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POPLAR Governance

POPLAR works to provide safe and secure access to primary care data for learning and research activities that benefit health care providers, patients, and the public.

 

POPLAR is mainly funded through the Ontario Ministry of Health.

 

POPLAR has partnered with ICES (https://www.ices.on.ca), a trusted steward of Ontario’s health data, to collect and store electronic medical record data. Researchers with approved projects can access this data from the POPLAR Dataset at ICES. 

 

POPLAR also works with Innovations Strengthening Primary Health Care Through Research (INSPIRE-PHC) to improve primary care research and support health policy decisions in Ontario.  

POPLAR Governance Structure Diagram - July 2026.jpg

POPLAR has several committees that help guide its work.

 

Steering Committee 

  • Makes strategic decisions about POPLAR’s direction,

  • Reviews and approves new ideas and recommendations from other committees,

  • Made up of people from each of the seven Practice-Based Learning and Research Networks (PBLRNs), the INSPIRE-PHC program, and patient partners.   

 

Executive Committee

  • Oversees POPLAR’s day-to-day operations,

  • Carries out decisions made by the Steering Committee,

  • Made up of current and past leadership, management, and administrative personnel.   

 

Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) 

  • Brings expertise in patient experiences, needs, and expectations,

  • Reviews communication materials and research projects,

  • Made up of patients and care partners from across Ontario.  

 

Finance Committee 

  • Reviews POPLAR spending,

  • Makes budget recommendations to Steering,

  • Made up of leadership, management, and PBLRN representatives.

 

Project Intake Committee 

  • Reviews and approves research projects,

  • Makes sure all required documents and approvals are complete,

  • Communicates with ICES data access team,

  • Made up of leadership, research coordinator, and people from each PBLRN.

 

Data & Information Management Committee 

  • Manages how data is handled and processed,

  • Ensures data is organized and secure,

  • Made up of POPLAR and ICES data managers.

 

Indigenous Data Committee

  • Leads work to ensure respectful engagement with Indigenous communities,

  • Follows important data governance principles with respect to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities,

  • Made up of POPLAR leadership and management, NORTHH network personnel, and ICES Indigenous partnerships.

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