Advancing Chiropractic Research in Canada

Research Committee and Consortium Moving Forward

By Editorial Staff

In November 1995, a task force on chiropractic research in Canada was created under the auspices of the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA). The task force's purpose was to advance the quality and quantity of chiropractic research in Canada.

Among the various recommendations made by the task force, was to create a national consortium of chiropractic research organizations by Jan. 1997. Dr. Howard Vernon made a proposal toward that end in Dec. 1996, and became chairman of the fledgling consortium.

On Jan. 17, 1998, the research committee of the CCA met at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, and, among other business, gave the consortium a name: the Consortium of Canadian Chiropractic Research Centres (editor's note: hence forth referred to as the Consortium).

The Consortium members and their representatives are:

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic -- Howard Vernon, DC, FCCS(C)

University of Waterloo -- Stuart McGill, PhD

University of Saskatchewan -- David Cassidy, DC, PhD, FCCS(C)

University of Calgary -- Walter Herzog, PhD; Greg Kawchuk, DC

Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres -- Pierre Boucher, BSc,DC, DABCN, MSc

Institute of Work and Health -- Pierre Cote, DC, MSc, FCCS

The CCA Research Committee

The research committee of the Canadian Chiropractic Association has been duly constituted for 1998:

Governor/Chairman Dr. Dave Peterson (Alberta)

Governor Dr. Graydon Bridge (Alberta)

Governor Dr. Zoltan Szaraz (Ontario)

Chair, Consortium Dr. Howard Vernon (Ontario)

President,
Canadian Foundation for Spinal Research (CFSR) Dr. Martin Gurvey (Manitoba)

Editor,
Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association Dr. Allan Gotlib (Ontario)

Research Programs Coordinator Dr. Allan Gotlib

Public Member Dr. Benno Nigg (Alberta)

Manager, Professional Affairs/Health Policy
Costa Papadopoulos (Ontario)

Field Practitioner Dr. Ron Carter (Alberta)

The research committee of the CCA will endeavor to facilitate the Consortium's work, while setting a research agenda, create funding opportunities (via centralized databases), and disseminate information of the research activities. They will also work to promote and support young researchers, and network with the academic community.

The public member of the research committee, Dr. Benno Nigg, is director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Calgary (Alberta), one of the largest and best equipped research centers for musculoskeletal studies. The center receives three million dollars each year in research funding.

In other CCA research news, the Chiropractic Foundation for Spinal Research (CFSR), under the leadership of Dr. Martin Gurvey, will be split into two separate sections: a fundraising body, and a board that allocates grants.

The position of national research director has not been named. In the interim, Dr. Allan Gotlib, editor of the JCCA, has undertaken many of the initiatives identified by the research committee.

Editor's note: The Consortium has set its first scientific symposium for Nov. 14-15, 1998, at the University of Calgary.

For information, contact:

Walter Herzog, PhD
tel: 403-220-8525;
fax: 403-284-3553;
e-mail: walter-kin.ucalgary.ca

Allan Gotlib, DC
tel: 416-781-5656;
fax: 416-781-7344;
e-mial: ccachiro-inforamp.net