National data repository now available to diabetes researchers

This week, Diabetes Research Connect, a national, virtual data repository, launched. The data repository, a collaboration between Diabetes Action Canada and the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN), aims to enhance diabetes research across Canada and foster partnerships with academic institutions, healthcare providers and patient groups.

By aggregating data from CPCSSN, Diabetes Research Connect provides a holistic view of diabetes trends and outcomes across the country and enables researchers to analyze a wealth of information, from patient demographics to treatment efficacy, helping to identify patterns and develop targeted interventions for better diabetes management.

“In Diabetes Research Connect, accredited researchers can access comprehensive de-identified primary care data from more than two million patients across eight provinces and one territory,” says Dr. Alex Singer, the lead for Diabetes Action Canada’s Digital Health Solutions program. “This landmark partnership with CPCSSN will support innovative research in diabetes prevention, treatment, and management.”

The data repository, which replaces Diabetes Action Canada’s National Diabetes Repository, allows researchers to access more data in a space where privacy and security remain paramount. All data is processed and transformed by CPCSSN, and ready for access through CPCSSN’s secure research environment (SRE) located at the Centre for Advanced Computing at Queen’s University. Access has been streamlined using a centralized intake system and researchers can apply and access data more efficiently.

Patient engagement and partnership remain at the core of the data repository, with those using the system required to co-design projects with patient partners to ensure relevance and impact. Patient partners also remain key decision makers on the committee overseeing Diabetes Research Connect.

This collaboration ensures long-term sustainability for diabetes research in Canada and gives data scientists the tools to better analyze information about people living with diabetes across Canada in order to improve health outcomes and prevent complications.

For more information or to apply to use the system, visit the site!