ODTC Project Snapshot: Mapping the Canadian Research and Innovation Ecosystem in Organ Donation and Transplantation

Mapping the Canadian Research and Innovation Ecosystem in Organ Donation and Transplantation

What is this project about?

Project background

The ultimate goal of health research is to ensure that Canadians receive equitable, evidence-based, quality care and to improve their health outcomes. Within the domain of organ donation and transplantation (ODT) in Canada, research results have been applied to improve donation opportunities, wait times, and quality of life outcomes for transplant recipients. However, the lack of a unified approach to Research and Innovation (R&I) is a major barrier to establishing system priorities for ODT research.

Objectives

Develop a shared vision of the future direction for R&I with and within the ODT community to improve ODT outcomes to the benefit of patients and Canadians at large.

Overview of activities

Create a comprehensive overview of the ODT research ecosystem in Canada through a mapping exercise that outlines an understanding of challenges, needs, roles, responsibilities, and interfaces of the key stakeholders with regards to R&I, current research priorities and their funding sources.
Develop ecosystem-wide recommendations to support an ODT research strategic vision cocreation, which include mechanisms for sharing information and application of knowledge across the system.
Engage Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative (The Collaborative) members to implement the recommendations stemming from the project.

PROJECT COMPLETION IN 2022

How will the project improve the organ donation and transplantation system in Canada?

Provide a better understanding of R&I in ODT that helps identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
Foster an increased diversity of topics to be explored and an increase of quality research studies and findings that will improve the ODT ecosystem to the benefit of patients.
Identify new synergies and alignments to continue building a stronger donation and transplantation system for Canadians thanks to a shared R&I vision and unified approach in ODT.
Ensure that research outcomes have a clear path for integration into the ODT ecosystem to maximize impacts.

Project Support

This ODTC-driven project is supported by the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program (CDTRP) under the financial authority of the University of Alberta.

"The Collaborative looks forward to the findings of this research project, and recognizes the importance and value of these findings and subsequent recommendations for the ODT community. Knowledge on the ODT research landscape will optimize the integration and impact of research and innovation in ODT systems for the benefit of Canadians."

Cindy Moriarty, Director General, Health Programs and Strategic Initiatives, Health Canada.

The Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative (The Collaborative) is an initiative led by Health Canada with provinces and territories (except Québec), Canadian Blood Services, patients, families, clinicians and researchers. Funded by Health Canada, the project Mapping the Canadian Research and Innovation Ecosystem in Donation and Transplantation contributes to the Collaborative’s vision to achieve organ donation and transplantation system improvements that result in better patient outcomes and an increase in the number and quality of successful transplantations. For more information, please consult the Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative website.