Rehabilitation Research is a field of study that focuses on injury prevention, restoration of function following injury or illness, enhancing participation and promoting independent living.

A research participant is a person who has agreed to take part in a research study. The nature of participation is different for each study. As a participant you may be asked to:

• Complete a survey or questionnaire
• Test a new device or technology
• Complete interviews with researchers
• Participate in physical or cognitive assessments

These are examples, and do not apply to all studies. The specific study activities will be explained to you prior to you providing consent.

A research partner is a current or former patient of TRI that is interested in volunteering alongside researchers during the research process. A research partner may be asked to:

1. Consult on research ideas
2. Assist with analysis and interpretation of research findings
3. Provide feedback regarding study procedures
4. Assist in sharing research results with the public or research community

We take the privacy of your health information very seriously. Your information will be stored in a secure database by Empower Health Research Inc. Empower is an Academic Research Organization (ARO) that follows best practices concerning data storage and handling.

These best practices include:

• Anonymity of personal data in secure database
• Unique user ID and password for each RVP member

If you have questions about the security of your personal information, please contact Empower Health Research Inc. www.empowerhealthresearch.ca

The term “eligible” means that your profile matches the characteristics that a researcher is looking for when recruiting people for a study. This means that you are likely to be a good fit for the study.

Eligibility for a study is determined by comparing the information that you provide on your RVP profile to a list of characteristics provided by the researcher. This process is called “screening” for eligibility. The RVP database enables this screening process, helping to connect members like you with studies you may be interested in.

The KITE Research Institute is the research arm of Toronto Rehab. It is a world leader in complex rehabilitation science dedicated to improving the lives of people living with the effects of disability, illness and aging.

KITE is one of the principal research enterprises at the University Health Network (UHN), Canada's top research hospital.

As an RVP member you will be directly contacted by TRI researchers about studies, and you will receive the RVP newsletter to help you stay connected. In the newsletter, you will find information about Toronto Rehab studies and interesting findings, upcoming events & presentations, and special features about our research labs and scientists. You may also visit the Toronto Rehab KITE Research Institute website for more information. Click here to visit the homepage.