CanVECTOR (Canadian Venous Thromboembolism Clinical Trials and Outcomes Research) Network

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) (blood clots in the leg veins and lung vessels) is the 2nd most common cardiovascular disease in Canadians. Canada is already a leader in VTE research, and we aim to strengthen this leadership and increase our outreach even further. We propose to develop a structured VTE research network called "CanVECTOR" that includes researchers in VTE and complementary fields from across Canada, representing almost all Canadian provinces. Our mission is to decrease the health burden and socioeconomic burden of VTE on affected individuals, their families and on Canadians as a whole. Our areas of research focus ("platforms") will be Clinical Trials; Basic and Translational Science; and Quality of Care and Effectiveness Research. To complement these platforms, we will integrate our commitment to: including patients at each step; training, mentoring and developing the careers of students and junior researchers; effectively translating the knowledge generated by our research; and actively engaging with our various partners, stakeholders and knowledge users. Our organizational structure will include an interdisciplinary research management committee. Because we are dedicated to conducting research that is meaningful to patients and their families, we will include patient representatives in our Scientific Steering Committee, who will be involved in general planning, decision-making and every clinical trial initiated and undertaken by the CanVECTOR Network. CanVECTOR will generate added-value and thereby, accelerate the health and economic benefits of health research for Canadians.