Winter 2016 (Volume 26, Number 4)

News From the Arthritis Alliance of Canada (AAC)

By Jaime Coish, Executive Director, AAC

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The Arthritis Alliance of Canada (AAC) is a Pan-Canadian assembly of more than 30 arthritis stakeholder organizations who share a common goal—to improve the lives of Canadians with arthritis.

AAC Annual Meeting

On October 27-28, 2016, the AAC hosted its annual meeting, “Translating Arthritis: Knowledge to Action for Canadians,” in Montreal, with its partners, the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (IMHA) and The Arthritis Society. The event brought together arthritis healthcare professionals, researchers, funding agencies, government affiliates, voluntary sector agencies, industry, trainees and arthritis patient representatives who worked collectively, over two days, to advance our national framework through our three key pillars: 1) advocacy and awareness; 2) research; and, 3) improving prevention and care. Workshop presentations and a welcome remarks video from MP Yves Robillard, in support of arthritis, are available at http://arthritisalliance.ca/en/events/annual-conference.

AAC Research Awards Program

Launched October 27, 2016, at the AAC Annual Meeting Gala Dinner, the new awards program will recognize national high-quality research in AAC priority areas as identified in the National Framework. This recognition will: 1) formally acknowledge the outstanding contributions of patient partners and scientists; 2) help researchers in competing for and participating in national grants and programs; and 3) provide opportunities to highlight arthritis research. A total of seven awards will be granted, valued at $750 CAD per award, generously sponsored by AAC members, as follows:

Four awards for trainees/early career researchers/early career faculty members/investigators for their contributions to arthritis research, and one award for each of the following levels:
1. Masters Student, sponsored by the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health
2. PhD Student, sponsored by Arthritis Consumer Experts
3. Post-doctoral fellow, sponsored by the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
4. Young faculty researcher (graduate within the first five years), sponsored by the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
5. Knowledge-Translation (KT) research, sponsored by the Bone and Joint Institute of the University of Western Ontario (open to all investigators at any career level)
6. Knowledge-Translation (KT) practice, sponsored by Janssen, Inc. (open to all investigators at any career level)
7. Patient for active engagement in arthritis research, sponsored by The Arthritis Society.

Deadlines:

• Full applications received to AAC office lgazizova@arthritisalliance.ca by Tuesday, January 3, 2017 (midnight ET).
• Decisions to be announced early March 2017.

Please visit www.arthritisalliance.ca to access the applications, guidelines and details.

We all have a role to play in improving arthritis prevention and care in Canada. A huge thank you to AAC Members, for their commitment and contributions. Without their support, these important initiatives would not be possible. Their ongoing work both as individual organizations and in collaboration with other arthritis stakeholders is essential to achieving the overall goal of mitigating the burden of arthritis.

To receive our monthly newsletter to stay informed or get involved, please contact Jaime Coish at jcoish@arthritisalliance.ca.

Jaime Coish
Executive Director, Arthritis Alliance of Canada
Toronto, Ontario