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Publication of the month

Increasing research capacity in Canadian community hospitals: an intrinsic descriptive case study

Dr. Alexandra Binnie, Critical Care
Health Research Policy and Systems (2025)

Summary

This study examined how targeted funding from the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group’s (CCCTG) COVID-19 Network of Clinical Trials Networks strengthened research capacity in community hospitals, using a one-year descriptive case study based on documents and interviews.

Highlights

• Funding enabled hiring of research staff and increased the number of active clinical trials
• A national Community of Practice strengthened collaboration and shared learning
• Sustainability was shaped by health system structures, trial design, local context and individual leadership

Impact

• Targeted funding, supportive networks and fit-for-purpose funding models are critical to sustaining research in community hospitals. These findings offer important policy insights for strengthening Canada’s clinical research ecosystem and supporting long term research growth outside academic centres.
• Community hospital research can both be successful and financially viable. Participation in networks such as the CCCTG Network of Networks and Community Acute and Critical Care Community of Practice, along with collaboration across institutions, strengthens research programs, supports trial recruitment and reflects strong leadership and commitment among clinician researchers.

Learn more

Read the full text of this article. For questions or comments about this article, send an email to Dr. Alexandra Binnie.