Nearly 4.5 million Canadians suffer from arthritis. The number is expected to increase to 6 million by 2026. The economic burden of musculoskeletal conditions (mostly arthritis) in Canada is about $16.4 billion a year—10% of the estimated total burden of all illnesses and while people think that arthritis is a disease of the elderly, most arthritis sufferers are under 65 years of age.

The Canadian Arthritis Network's mission is to improve the quality of life of people with arthritis; decrease the personal, societal and economic burden of the disease; and promote the growth of the Canadian economy through research projects in osteoarthritis, inflammatory joint diseases and bioengineering to restore the mobility of joints. CAN's resources support its mission in three key areas: the early development of potential treatments, sharing research results that may lead to new treatments and devices, and supporting the work of Canadian scientists.

The Training and Education Committee ensures that CAN's strategy meets the needs of trainees and the research community. CAN's training program is funded through a partnership with The Arthritis Society, which generously provides $500,000 per year. CAN's encourages scientists, doctors and trainees to choose arthritis as their specialty and ensure a continuing pipeline of excellent research and patient care in Canada.

Between 1998 and 2006, CAN offered financial support to 1,600 trainees and gave them the opportunity to work on CAN-funded projects. Ninety per cent of them pursued careers in arthritis research, medicine or veterinary medicine, and 78% have remained in Canada.

CAN is also helping to build and promote the success of Canadian biotechnology companies. The Network's investigators have made 52 invention disclosures, while the Network has issued 20 patents and copyrights, signed 27 confidential disclosure agreements, obtained two licences, created six spin-off companies and assisted 11 Canadian biotech companies to develop and validate their products.

Anacoti Ltd. is a spin-off company set up to hold patents related to the development of synthetic N-acyl glucosamines. In tests, the principal product, N-butyryl glucosamine (ANABU™), has been shown to improve and regenerate damaged articular cartilage and prevent or reverse osteoporosis. Glucosamine is already used extensively by humans and in domestic animals. If the compounds reach the human or animal market, we will have new way of treating bone and joint problems. Because ANABU™ has very low toxicity and is based on naturally occurring glucosamine, it can be licensed as a pharmaceutical or a nutraceutical, which opens up more opportunities for commercialization.

The Canadian Rheumatology Research Consortium (CRRC), established with funding and support from CAN to conduct clinical trials, is the first national research program of its kind in arthritis. It offers centralized site selection, budget negotiation and consulting in clinical development through advisory boards, data safety monitoring boards, and trial design and evaluation. CAN's role is to promote the CRRC's capabilities and help link the Consortium with companies and individuals who would benefit from its expertise. Together, CAN and the CRRC are speeding the arrival of new therapies on the market that will help relieve or manage the pain of inflammatory arthritis.

CAN is the first network of its kind to involve consumers (knowledgeable arthritis sufferers who are often advocates). As members of CAN's Consumer Advisory Council, they put a human face on arthritis. They remind Network Investigators and partners that research is not just about science, but about helping people. Council members participate on every CAN committee and attend all conferences and workshops. They also take part in the process for funding projects, influencing the direction of arthritis research in Canada. Peer organizations around the world recognize that CAN's relationship with consumers is a model of how to bring researchers and end-users together to accelerate results.

Canadian Arthritis Network - CAN (1999-2012)
Focus:	To improve the quality of life of people with arthritis, decrease the personal, societal and economic burden of the disease and promote the growth of the Canadian economy through arthritis R&D.
Funding:	$54.71 million for entire funding period
Strength:	61 researchers and 548 Highly Qualified Personnel
Partnership Power:	265 industry, public service and academic partners
Scientific Directors:	Dr. Claire Bombardier and Dr. Monique Gignac
Web site:	www.arthritisnetwork.ca