Dr. Debra Butt	debra.butt@utoronto.ca
Dr. Noah Crampton	noah.crampton@uhn.ca
Dr. Catherine Ji	catherine.ji@uhn.ca
Dr. Braden O’Neill	braden.oneill@unityhealth.to
Dr. Michelle Greiver	michelle.greiver@nygh.on.ca
Dr. Karen Tu	k.tu@utoronto.ca
Dr. Andrew Pinto	andrew.pinto@utoronto.ca

SPOR Network in Chronic Diseases - Diabetes Action Canada

Aashka Bhatt

Research Officer, DAC

dfcm.spor@utoronto.ca

416-978-7017

Tao Chen

Research Data Analyst

tao.chen@nygh.on.ca

Conrad Pow

Sr. Project Manager - National Diabetes Repository

conrad.pow@nygh.on.ca

647-335-1939

For more information about this project visit http://diabetesaction.ca/

SPIDER: A Structured Process Informed by Data, Evidence & Research
Jamie Wang	Project Manager	jianmin.wang@nygh.on.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

How can my project become a UTOPIAN project?

Read criteria and complete UTOPIAN project application form, more information available in section Getting UTOPIAN support.

What support can UTOPIAN provide for my project?

UTOPIAN support can vary depending on the nature of the project.

For example, practice facilitators can help with administrative workload including completing REB applications and site/practice/patient recruitment. The Idea to Proposal Course can help you develop research skills necessary for conducting your own research project. Contributing data to the Data Safe Haven is an easy way to allow your data to be used for research. Completing Research Ready self-assessment tool might be a good start for UTOPIAN to be able to assess your needs and gaps and to help.

Can you help me with research protocol/ REB application?

Yes, we can provide UTOPIAN members with methodological help for protocol development for UTOPIAN projects and project facilitators can help with completing REB application to UofT and DFCM affiliated hospitals.

For more resources about UofT REB approval through DFCM visit DFCM Research Program website's section on Services for Researchers.

How much does it cost to use UTOPIAN?

Costs depend on nature of the project and how much resources are required. See our fee schedule for more information.

Does UTOPIAN provide any funding?

UTOPIAN provides support through core staff members, no monetary funding is currently available.

I have a clinical/research question and want to get involved in primary care research but I am lacking skills to actually conduct research. How do I get started?

We are happy to discuss with you. Consider taking part in Idea to Proposal course which is aimed at family physicians, allied health professionals and other healthcare staff, focusing on developing research skills. We can also connect you with an experienced academic who is interested in the topic.

Should my practice become Research Ready?

Getting Research Ready is a good start for practices/family physicians who want to get involved in primary care research. This tool helps practices to assess their readiness to do research and suggests areas for improvement; it also enables UTOPIAN to collect information on practices’ research interests and needs which helps to focus projects and support in appropriate areas.

FAQ and Contact Us

UTOPIAN Team contact details

UTOPIAN Scientists