title: A national strategy for research on Schizophrenia. Introduction.
abstract: The National Strategy for Research on Schizophrenia currently consists of research priorities and a proposed structure for collaboration. Research panels have already come up with priorities in six different fields of research. The National Strategy will assist researchers in submitting proposals that fit in with the priorities. It will also encourage cooperation between researchers, clinical centres, consumers (patients) and families. This will help to prevent duplication of effort, and to focus research on the areas most likely to yield important results. The National Strategy will grow and change along with the nature of research in Canada and elsewhere. The credibility of the strategy rests on how well it reflects the interests and concerns of researchers, consumers and caregivers. The ultimate test will be its effectiveness in supporting and promoting research. This will occur when researchers acknowledge the strategy in their research proposal submissions, and funding agencies see this acknowledgement as a strength. The common core of the strategy is the administrative and coordinating structure of CAROS. CAROS plans to continue working with the research panels as they update their priorities, and these will be reviewed by interested stakeholders, especially consumers and families. CAROS also will maintain a database of ongoing research and will serve as a source of contact for researchers. Of special importance in implementing the National Strategy is the coordination of clinical centres. These clinical centres, many identified through the hospital system, may already be involved in research on schizophrenia and may be linked to existing research centres.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics; D012559:Schizophrenia