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Our Research

Arthritis is serious. And so is our commitment to finding answers.

What We're Working On Right Now

Connecting Voices for Equitable Rheumatoid Arthritis Care Access

Many people living in Canada with rheumatoid arthritis, especially those living in rural areas, immigrants, people with lower incomes, LGBTQ+ individuals, French speakers outside Quebec, and people with mobility challenges, face significant barriers getting from their first symptoms to seeing a specialist. These delays can lead to irreversible joint damage and reduced quality of life.

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A New Model of At-Home Follow-Up Care for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Canada needs new ways to provide care for people living with rheumatoid arthritis that improve treatment and make it easier for people to get high-quality care. E-health technology is a new and promising way to do this. E-health means using digital tools like apps and computers. It can benefit patients, especially those who live far away, and can help meet their needs between regular doctor visits while keeping the quality of care high. E-health hasn’t been studied much in rheumatology.

This study will test a new way of providing care, where nurses will help patients monitor their rheumatoid arthritis from home using an online platform. This study will check if the new approach is easy to use, fits well into the clinics’ daily routine, and if both patients and healthcare workers find it helpful and acceptable.

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Preparing kinesiologists and exercise physiologists: what does this mean for arthritis care?

There is a growing need to better prepare kinesiology graduates for emerging roles in healthcare, especially following the British Columbia Ministry of Health’s recognition of Kinesiologists and Clinical Exercise Physiologists as part of the allied health workforce. Even though many students express their desire for building exercise professional careers, these students have reported feeling unprepared to meet designation requirements upon graduation. This gap noted by students may limit their integration as working professionals into healthcare settings, which is a problem as they are critical in supporting patients living with chronic conditions like arthritis, for which exercise is a known effective management.

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What We Study

Arthritis Research Canada is a national hub for patient-centred arthritis research, bringing together researchers, clinicians, trainees, and communities to turn rigorous, multi-disciplinary evidence into better care. Every study we conduct meets the highest standards of scientific excellence and is grounded in the real experiences of people living with arthritis and rheumatic diseases.

Our research is organized into six areas of focus, each one a pathway to better prevention, earlier diagnosis, improved treatment, and a higher quality of life for people living with arthritis across Canada. Select a category to explore the studies within it.

Prevention of Arthritis & Complications

Research focused on reducing the risk of developing arthritis and on evaluating or preventing complications of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases throughout one’s lifespan.

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Health Habits & Wellbeing

Research focused on supporting people to live well with arthritis and on reducing the disease’s impact on everyday life. This work develops and tests practical, evidence-based strategies to address fatigue and pain, promote physical activity, improve sleep, and support mental health. It helps people sustain meaningful hobbies, work and family roles by strengthening the skills they need to manage their health and maintain quality of life.

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Treatments & Medications

Research focused on evaluating how arthritis is treated. This includes evaluating non-pharmacological treatments, the safety and effectiveness of medications, their long-term impact on health outcomes, and comparing treatment options. It also supports informed shared decision-making between patients and clinicians through tools such as decision aids and treatment guidelines.

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Arthritis Care

Research focused on improving arthritis care. This includes improving early diagnosis, studying novel ways of delivering care to better meet patients’ needs, measuring and improving the quality of care delivered, and reducing inequities in health care and health outcomes, so that timely high-quality care is available for all.

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Health Systems, Policies & Economics

Research that examines and improves how arthritis-related healthcare and supports are organized, funded, accessed, and delivered at the system level. This includes research evaluating health and social policies, health system initiatives to improve access, efficiency, quality, and equity of care, as well as health economic analyses.

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Innovative Research Methods

Research that improves how arthritis research is designed, conducted, measured, and shared. This includes developing new tools, classification criteria, data analysis methods, technologies, and approaches that strengthen the quality, diversity, inclusiveness, and impact of research.

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Research That Moves People

Every study on this page is a step toward preventing arthritis, catching it earlier, treating it better, and helping people live well.

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