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Our Research

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

What We're Working On Right Now

Are medications like Ozempic safe and effective for people with inflammatory arthritis and type 2 diabetes?

Nearly one-third of Canadian adults have obesity. In people with inflammatory arthritis, extra body fat increases inflammation and can worsen symptoms, making arthritis harder to manage. Semaglutide (commonly known as Ozempic) is a medication that helps reduce weight and inflammation, but its effects in people with inflammatory arthritis are not currently well understood. This research will tell us whether semaglutide can safely improve arthritis disease control in people who also have diabetes.

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Using Artificial Intelligence to Streamline Research on Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

Doctors and rheumatoid arthritis patients rely on clear, current information when choosing the best treatments. New research is published constantly, and each clinical trial may produce many separate scientific papers. This makes it time-consuming and difficult to sort through and stay on top of all the information. This project, STREAM-AI (Systematic Trial Record Extraction and Matching using Artificial Intelligence), will aim to make this process faster and more accurate using artificial intelligence.

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Evaluating a Decision Aid for Tapering Biologic Medications in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that can vary greatly from person to person, so treatment needs to be personalized. Some patients may be doing well on their medications, and for these individuals, reducing medication doses (called ‘tapering’) could be a safe and beneficial option. However, these decisions aren’t always straightforward, but tools like decision-aids can help.

The goal of this study is to provide a way to help patients and doctors engage in shared decision-making for managing rheumatoid arthritis. By making sure patients understand the risks and benefits of tapering their medications, this research will support a more patient-centered approach, where patients can make decisions together with their doctors, and decisions can align with the patient’s values, preferences, and quality of life.

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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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