QPRN’s mission is to contribute to the understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms of pain, to prevent its chronicization, and to improve its management to contribute to the well-being of people living with pain and their families, through innovative, inclusive, partnership-based and intersectoral research activities and the mobilization of knowledge, while contributing to the knowledge and training of health care professionals. In addition, QPRN supports innovative projects targeting unmet needs, including the diversity of the experience (pain spectrum) that has to consider the environment, the body, and the mind for holistic pain and suffering management. It is clear that an individual’s values and beliefs influence their pain; therefore, it is essential to incorporate cultural and spiritual components into research questions, clinical practices, and various approaches to pain management.
RQSPAL’s mission is to contribute, through research and knowledge transfer, to improving the quality, accessibility, and equity of palliative and end-of-life care. It promotes the development of interdisciplinary, innovative research grounded in a holistic approach to the experience of serious illness, suffering, and the end of life. This approach specifically recognizes the physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, and existential dimensions of suffering, as well as the realities experienced by individuals, their loved ones, and those who support them. RQSPAL thus seeks to support initiatives that foster a better understanding of these various dimensions and contribute to the advancement of practice and knowledge in palliative and end-of-life care. This commitment aligns particularly well with the priorities of RQSPAL’s Priority Area 1, which focuses on the interdisciplinary care of vulnerable individuals and their loved ones, as well as understanding and alleviating their suffering in all its dimensions—including physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and existential.
On this basis, the two networks are jointly launching this call for proposals to launch an interdisciplinary research project on spirituality in the context of pain and palliative care. The proposed approach is as follows:
- Start-up meeting and collaborative brainstorming session on priorities (virtual, October 15, 2026 at 2 p.m.)
- Co-design and structure an interdisciplinary research project (in person or virtually, mid-November 2026)
- Financial support provided up to $20,000 ($10,000 from QPRN and $10,000 from RQSPAL)
In addition to the $20,000 funding, the winning teams will benefit from :
- Strategic and scientific support from QPRN and RQSPAL management team, to foster links with other ongoing initiatives,
- Access to QPRN knowledge mobilization platforms and support for the production of dissemination material
- Dissemination of the results via social media and newsletters from RQSPAL and QPRN;
- Support from the networks’ facilitation teams to integrate spirituality research concepts if this is a new element in your programming
The deadline to express your interest in participating in the first meeting is October 2, 2026 by contacting iulia.tufa@qprn.ca.
