Baycrest

KL-CARE Annual Report 2016-2017 Page 5 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Growth, integration, and collaboration. If I had to pick three words to represent the past year for the Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied Research & Evaluation (KL-CARE) team, it would be those three. In 2016-2017, the KL-CARE team nearly doubled in size, onboarding new talent to build our capacity while also enhancing and broadening our available skill sets. We saw our project portfolio also nearly double in size as our collaboration with Baycrest's Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) took flight. As KL-CARE works toward its mission of providing expertise and capacity to clinicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, students, and commercial organizations in conducting applied and evaluative research, we worked with over 20 different departments and programs here at Baycrest. Our interdisciplinary approach and collaborative model of research have allowed KL-CARE staff to integrate themselves into the fabric of 30 applied research and program evaluation projects across the medical and clinical services, education, and innovation portfolios. We have also started to work with innovators, entrepreneurs, and national and multi-national organizations in testing and validating new solutions for older adults, helping them to: • better understand how these solutions are used by older adults in real-world environments; • improve the efficacy of these solutions; and • measure their impact. Ultimately, KL-CARE aspires to collaborate with our clinician, research, and industry clients to positively impact the care of Baycrest clients, their families, and caregivers. As you will see in the 2016-2017 KL-CARE annual report, I do believe that we have made significant progress on this mandate, whether that be helping to improve care practices at the bedside; developing and delivering new programs that enhance clients' access to care; or providing evidence of the tangible impact of solutions, programs, or care practices on the quality of life of older adults. As we enter a new academic year, the KL-CARE team looks forward to working dynamically with our clinician, research, and industry partners to bring more applied and evaluative research to life, while also demonstrating the benefits of that research for Baycrest and the clients and families we serve. Rosanne Aleong, PhD Director, Research, Innovation & Translation Rotman Research Institute

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