Research
At Arthritis Research Canada, we’re conducting research to evaluate the safety and efficacy of originator biologics and biosimilars, and to understand the impact of biosimilar transition policies on people living with arthritis.
Click the links below to learn more about some of this important research.
Originator Biologics
- ANSWER-2: A biologic Decision Aid for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Risk of Severe Infections After the Introduction of Biologic DMARDs in People with Newly Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Has the Incidence of Total Joint Arthroplasty in Rheumatoid Arthritis Decreased in the Era of Biologics Use?
- Effects of a Web-Based Patient Decision Aid on Biologic and Small Molecule Agents for Rheumatoid Arthritis, ANSWER-2: A Proof-of-Concept Study
- Do Biologic Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis Offset Treatment-Related Resource Utilization and Cost? A Review of the Literature and an Instrumental Variable Analysis
- Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Initiating Biologic and Non-Biologic DMARDs, A Population-Based Study
- Biologics and Mortality Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis – Results of a Population Based Study
- Does Biologic Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Offset Health Care Costs in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis? An Instrumental Variable Approach Using Administrative Data
- Development and Usability Testing of ANSWER 2: A Web-Based Decision Aid for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Considering Biologic Therapy
- Effects of a Web-Based Patient Decision Aid on Biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Proof-of-Concept Study
- Comparative Safety of Biologic Versus Conventional Synthetic DMARDs in Rheumatoid Arthritis with COPD: A Real-World Population Study
- The Effect of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Biologics on the Acquisition of Subsequent Diseases and Adverse Events: A Matched Longitudinal Population Study
- The Effect of Patient, Prescriber and Region on the Initiation of First Biologic for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal Population Study
Biosimilars
- Safety and Effectiveness of Biosimilar Anti-TNF Agents in British Columbia – Exploiting a Natural Experiment from a Change in Health Policy.
- Comparison of Survival on Treatment Among New Users of Biosimilar vs. Originator Biologics in Inflammatory Arthritis: Population-Based Evidence from a Natural Experiment Due to a Policy Change
- Survival on Treatment After Switching to a Biosimilar: Population-Based Evidence From a Natural Experiment Due to a Policy Change
- Uptake of Biosimilar Drugs in Canada: Analysis of Provincial Policies and Usage Data
- Patterns of Biosimilar Use in the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry
Biosimilar Transition Policies
- Health Economic Evaluation of the Mandatory Switching Policy for Biosimilars in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Uptake and Spending on Biosimilar Infliximab and Etanercept After New Start and Switching Policies in Canada: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis
- How Did a Mandatory Switching Policy for Biosimilars in Canada Impact Uptake and Spending?
Research Scientist
Dr. Diane Lacaille, MDCM, MHSc, FRCPC
Scientific Director, Arthritis Research Canada
Dr. Diane Lacaille is the Scientific Director and Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada. She is also a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and has a rheumatology practice in Vancouver, BC. She holds the Mary Pack Chair in Rheumatology Research from UBC and the Arthritis Society of Canada. Dr. Lacaille completed medical school and internal medicine training at McGill University in Montreal, and her Rheumatology training and a Master’s in Health Sciences, clinical epidemiology, at UBC.
Dr. Lacaille’s research focuses on two areas: 1) Studying the impact of arthritis on employment and preventing work disability. To that effect, she has developed Making-it-WorkTM , an online program helping people with arthritis deal with employment issues. 2) Evaluating the quality of health care services received by people with rheumatoid arthritis. Her research has been supported by peer reviewed grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Arthritis Network, The Arthritis Society of Canada and the Canadian Rheumatology Association. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal in 2013 for her research contributions.
