About GIPPEC

Background

The Global Institute of Psychosocial, Palliative and End-of-Life Care (GIPPEC) is devoted to promoting and developing interdisciplinary research that addresses the medical, psychological, social, legal, ethical, cultural and religious problems related to psychosocial and palliative care of individuals with advanced and terminal disease.

Our vision is to be an interdisciplinary, collaborative center for research and education focused on the psychological, physical and social consequences of life threatening and advanced disease. We have established and will continue to maintain excellence in:

Research – foster the emergence of collaborative research nationally and internationally

Knowledge Mobilization – support translation of knowledge from research to inform public debate, health policy , and decision making in health care

Education – enhance knowledge and research skills relevant to palliative and supportive care

Three Pillars

The educational aims of GIPPEC are to enhance research skills relevant to palliative and end-of-life care in both faculty and trainees by:

  • Encouraging and supporting graduate research training in palliative and end-of life care in participating departments Visiting faculty and visiting students exchange with participating international units.
  • Presentations and workshops on interdisciplinary research projects by core and associate faculty and trainees and by visiting faculty and trainees.
  • Development and evaluation of strategies to educate the public, health professionals and trainees in palliative and end-of-life care in developing and developed countries to eliminate barriers to access of palliative and end-of-life care for those with advanced and terminal disease.
  • International symposia on critical topics in research in palliative and end-of-life care.

GIPPEC creates a convergence of academic faculty from multiple departments and divisions and fosters the emergence of collaborative research teams at the University of Toronto and with national and international partners. It facilitates the application and integration of methods from the social sciences, humanities and from the health sciences to problems related to palliative and end-of-life care and to the conduct of multicentre and interdisciplinary research. Collaborative research includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the development and evaluation of:

  • Culturally sensitive and rigorous interdisciplinary research methods.
  • Interventions to relieve suffering in patients and families with advanced and terminal disease and in bereavement.
  • Health policy and health systems issues related to the availability of palliative and end-of-life care and its integration into the management of advanced and terminal disease in diverse settings and in developed and developing countries.
  • Education of the public, of health professionals and of trainees in palliative and end-of-life care in developing and developed countries.
  • Legal, ethical, religious and cultural issues related to aggressive medical care in individuals with advanced disease and to assisted dying.
  • Global strategies to support the availability of palliative care, including narcotic and other analgesic medication for optimal pain and symptom control, in the context of advanced and terminal disease.

The critical mass of investigators locally, nationally and internationally allows for the generation of thoughtful and evidence-based contributions to policy, practice and education of health professionals and the general public. Education of the public will be linked to the faculty of GIPPEC and to the visiting scholars invited to participate in meetings organized for the general public and organizations and groups with a special interest in palliative and end-of-life care.

An important outcome for GIPPEC is the measurable influence of research emanating from this Institute on policy and on the availability and quality of palliative and end-of-life care locally, national and internationally. This will occur as a result of the engagement of scholars and international partners from the Institute with key stakeholders in palliative and end-of-life care locally, nationally and internationally, including governmental and other decision-making health care bodies, professional organizations, public policy leaders and judicial bodies.

The knowledge generated from GIPPEC allows scholarship and evidence to enter the public debate and decision-making in health care and by legislative bodies in a domain that has often been dominated by rhetoric and strongly held personal opinion.

Sponsors

Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation

Partners

African Palliative Care Association
University of Ferrara
Kensington Hospice

Affiliates

University of Toronto
University Health Network
Learn More about our Partners

Navigation

Social Media