ST. JOHN’S – Memorial University of Newfoundland and Toronto-based Janssen Inc. have announced a partnership that will leverage research to inform health system decision-making and bring healthcare improvements to clinical providers, patients, and the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Janssen and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Innovation Partnership (JANL-HIP) will focus on identifying priorities and undertaking real world evidence projects in complex conditions that are highly prevalent across the province.

One of the illnesses that will be researched through JANL-HIP is psoriatic disease.

According to Dr. Proton Rahman (pictured), associate dean of clinical research and a professor of rheumatology in the faculty of medicine, “About six per cent of the people in Newfoundland and Labrador suffer from (psoriasis), more than double that of normal society in this country,” Rahman said.

The collaboration also includes representation from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Ministry of Health and Community Services, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Eastern Health and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information.

Funding for the partnership is through Janssen and in-kind support from the Translational and Personalized Medicine Initiative at Memorial University.

“We believe evidence-based decisions lead to the best outcomes,” said Chris Halyk, president, Janssen. “We are very pleased to be part of this important collaboration with Memorial University to uncover insights that will ultimately lead to improved healthcare in Newfoundland and Labrador and other parts of the country.”

About Real World Evidence

Real world evidence (RWE) is the application of data collected from a variety of sources such as electronic medical records, health registries, and administrative claims data generated outside of a randomized controlled trial. Data from these sources provides important information about patient experience and treatment implementation. To be used as evidence, these data must be compiled and evaluated to address a specific research question that can be valuable to health system decision-makers, researchers, healthcare providers, regulators and the healthcare industry, to provide the evidence needed for effective decision-making and improved patient care.

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies

At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are working to create a world without disease. Transforming lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease inspires us. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We are Janssen. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it. Learn more at www.janssen.com/canada.