The support of the Engage Award would facilitate planning and hosting a series of co-led relationship-building events within the newly established SMART Labs research space embedded in GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre (GF Strong). SMART Labs’ overall goal is to improve recovery and reduce healthcare burden associated with life-changing injury and illness by developing innovative, evidence-based treatments that are Specific, guided by Measurable biomarkers, use Activities simulating real-world function, and incorporate advanced Technologies. The space is a unique opportunity for researchers, clinicians, trainees, and persons with lived experience (PWLE) to interact and discuss priorities for future rehabilitation research and implementation. We propose hosting three engagement sessions during lunchtime hours (11am-1pm) to maximize clinician accessibility and participation. Across events, we anticipate approximately 60 attendees, including 30 GF Strong clinicians (physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other rehabilitation staff), 30 SMART Labs trainees and researchers, and at least one PWLE collaborator. Sessions will include guided tours of the renovated research facility, demonstrations of and interaction opportunities with rehabilitation technologies, and facilitated discussions about their accessibility, usability, implementation, and clinical relevance. The events are designed to allow proximal research users to: (1) learn about SMART Labs technologies and ongoing research; (2) gain exposure to how research-grade technologies can support assessment and function; (3) share perspectives of integrating these systems into routine practice; and (4) establish collaborative relationships for future patient-oriented and clinician-informed research. Discussions will encourage attendees to identify barriers, opportunities, and unmet needs related to technology use for insight into clinically meaningful priorities and implementation considerations. Knowledge exchange will occur with live demonstrations, interactive discussion, and informational materials about ongoing initiatives and opportunities. Perspectives gathered from these sessions will inform future SMART Labs workflows, implementation strategies, and research directions. Funding will support planning, event coordination, facilitation strategies, and materials needed to host the collaborative activities and foster sustainable research-user partnerships at GF Strong.
Additional team members and participating organizations:
Our initiative is supported by the Centre for Aging SMART and will take place in the new SMART Labs neurorehabilitation research space embedded within GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, BC’s largest rehabilitation hospital. Engagement sessions will bring together approximately 60 clinicians, researchers, trainees, and people with lived experience. Through facility tours, rehabilitation technology demonstrations, and facilitated discussions, participants will identify priorities concerning accessibility, inclusion, safety, clinical relevance, and implementation of rehabilitation technologies for aging populations.
Key milestones will include establishing new relationships among research users, identifying shared research questions and implementation priorities, and using participants’ perspectives to guide future SMART Labs research, workflows, and knowledge-translation activities. These partnerships will strengthen connections between rehabilitation research and clinical care to support healthy aging in BC.