The BC SUPPORT Unit announced this week that Dr. Erin Michalak will take on the role of Methods Cluster Lead for Patient Engagement, effective September 1, 2017.

Dr. Michalak’s research expertise lies in patient-engagement in research, Community-Based Participatory Research, knowledge translation, bipolar disorder, quality of life, eHealth/mHealth and implementation science.

Dr. Michalak brings valuable health research experience to the Unit. Her research has been well supported by organizations such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. She is the founder and leader of the Collaborative RESearch Team for the study of psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder, a CIHR-funded Canadian network dedicated to collaborative research and knowledge exchange in bipolar disorder, and Program Director for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital Hub for Mental Health.

Additionally, she has published more than 100 scientific articles and several books and book chapters.

The BC SUPPORT (Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials) Unit is a multipartner organization created to support, streamline and increase patient-oriented research throughout BC. The Unit is one of ten SUPPORT Units established across the country as part of Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) led by the CIHR.