Research summary
Despite advances in health care, patients’ abilities to make decisions about their treatments is limited because of a lack of information and support. This, in turn, affects their ability to manage their disease, stick to treatment plans, and achieve the best possible health outcomes. As Canada Research Chair in Pharmacoepidemiology, Dr. Mary De Vera aims to improve the health outcomes of Canadians who suffer from chronic diseases, particularly cancer and arthritis.
With a focus on data-driven, patient-powered research, she and her research team are studying patient-oriented epidemiology and health services to support patients who are living with these chronic diseases. In particular, they aim to shed light on solutions that could lead to better health outcomes. They are aligning their research with a World Health Organization framework that aims to put “people and communities, not diseases, at the centre of health systems.”