Call for Applications for the Kidney Foundation of Canada Patient Community Advisory Network(PCAN)
Overview
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is seeking Lived Experience representatives to join our Patient Community Advisory Network for the Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training (KRESCENT) Program. The KRESCENT Program, is a national training program launched in 2005. This original and ongoing partnership program between The Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC), The Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute for Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (CIHR-INMD) was developed with the recognition from the Canadian Research Community of the rising prevalence of kidney disease and the need to train and maintain an increased number of highly skilled kidney research scientists.
KRESCENT is administered and supported by The Kidney Foundation of Canada, supported by CSN and has most recently been the recipient of a Health Research Training Platform grant from CIHR-INMD.
This is an opportunity for members of the Kidney community, including patients, caregivers, family and close friends to play a vital role in the training of future Kidney researchers and in Kidney Research. The Kidney Foundation of Canada wishes to ensure that those affected by Kidney disease have the opportunity to contribute their personal experience and knowledge to research and advocate for the lived experience perspective. By bringing the lived experience voice and expertise to the forefront we can advance research that is focused on the priorities of people living with kidney disease and their care partners.
Eligibility
KRESCENT’s Patient Community Advisory Network forms an important part of the KRESCENT program, providing mentorship and support to trainees, as well as acting in an advisory capacity for the development of training exercises and curriculum elements. PCAN is made up of 3-7 members who work as a team to contribute to the development of the program. Different from some lived experience partnership opportunities, PCAN represents an ongoing commitment to the KRESCENT program rather than a connection to a particular research project or institution. Please note that trainees come from all clinical and academic backgrounds, and PCAN plays an instrumental role in providing lived experience perspective, as well as key training in patient oriented research.
Positions within PCAN are assigned on a 3-year basis and require an interview and selection process, as well as a yearly time commitment (detailed below).
Role and Time Commitment:
- Participate in network meetings over the year (generally quarterly, with ad hoc meetings or emails between)
- Participate in curriculum activities including grant and manuscript lay summary review ( to take place yearly, generally around 10 hour commitment)
- Attend one annual, in-person meeting in Spring or Fall, typically May and December (3-5 days duration, expenses covered)
- Participate in developing and presenting training sessions for trainees
- Contribute to discussions, program development and trainee support/mentorship
- 3-year term Training and honoraria will be provided. Please note that PCAN members are provided a yearly stipend, as well as stipends to attend in person meetings. In person travel costs are covered by the KRESCENT program.
Applicants must submit a one-page letter of interest, two references*, and a resume to: julie.wysocki@kidney.ca.
There are limited spaces and not all who apply will be selected for this term.
*The references should speak to your lived experience, involvement with the Kidney community, prior professional experience.
The closing date for applications is 04/25, 2024, 5:00 p.m. EST
