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May 14, 2026
# OCAD U researcher joins federally funded back pain study
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A transdisciplinary research project involving OCAD University Associate Professor Dr. William (Bill) Leeming has received federal funding through the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Exploration stream, which supports bold, interdisciplinary and high-risk research initiatives.
The project, *Comprehensive Assessment and Response in Emergency Departments for Back Pain (CARE4BACKS)*, received $249,847 as part of a broader federal investment of more than $168 million in research funding announced on May 13, including nearly $23 million dedicated to NFRF Exploration grants.
[NFRF](https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/index-eng.aspx) supports world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk/high-reward, transformative and rapid-response Canadian-led research. Its [Exploration](https://sshrc-crsh.canada.ca/funding-financement/nfrf-fnfr/exploration/exploration-eng.aspx) stream funds projects that bring research teams together to reach beyond traditional disciplinary or common interdisciplinary approaches.
“Canada is a global leader in research and innovation, and today’s investment strengthens our position in an increasingly competitive world. By backing top talent and bold ideas, we are driving economic growth, attracting the best minds and turning Canadian discoveries into real-world solutions that will shape our future,” said The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, in making the announcement.
The transdisciplinary research team is bringing together clinicians, designers, patient partners and researchers to examine how back pain care is currently delivered in Canadian emergency departments and to explore new models for improving patient care in the future.
The project’s inclusion of design expertise highlights the growing role of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing complex health-care challenges.
Focused initially on emergency departments in British Columbia, the *CARE4BACKS* project will investigate how health-care systems can better respond to one of the most common and persistent reasons patients seek emergency care.
The project is being administered by Assistant Professor Dr. Clare Ardern from the University of British Columbia who is the nominated Principal Investigator, alongside Co-Principal Investigator Assistant Professor Dr. Jessica Wong from Western University.
Dr. Leeming is one of three co-applicants of the *CARE4BACKS* project, along with Professor Dr. François Desmeules from the Université de Montréal and Professor Dr. Karim Khan from the University of British Columbia.
Each co-applicant is leading the design and implementation of various types of data collection and analysis. Dr. Leeming is designing and undertaking "script" analyses of qualitative research. This involves conducting individual interviews and focus groups with patients who visited emergency departments in various hospitals in British Columbia for severe lower back pain. The goal is to better understand their experiences and how care could be improved.
Dr. Desmeules and Dr. Khan are assembling and comparatively analyzing large quantitative data sets.
OCAD U alum Alex Haagaard, who graduated from the University’s Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design in 2013, is also collaborator on the project. Haagaard is an independent design researcher and patient engagement specialist.
**Photo by** [**Julien Tromeur**](https://unsplash.com/@julientromeur?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) **on Unsplash**
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