Alberta RWE Consortium

Who We Are

The Alberta Real World Evidence Consortium is an expert pan-provincial academic research team from the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the Institute of Health Economics.

We conduct timely, health-focused real world evidence research projects that use health system data. We collaborate with private and public sector funding partners while upholding academic standards that ensure the integrity of results.

What We Do

We are experts at

Cross Sector Research Collaboration

Advancing multi-sector partnerships and clinical key opinion leader engagement to generate real world evidence that informs policy and clinical practice.

Research Governance

Managing legal agreements, ethics approvals, data custodian requirements, and privacy compliance requirements specific to real world evidence studies.

Methodological Expertise

Developing research questions and study designs to generate meaningful evidence while applying best practices.

Study Execution

Delivering high-quality analytics, ensuring the integrity of results and robust, actionable evidence.

Knowledge Mobilization

Supporting evidence-informed decision-making through dissemination activities, including reports and peer-reviewed publications.

Why Alberta Stands Out In RWE

The largest fully integrated health system in Canada.

Advanced and comprehensive population-level health information systems and data assets.

World-leading clinical, methodological, and analytic expertise.

Featured Projects

Factors associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes among adults with at least a primary vaccination schedule: a retrospective cohort study from Alberta, Canada

With most Canadian adults vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, identifying those still at risk for severe COVID-19 (hospitalization, death) is critical. This Alberta study examines risk factors among adults with at least a primary vaccination to inform immunization recommendations, guide public-health implementation, and support long-term, evidence-based COVID-19 management.

Post-Stroke Spasticity Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Alberta, Canada

Spasticity can be an impairing feature of a number of disorders including stroke. Understanding post-stroke spasticity treatment in everyday clinical practice may identify opportunities to optimise use of these treatments and improve patient care. To date, few such studies have been conducted. This study describes the types of post-stroke spasticity treatments received in Alberta, and discusses their use in relation to Canadian guideline-based recommendations.

Inequalities in the use of disease-modifying therapy among adults living with multiple sclerosis in urban and rural areas in Alberta, Canada

Disease-modifying therapy (DMT) is the current pharmacologic standard of care for treating people living with (relapsing-remitting) multiple sclerosis. Given the proven efficacy of DMT, equitable access is of great importance for people living with multiple sclerosis. This study compares DMT use and time to initiation of therapy between people living with multiple sclerosis who reside in rural versus urban areas.

The healthcare cost of migraine: a retrospective cohort study from Alberta, Canada.

Approximately 10% of people living in Canada report being diagnosed with migraine. Migraine attacks can significantly impair function, and negatively impact social and family life, workplace productivity, and finances. The economic burden of migraine on healthcare systems is also substantial. This study provides insights into the direct healthcare costs associated with persons living with migraine, including chronic and episodic migraine in Alberta.

Funding Partners

UCB

Knight Therapeutics

Jazz

IQVIA

Biogen

Moderna

Mallinckrodt

Intuitive

Bayer

Prairies Economic Development Canada

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Parexel

Purdue

Janssen

University Hospital Foundation

Ferring

Lundbeck

UCB

CSL Behring

Pfizer

GSK

Novo Nordisk

Novartis

Roche

AbbVie

RWE Insights

Newsletters and Annual Reports

Research Partners

What Our Partners Say

Michael Leo, Director, Market Access & Government Affairs CSL Behring Canada

The research and analysis undertaken by the Alberta Real World Evidence Consortium on behalf of CSL Behring has advanced the robust evidence needed to demonstrate the value treatments for rare disorders to the Canadian healthcare system. It is precisely this kind of evidence – factual, real-world and drawn from Alberta’s rich administrative data sets that point all stakeholders towards a better future of policy-making related to improved access for patients, justifiable reimbursement and value for money in a public healthcare system. The work that was undertaken was all the more impressive since it involved many public jurisdictions in the Canadian healthcare system to provide a complete solution. The ARWEC team was professional, knowledgeable and innovative in their approach to this research – a great team to work with.

Vikram Karnik, MD FRCPC

“Working with the team has been an awesome experience. Their insights and guidance were invaluable in launching our project. Their responses are always incredibly timely, and the accountability for their work is very impressive. I am so grateful to work with this team!”

See more testimonials and reviews from our partners.