Participate

How you can participate

We can’t do it alone. Researchers and their teams need your involvement too.

Being part of a research study can benefit your own health or the health of your loved one, or even help someone you don’t know.

A female doctor stands next to a senior patient in her waiting room and casually chats to her about her details. In the background a nurse with a tablet and a patient at the desk and booking an appointment.
Overview +–

Research takes many forms: in a laboratory searching for genes or proteins that cause heart disease, developing or testing a new drug or treatment, or in a clinic or hospital reimagining how health care can be delivered for someone who has had a stroke. These are just a few examples – methods and approaches are always emerging. 

 

Your involvement can make the difference +–

Get involved by:

  • helping set research priorities
  • shaping a study’s approach or design
  • being part of a clinical trial
  • participating in a survey or focus group
  • reviewing or overseeing how information is shared with participants
  • evaluating your experience as a participant in a study
  • reviewing applications as a lay reviewer in a peer-reviewed competition.

You are an integral part of creating new knowledge, improving our understanding of risks and disease, or advancing treatments and recovery.

Participate in clinical trials and research studies +–

One of the main ways that patients contribute to research is by participating in clinical trials. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research define clinical research as research on or for patients that seeks to improve diagnosis, treatment and quality of life.

Clinical trials involve volunteers who agree to a type of intervention such as a drug, procedure, device or lifestyle change (like stopping smoking). In clinical trials, researchers can be looking for new ways to prevent disease, to screen or detect diseases or to treat those living with diseases. 

For testing of new drugs, clinical trials must go through four phases and only move forward if the previous phase was successful. The initial phase tests for the safety of the medication and whether it does what it is intended to do. Over later phases, it is tested on more people to ensure a consistent, positive effect and compared to other medications or treatments. 

Talk to your healthcare provider about opportunities at your local hospital and view the opportunities below, which have been reviewed by Heart & Stroke.

Current research studies and clinical trials +–

Heart & Stroke reviews and shares information on research studies and clinical trials in Canada that are actively seeking participants or public/patient involvement. 

Selected opportunities: 

Find more clinical trials:

 provides information about Canadian clinical trials involving human pharmaceutical and biological drugs.

 is a registry of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world.

World Health Organization’s  compiles information about clinical trials taking place internationally.

 by the , a not-for-profit association of 87 member organizations, representing over 3,000 clinical research professionals, has patient and public information on participating in clinical trials.

Know your rights as a participant:

Researchers and their teams work hard to explain the risks and benefits of a research study. Many institutions have a “bill of rights of research participants” – ask to see it and exercise your rights. Ask questions. Talk your healthcare provider, your friends and family. 

Additional sources for clinical trials:

National:

 
 

 
(search “Canada”) 

 
Provincial:

Alberta


 
 
 

British Columbia


Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador


North West Territories

Nova Scotia

Ontario

 
 
  

Prince Edward Island

Quebec




Saskatchewan

Be a lay reviewer +–

It’s important that Heart & Stroke research is easily communicated to the public and relevant to those at risk from or living with heart disease, stroke or related conditions. That’s why each research application requires a lay summary and members of the public participate in our peer review panels.

Role of a lay reviewer: Lay reviewers are volunteers who play a key part in the review process for our research programs. These volunteers are patients or people with lived experience who join the scientists and researchers on our peer review panels and look at the research applications. Lay reviewers help ensure that research is communicated clearly and aligned with Heart & Stroke’s mission.

Apply to be a lay reviewer: If you are interested in contributing to our research excellence as a lay reviewer, please contact research@heartandstroke.ca. 

Access heart and brain research results +–

Heart & Stroke is committed to ensuring that our research results are accessible to all. 

Most researchers publish their work in peer-reviewed journals such as the Lancet, Cell or the New England Journal of Medicine, where it is assessed by other top researchers before being published. We expect all researchers who receive our funding to follow Open Access so that their publications are available without cost. We also work with them to promote and share their results.  

Read about researchers that we support and their projects.

Connect with others +–

Heart & Stroke is committed to supporting people living with heart conditions, stroke or related dementia as well as their caregivers. We have resources to connect you with an online º£½ÇÉçÇø of people offering peer support and help with the recovery journey. 

Learn more about the power of º£½ÇÉçÇø

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Community of Survivors

You’re among friends here. Our members-only Facebook group is for people living with heart disease or stroke . 

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Care Supporters’ Community

Join our members-only Facebook group to share, support and lean on others who, like you, are caregiving.