In the initial application to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), ACCESS committed to creating a dedicated Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) Group to support the network in the sharing of knowledge across relevant audiences in meaningful, impactful ways.

Upon the approval of the CIHR proposal, the KMb Group immediately identified two priorities:

1. Assess the KMb needs of the pediatric cancer community in Canada to inform the development of ACCESS KMb plan; and
2. Advance urgent KMb needs already recognized by the community.

An adult-focused assessment and prioritization of the KMb needs of the childhood cancer community in Canada was separately supported by ACCESS and is currently underway. Without having yet completed the KMb needs assessment, the KMb Group has drawn from their expertise, experience, evidence and engagement to advance some of the anticipated or already identified KMb priority needs.

Working in close collaboration with the ACCESS Secretariat and the ACCESS network, the KMb Group aims to amplify the collective voice of the childhood cancer community in Canada by focusing on the following key aims – all of which will serve as exemplar works for future replication:

1. Describing and prioritizing the KMb needs of vulnerable populations within the pediatric cancer community in Canada including children, their siblings and friends;
2. Creating child-centric KMb materials by partnering with national and international groups to adapt their child-centric resources for use across Canada;
3. Creating sustainable structures to measure the impact and reach of ACCESS over time by developing and piloting novel analytic tools that evaluate knowledge flow and network connectivity;
4. Maximizing the online visibility, reach and impact of ACCESS by developing community-driven training and resources to enhance ACCESS members’ use of websites and social media platforms; and
5. Addressing the most pressing KMb needs through consultation with experts from across the childhood cancer community in Canada.

This work will strengthen ACCESS’ profile and impact by deepening its understanding of the KMb needs of both the network and the broader pediatric cancer community in Canada. It will also ensure the equitable flow of knowledge – particularly for and from vulnerable populations – throughout the pediatric cancer community in Canada, thereby enhancing collaboration, inclusivity and global engagement, and strengthening the collective KMb capacity of the ACCESS network.

For more information, please contact Tricia Schneider.