Making lives better through practice and research.

Expert knowledge is the defining feature of any profession. Research is the currency by which ownership of that knowledge is vested. Among the nations, Canada rightfully stands as the historical champion for expertise within the chiropractic profession. As the evidence has accumulated and the era of competition engaged, Canada has again taken leadership through its efforts to integrate chiropractic clinician-scientists within the university system across the country. With the successes of placement to date, some might ask what is the value in accelerating research efforts within the chiropractic institutions? There are three fundamental reasons for such investment. Chiropractic education is the nursery for future clinician-scientists who can cross-pollinate ideas and influence the broader research and clinical communities. Right now, we have fallen behind our challengers. Our future requires a modern, competitive research culture to attract and to foster young minds that will lead on our behalf. Society, the power that grants a profession privilege and self-regulating authority, expects a profession will rigorously develop, maintain and expand its own expert knowledge base for the betterment of the public it serves.1 Achieving these objectives is no longer possible through collaboration alone. To be sustainable, the profession must develop its own research identity and create a credible footprint that fills a scientific niche, contributing knowledge and value to the public. This is the driving philosophy behind Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College as it looks forward to building on past achievements. Based on both near and long term strategic planning, CMCC has embarked on a renewal program of its dual mission to educate and develop new knowledge that improves the health of society. Five new on-site laboratories (Biomechanics and Elastography, Tissue Testing, Cellular and Molecular, Materials and Fabrication and Neurophysiology) have been established along with expansion of the research faculty. Research for both clinical and fundamental mechanisms relevant to chiropractic patients has been reorganised under themes represented by two Centres who share the efforts of faculty; 1) The Centre for Study of Interprofessional Health Dynamics, and 2) The Centre for Study of Mechanobiology, Injury and Health. Both Centres interact and collaborate with university scientists in Canada and the United States. Interprofessional Dynamics, with 6 active members, perform clinical and health policy studies to improve the integration of chiropractic within the health care system. Marion McGregor, DC, MSc, PhD, with Dr. Sil Mior were the first to receive Ontario ministry funding as chiropractors over 20 years ago. She has rejoined CMCC and, with the lead of Dr. Sil Mior they have been awarded a new large Ministry grant. Besides examining the outcomes and mechanics of interprofessional care delivery, the Centre brings the analytic skills of system dynamics to bear asking questions on successful strategies for professional growth.2 That is, the influence of various factors underpinning how professions advance and gain/lose cultural authority, influence and utilization of services by patients.1 Mechanobiology, Injury and Health focuses on questions of clinical effectiveness and the mechanisms of health; particularly the homeostatic balance of mechanical factors that may promote health and those involved in what are now known as mechanotransduction diseases.3 Drs. Steve and Julita Injeyan investigate cellular biomarkers of the inflammatory cascade and their response to treatment. Dr. Erwin challenges common wisdom on how discs develop, age and heal from injury. Dr. Triano examines manual skills in effort to optimize treatment delivery and has recently lead an international team of researchers to obtain the first jointly funded NCAAM/NIH-CIHR award to study the effects of forces on soft tissues. Dr. Vernon continues his interest in neck care, leading his team of investigators in another jointly funded NCAAM/NIH-CIHR award. Additional team members, which are introduced in the pages that follow, have joined CMCC bringing their own skills and research focus. As the sophistication of scientific method and the profession have evolved, daunting questions on spinal function have remained. CMCC believes that we are at the brink of technological advance, social demand and professional need convergance; making it possible to address these questions. As a result, the college has authorized the formation of a private research chair position. A search has commenced to identify the appropriate candidate whose talent and interest are in the fields of joint instability, degeneration and subluxation research. Each of these topics is served by similar tools and knowledge. While some question the use of the term “subluxation,” its connotations are the creation of this profession. Only this profession can settle its validity, role and value by having the courage of dispassionate query. Society grants cultural authority founded on its expectation that a profession will caretake its expert knowledge and base it on the public’s interest.

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