August 4, 2026

Patient partners, researchers, and Can-SOLVE CKD team members gather virtually for the 2026 ROCKeT Annual Review.

As Can-SOLVE CKD’s Phase 2 research projects move closer to implementation, annual project reviews help keep them responsive to patient priorities, informed by diverse perspectives, and positioned to improve kidney care across Canada.

Held virtually on July 14, this year’s ROCKeT (Research Operations Committee and Knowledge Translation Committee) project reviews brought together researchers, patient partners, knowledge users, and Can-SOLVE CKD leadership to review progress reports from the network’s nine Phase 2 research projects.

Working in multidisciplinary review teams, participants assessed each project’s progress, identified strengths, discussed opportunities for improvement, and provided recommendations to help strengthen projects as they move toward implementation.

Bringing scientific and experiential knowledge together 

A defining feature of the annual ROCKeT reviews is the meaningful involvement of patient partners. Each project is reviewed by both a researcher and patient partners who are not directly involved in the project itself, bringing complementary perspectives that help strengthen implementation planning and maximize the potential impact of the research. 

Working alongside researchers and other network members, patient partners provide feedback informed by lived experience on areas such as patient engagement, knowledge mobilization, Indigenous cultural competency, equity, diversity and inclusion, implementation planning, and future opportunities and priorities. 

“The ROCKeT annual review is another example of how patients can have a meaningful impact in Can-SOLVE CKD research by asking questions, providing insights, and making suggestions, just as any other committee member would do,” says Sue McKenzie, patient partner and co-founder of the Transplant Ambassador Program.   

“In this committee, the traditional lines between patient partners and researchers have been successfully dismantled in a way that enables us to provide the most useful feedback to each research team,” she adds. 

Supporting collaboration and continuous learning

The annual reviews also create valuable opportunities for collaboration and shared learning across the network. This year, both new and experienced patient partners participated in the review process, creating opportunities for mentorship while broadening participants’ understanding of the network’s research portfolio. 

An iCARE researcher and patient partner discuss their Phase 2 research during the Can-SOLVE CKD Annual Meeting in May 2026.

To support meaningful participation, reviewers receive plain-language summaries of each project, reviewer guides, and evaluation tools in advance of the meeting, helping ensure everyone has a shared understanding of the projects and feels confident contributing to the discussion. 

“As our research projects move closer to implementation, the lived and living experiences of patient partners become even more valuable,” says Selina Allu, Knowledge Broker and Implementation Practitioner with the Can-SOLVE CKD Network. “Scientific evidence tells us what we know, while experiential knowledge helps us understand why it matters and how it can be applied in practice.” 

By bringing together diverse perspectives in a collaborative review process, the annual ROCKeT reviews help project teams refine their work, strengthen implementation planning, and maximize the impact of research in real-world care.  

They also reinforce one of Can-SOLVE CKD’s defining strengths: ensuring patient partners remain active contributors throughout the research journey—not only in shaping research, but also in helping guide how evidence is translated into practice.  

To learn more about how people with lived experience can participate in peer review of research, check out the People with Lived Experience in Peer Review course.  

This free, 30-minute online course is a collaborative effort of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Can-SOLVE CKD Network, the Canadian Nephrology Trials Network, and the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program.