Welcome to Albertans4HealthResearch provides a space where we can collaborate, learn and innovate to advance the science and practice of Patient Engagement in Patient-Oriented Research. See below for the latest patient-oriented research opportunities.

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Opportunities

Activity Shifts Start End
Advancing Learning in Neurorehabilitation (ALIGN) 1
Co-designing a Digital Health App to Support Postpartum Women 1
Co-production of an alternative care provider model to support rural and remote primary care obstructive sleep apnea management 1
Healing Children’s Pain Together: Community Priorities for Alberta’s Path Forward (Steering Committee Opportunity) 1
Helping Rehabilitation Robots Adapt Arm Therapy to Each Person After Stroke 1
Implementation and Evaluation of Pharmacist-Provided Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Care Pathway in Community Pharmacies in Alberta: RxESPIRO Study 1
Mobilizing Primary Care Access in Northern Alberta: A Novel Mobile Pharmacy Unit (MPU) Model 1
Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) Cancer Research Program 1
Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) for the Perinatal Brain Injury Lab 1
Responsive Engagement of Surgical Patients for Equitable Care and Treatment (RESPECT) Study Patient Advisory Council 1
Understanding Frequent Users of the Emergency Department 1
Youth and parent partners to co-develop educational materials in mental health 1

Training

Activity Shifts Start End
2027 Northwest SPOR Collaborative Forum will be held May 3-4, 2027 in Calgary, Alberta (Hybrid) 1
AbSPORU Patient Engagement Journal Club, Wednesday, December 2, 2026: Am I attached? A patient-partnered approach to creating infographics about attachment to primary care in Ontario, Canada (Online) 1
AbSPORU Patient Engagement Learning Series (APELS) Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Establishing and Evaluating Research Focused Patient and Family Advisory Councils (Online) 1

Learn more and Patient Engagement Resources

Learn More

The Albertans4Health Research (AB4HR.ca) network is a place for those with lived experience of a health condition, either themselves or as a caregiver, family member or friend, to connect with health research teams and engage as active and equal partners on health research projects and activities. We are supported by the Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit, (AbSPORU) Patient Engagement Team.

You will see Research Opportunities here on this main page. Please connect with the researchers directly about projects you are interested in. You can also "Volunteer"  and receive regular emails about different research opportunities, and the AB4HR activities and events; sometimes we might ask for your opinions and insights regarding our work.  This online network uses the term "Volunteer" because of the universal volunteer management software but most opportunities offer compensation for your time and contribution of essential lived-experience expertise as well as reimbursement for any direct costs associated with engagement.

"What is Patient-Oriented Research (POR) and How Can I Get Involved?" 

Watch video here https://vimeo.com/856949887

AbSPORU Patient Partner Compensation Guidelines

Download AbSPORU Compensation Guidelines here

Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit (AbSPORU.ca) website 

Patient and Community Engagement Research (PaCER) Program, University of Calgary, Continuing Education

 

Watch a 3-minute video about the PaCER Program here

Patient Engagement Journal Club Recordings

 

Podcasts about Patient Engagement 

 

AbSPORU Annual Northwest SPOR Collaborative Forum May 3-4, 2027, Calgary, Alberta

To learn more about our 2027 Collaborative Forum or to view recordings from previous forums please visit 2027 NW SPOR Collaborative Forum

AbSPORU Patient Engagement Learning Series (APELS) Webinar
A monthly learning series that explores topics like patient research partner compensation, preparing conference abstracts and posters, writing and submitting manuscripts for publication, navigating knowledge translation including literature reviews, arts based approaches to knowledge mobilization, developing a patient engagement plan and budget...

View APELS Recordings here

 

 About Us      

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) initiative recognizes that patient partners contribute valuable lived/living experience and unique perspectives essential to informing health research studies. Patient engagement makes research results more relevant and meaningful to those studies are intended to benefit. As well, findings are  often able to be implemented sooner, and in language and formats more accessible to more communities and populations. Learn more about the SPOR Initiative and connect to other SPOR SUPPORT Unit resources here.

To learn how the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funds public health research in Canada  
https://youtu.be/m6h3jMlmx6s?si=m4k_MmptZmEVs0bl

To connect with Canada's other CIHR SPOR SUPPORT Units please view hyperlinked map at bottom of page below
https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/45859.html

To connect with the CIHR SPOR Chronic Disease Networks
https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/45854.html

 

 Contact Us      

We offer services and supports for researchers and patient and community research partners across Alberta. If you have questions or are looking to access services or supports, please email the AbSPORU Patient Engagement Team peplatformab@gmail.com

Doing Patient-Oriented Research (POR) in Alberta?
Apply online for research services and support through AbSPORU.ca 

   Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Alberta Innovates logos      .