MICYRN: Assessing child health research infrastructure in Canada (ACTINIC)
Contact
Karin Kushniruk (University of Alberta, MICYRN): karin.kushniruk@micyrn.ca
Olga Arsovska (Independent Contractor): olga.arsovska@micyrn.ca
Principal Investigators
Thierry Lacaze-Masmonteil (University of Ottawa, ACHRI)
Project summary
Canada requires efficient and cost-effective clinical research infrastructure to accelerate the integration of evidence into clinical practice. Currently, many research entities operate independently across Canada and do not draw upon centralized infrastructure/resources, leading to inefficiencies in research conduct. CHILD-BRIGHT’s Phase 1 projects have collected process data related to efficiencies and inefficiencies in planning and conducting innovative, multijurisdictional pediatric research. In Phase 2, the ACTINIC team is analyzing these data to better understand the infrastructure required for implementing pan-Canadian, pediatric, patient-oriented research projects.
Audience: Canadian organizations conducting pediatric, patient-oriented research projects.
Project updates
2025
The ACTINIC team has completed data collection by surveying 13 CHILD-BRIGHT Phase 1 teams and 4 Innovative Pediatric Clinical Trials (iPCT) teams. Following this, 16 out of 17 semi-structured interviews have been conducted to explore the challenges, lessons learned, and potential solutions in greater depth.
In addition to insights from the research teams, the study will also incorporate feedback from partners with lived and living experience (PWLEs). This will include input from the patient lead of the iPCT and evaluation literature published from CHILD-BRIGHT’s work with PWLEs, as well as consultations with the engagement council.
2023-24
The ACTINIC team has completed its research protocol and has started surveying the CHILD-BRIGHT Phase 1 teams to identify efficiencies and inefficiencies across various aspects of their projects. These include data related to:
Administrative aspects: Study protocol development, setup, and initiation.
Study execution: Recruitment, retention, feasibility, data collection and analysis, and knowledge mobilization.
Key infrastructure: Essential personnel, resources, and processes needed for a successful patient-oriented child health research study from the research team’s perspective.
Impacts of COVID-19: Effects on research projects.