Dr. Heather Gainforth: Transforming research systems for meaningful engagement

Dr. Gainforth will discuss their research that aims to foster and support authentic partnerships. Drawing on extensive work within spinal cord injury (SCI) research, this talk will examine how the Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Guiding Principles can be leveraged to foster collaboration between researchers and research users. Dr. Gainforth will provide practical strategies for upholding these principles and address barriers and facilitators to using the principles. Crucially, the talk will highlight the systemic shifts necessary to transform research systems to enable meaningful engagement. Learning objectives – by the end of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Explain the development and purpose of the IKT Guiding Principles in addressing tokenism and ensuring research is relevant, useful and used. 2. Analyze the multi-level barriers and facilitators that influence decisions to meaningfully engage. 3. Identify necessary systemic shifts required to enable and sustain authentic research partnerships.