Island Health

26 Island Health magazine REACH BC: Connecting People with Health Research Opportunities by Aisling Quigley (REACH BC) and Annie Moore REACHING OUT In 2015, a survey by Research Canada found that 80% of Canadians strongly supported health and medical research, and a majority were interested in participating. But only 16% of British Columbians were aware of patients and the public participating in health research, and only 15% knew about current research opportunities. Launched in April 2020, REACH BC is a non-profit supported by BC's health authorities and universities and is a part of the Clinical Trials BC Unit of Michael Smith Health Research BC, BC's health research funder. REACH BC has over 4,500 volunteers and over 400 research projects. www.reachbc.ca Seven years and a pandemic later, BC has an online platform to bridge that gap and help people navigate the health research system. REACH BC connects patients, families, and the public with researchers and health research oppor- tunities across the province. REACH BC volunteers can create and customize an online profile to find opportunities that match their interests and priorities, whether as a study participate or as a patient partner who shapes research priorities and questions. GIVING BACK THROUGH RESEARCH Elizabeth Brennan, age 59, has lived in Victoria with her family for the past 30 years. Her children were born and raised here, and her youngest daughter now attends the University of Victoria. Elizabeth is an avid volunteer; she is passionate about giving back to her community and enjoys the camaraderie of volunteering, whether in-person or online. A couple of years ago, Elizabeth experienced an empty nest for the first time when her kids left for university, and she and her husband retired early. Suddenly, she found herself with a lot research Research participant Elizabeth Brennan.

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