Dear CATS members,
I am happy to tell you that CATS research continues to slowly develop and evolve. Several projects have been proposed and discussed during bi-monthly research rounds over this last year. Many of these will be discussed at the annual CATS meeting coming up in September in London, Ontario. In keeping with our tradition, there will be a meeting focussed on clinical research in London, followed by a social gathering.
For the first time, in order to promote the development of a network of thoracic surgery research coordinators, there will be funding provided by CATS to support the attendance of research coordinators at the CATS research meeting in London. A $500 stipend will be provided to one research coordinator from any center travelling to the CATS meeting. In addition, there will be a meeting of research coordinators prior to the formal research meeting. If you would like to participate in this opportunity, please send the following information to Joanne Clifton and/or myself: Name of research coordinator, address, percent full time equivalent, and a list of ongoing research studies at your center. Please note that funding is limited, thus apply as soon as possible.
Regardless of whether you have been participating in the research teleconferences, I invite you to submit proposals for presentation in London, for either a (1) research update (10 min presentation, 5 min discussion) to inform the members of an ongoing research project and solicit feedback, or (2) a research proposal (20 min presentation, 10 min discussion) to introduce a new research project with the intent of involving other Canadian thoracic surgery centers. The fundamental objectives of the research meeting will be to provide collegial feedback regarding research, and enhance the opportunities for multicenter research programs.
If you are interested in presenting, please submit a brief abstract to myself of your research update or proposal (no more than one page including background, objectives, methods, analysis and relevance), so that it may be distributed in advance of the meeting. Please submit to me by Aug 10, 2011. However, as there is limited time, please submit your requests for presentation as soon as you are able.
Last, if any CATS members wish to publicise studies that are ongoing that involve more than one center, we would be delighted to post a summary on the CATS website.
Thank you for your interest in building CATS research.
Warm regards,
Andrew JE Seely
aseely@ohri.ca
CATS Research Director