis (University of Toronto).

Research Host Institution:
University of Toronto Scarborough

Background & Purpose:
In the general population, people with multiple chronic conditions are a high-risk group. They have greater acute care use and higher premature mortality than those with only one chronic condition. They often experience fragmented and uncoordinated health care. There is virtually no research or clinical guidance on the perinatal care of people with multiple chronic health conditions, with available evidence examining pregnant people with single, rather than co-occurring chronic conditions.

The Pregnancy and People with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions Study aims to create new knowledge about perinatal outcomes and care provision in individuals with multiple chronic physical and/or mental health conditions. We want to know about your pregnancy care experiences, including your care just before pregnancy, and during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period.

Eligibility Criteria: 

You can participate in this study if you:

  • Are 18 years or older;
  • Have multiple chronic physical and/or mental health conditions; and
  • Have had a pregnancy in the last 5 years.

Participation Details: 
If you agree to take part in the study, you will complete an interview. You can do the interview over secure video chat (Zoom) or telephone with a researcher who has experience in chronic illness and pregnancy. The interview will take about 60 minutes.

The interview will include questions about:

  • The types of care you received before pregnancy, and during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period;
  • What you liked and disliked about these care experiences;
  • What you think could have made them better; and
  • What you think should change about pregnancy care for people who have multiple physical and/or mental health conditions.

The interview will be audio-recorded so that we don’t lose the details of our conversation. You will get a $50 electronic gift card to thank you for your time.

Risks & Confidentiality:
Some of the questions might make you feel upset or uncomfortable. If you become upset or uncomfortable while completing the interview, you can take a break. You do not have to answer any questions that you do not want to, and you can stop the interview at any time. The researcher will give you information on supports that may help you in case you feel upset or uncomfortable.It is possible that some of the things you share could have legal risks. Sharing what the researcher believes to be an immediate risk to your safety or others, including a child, could have legal risks.

Your information will be kept as private as possible. If you agree to take part in the study, the researcher will ask for your name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number. This information will only be used to reach you about this study. You will be given a code number so that your name will stay private and will not be stored on any of your paper or computer study forms. All paper forms will be kept in a locked filing cabinet in a locked office, and all computer forms will have a password. Your name will not be used with anything you said in the interview. The information that you share will be destroyed after 10 years.

Recruitment Start Date: March 1, 2025
Recruitment End Date: May 31, 2026

Contact Details: 
If you have any questions, you can contact the Study Lead, Dr. Jannah Wigle, at [email protected] or (647) 691-4122

For more information, check out the study recruitment flyer: Recruitment Flyer

Principal investigators: Debbie Feldman, PhD, Université de Montréal, Sasha Bernatsky, MD PhD, Université McGill, Linda Woodhouse, PhD, University of Alberta

Project description and objectives: Our project, funded by the Canadian Initiative for Outcomes in Rheumatology Care (CIORA) of the Canadian Rheumatology Association focuses on the identification process by physiotherapists of newly affected patients with  inflammatory arthritis and the consequences of rapid referral of these patients to rheumatology care. The purpose of the focus groups is to explore how to facilitate appropriate referrals in rheumatology and optimize the care of a patient with inflammatory arthritis. The focus group will be composed of 4-8 patients and the main goal is to help optimize patient care in inflammatory arthritis.

If you are interested in further details about this research, please contact Tatiana Rodriguez, [email protected].

Read the Invitation

Project Title: 
Optimizing the Referral Pathway for Shoulder Pain using Stakeholder-Views and Perspectives to Co-Design an Evidence-Based, AI-Enhanced Triage Model

Principal Investigator: 
Dr. Joy MacDermid, PhD

Research Host Institution:
Western University

Background:
Shoulder pain affects one in three adults and is a leading cause of work absenteeism. Most cases stem from rotator cuff disease and joint inflammation, which are best managed conservatively (e.g., with physical therapy). However, up to 40% of patients are not receiving recommended non-surgical care and are instead referred to orthopedic surgeons, often enduring long wait times—up to two years—with limited or no treatment. Many of these patients are eventually deemed ineligible for surgery and redirected to conservative care after significant delays, contributing to increased costs, opioid use, and prolonged suffering. Currently, there is no structured triage system to efficiently guide patients from primary care to the appropriate treatment pathway. Current referral processes are inefficient, contributing to overwhelmed surgical services, delayed care, and suboptimal outcomes.

Purpose:
This study aims to collect views and perspectives for a triage model for shoulder pain that streamlines referrals and improves patient outcomes, clinician workflows, cost-effectiveness, and healthcare equity, and explore the potential of the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to support decision-making.

Eligibility Criteria: 

You are eligible to participate in this study if you are:

  • a clinician involved in managing patients with shoulder pain, or
  • an individual living with shoulder pain

Participation Details: 
Your participation will include one 30-45-minute interview completed via Microsoft (MS) Teams or Phone, based on your preference. Only the audio will be recorded and stored on the password-protected principal investigator’s SJHC OneDrive.

The interview will include a set of open-ended questions designed to elicit in-depth responses about participants’ perspectives on the triage process.

Your input will be invaluable in helping us understand how to improve the referral pathway and how we can strengthen the shoulder pain triage process.

As a thank you for your participation, you will receive a $ 50 Amazon.ca electronic gift card.

Risks & Confidentiality:
There are no known physical risks or harms associated with participating in this study.

Some questions may cause increased emotionality or distress, but not more than your typical daily experience. If you feel uncomfortable at any time during the interview, you may stop the interview or choose not to respond to the questions.

While we try our best to keep all personal information secure, there may be a potential risk of potential privacy breaches.

Recruitment Start Date: February 20, 2026
Recruitment End Date: August 31, 2026

Contact Details:
To schedule an interview, please contact Dr. Samah Hassan at [email protected], or use this link.

How can I submit my consumer collaborator opportunity?

Download the Consumer Collaborator Checklist [PDF 638 KB] and submit it to [email protected]. Please note that we will not post opportunities that do not meet the criteria set out in our checklist.

Consumer Collaborator Opportunities

Investigators: Drs. Eng Kuan Moo, Andrew Speirs, and Sangeeta Murugkar

Research Host Institution: Carleton University

Recruitment Notice & Purpose of Study: We are looking for two volunteers located in Ottawa, who live with some form of  osteoarthritis and are currently undergoing any forms of treatment, to be consumer collaborators. The insights provided by the consumer collaborators in this study will inform the researchers on the functional benefits of specific treatment methods, which can be dependent on the dosage and treatment duration. This information can guide the development of laboratory efficacy tests of different treatment methods, and can accelerate the process of identifying clinical, patient-specific treatment methods that ultimately benefit those living with osteoarthritis. In the long term, findings of this study may guide future clinical protocols of intra-articular injection and physiotherapy for patients living with osteoarthritis.

Participation Details: The consumer collaborators will meet with the Principal Investigators (PIs) twice a year over a virtual platform for two hours, in which the PI(s) will provide research updates and the consumer collaborators will provide valuable perspectives on their experience of intra-articular injections and physiotherapy, which are directly applicable to the in vitro therapeutic treatment protocol planned for this study.

Background information: Osteoarthritis is thought to initiate at a thin layer of specialized tissue surrounding the cartilage cells, which acts as a ‘filter’ for cells. However, we know very little regarding the ‘filtering’ properties of this tissue region, and how molecules, beneficial or harmful, pass through this filter to/from the cells. We will address this knowledge gap by creating an osteoarthritis model in the lab and investigating the biophysical property changes to this specialized tissue layer through advanced imaging methods. We will also apply drugs and physiotherapy treatments to the laboratory osteoarthritis model. We expect to receive strong evidence on how osteoarthritis develops and how treatments can slow/stop osteoarthritis.

Eligibility criteria: Patients with osteoarthritis currently undergoing any forms of treatment, residing in Ottawa, Ontario.

Confidentiality protocols: Not applicable

Compensation Offered: No (if meeting in person, transportation and parking fees will be covered)

Study Investigators: Dr. Andy Kin On Wong and Sarah Costa

Research Host Institution: University Health Network (UHN)

Eligibility Criteria: We are seeking specific patient partners 50 years of age and older who have knee osteoarthritis and at least one of the following:

  • osteoporosis,
  • have experienced a fragility (minimal trauma) fracture,
  • diabetes, pre-diabetes, or metabolic syndrome,
  • currently have, or have a history of deep vein thrombosis or peripheral artery disease.

Background Information: As someone living with knee osteoarthritis, your perspective and insight are invaluable in guiding our research efforts. We believe that your involvement from the very beginning of our projects is crucial in ensuring that our research studies address the concerns and interests of individuals like yourself who are affected by arthritis.

Participation Details: In this role, you will actively contribute to shaping the research process by providing valuable insight into the types of information and outcomes that individuals with arthritis feel strongly about, or are eager to learn about. Your input will guide the design of new research goals, selection of research methods, including the analysis of diverse data sets such as imaging (CT, MRI, x-ray, DXA), hormonal profiles (estrogen and progesterone), and various surveys relating to symptoms and overall quality of life factors.

Furthermore, as a patient partner, you will contribute to the dissemination of research outcomes by participating in the planning of publications. You may also have the opportunity to present abstracts at conferences alongside other investigators, amplifying the impact of our research within the scientific community and beyond.

Participation in this research opportunity can be virtual or in person, and we ask for a commitment of several 0.5 to 1-hour meetings throughout the year (2-5), and then as needed depending on how involved you wish to be in the research process. The engagement will start whenever possible and end after completing dissemination activities with the opportunity to continue for other research studies. Your geographic location should not matter but we have a preference for individuals who may be able to attend some local conference meetings within Ontario.

Confidentiality Protocols & Compensation: Rest assured; all patient information will be kept strictly confidential. You will be paid for your time to attend meetings and any travel-related expenses for in-person meetings as applicable.

Start Date: Whenever you are available.
End Date: After publication with the potential to stay on for future projects.

Contact Information: If you are interested in becoming a patient partner or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (416) 340-4800 x 7922 or via email at [email protected].