November 1, 2016
For immediate release

Diabetes Action Canada – at the SPOR SUMMIT – Oct 25-27^th in Ottawa

Diabetes Action Canada is a major participant in the SPOR SUMMIT – Health Innovation: Working Together on Shared Health Priorities meetings in Ottawa from Oct 25-27^th.  The SPOR SUMMIT brings together over 300 members and partners of the CIHR SPOR Program to demonstrate progress to date, network and learn about new opportunities to collaborate with both public and private sectors.

Since its launch in 2012, CIHR has committed approximately $600 million to SPOR, with partners committing an additional $400 million. Most recently, CIHR provided $62 million to support five SPOR Networks in Chronic Diseases – an investment that leveraged an additional $126 million dollars from partners, including universities, hospitals, industry, health charities, and provincial agencies. This is a clear demonstration that stakeholders and decision-makers across Canada understand the powerful impact that SPOR has on improving health and health care delivery.

Diabetes Action Canada presented its 5 year plan engaging patients at all levels of its activities. As well, our Executive Director was invited to participate in the session entitled: Interaction Between SPOR SUPPORT Units and Networks. Representing the 5 SPOR Networks in Chronic Disease, Dr. Whiteside indicated that CIHR has the opportunity to lead a network-of-Networks collaboration across Canada through collaboration that could immediately focus on the core common interests among all parts of the SPOR Program including: patient-engagement, Indigenous Health, health informatics and clinical trials. Diabetes Action Canada is collaborating with a number of SPOR SUPPORT Units across Canada and looks forward to expanding this collaboration as research and knowledge translation projects evolve. The joint provincial and CIHR funding for the SPOR SUPPORT units will be completed over the next two to three years, providing an opportunity for more clear alignment of major goals with the SPOR Networks.

Diabetes Action Canada – Symposium at the Canadian Diabetes Association Annual Conference – Oct 28^th in Ottawa

“Initiative – Leveraging Technology and Networking for Diabetes Research in Canada”

Diabetes Action Canada: A SPOR Network in Diabetes and Its Related Complications’

Chair: Gary Lewis 

What is the Added Value of Patient Engagement in Diabetes Research?

Maman Joyce Dogba

Sex and Gender: The Key to Better Diabetes Research

Paula A. Rochon

Reaching the Patient: Modernizing Diabetes Outcomes Research Through the Use of the Mobile Health Apps

Joseph Cafazzo

Muscarinic Receptor Antagonism to Treat Diabetic Neuropath

Paul Fernyhough