What is the Impact of Involving Transdisciplinary Model Users in Policy-Oriented Simulation Modelling? A Meta-Research Study

This BC-based project, funded through the Research on Research Initiative (RORI) with support from Health Research BC, explores how involving diverse voices in health policy modelling can improve decision-making. The Principal Investigator, Dr. Kate Johnson, is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia specializing in health economics and simulation modelling. She leads a team of experts in philosophy, medicine, and knowledge translation from UBC and international institutions. 

Computer simulation models are widely used to guide health policy, but they are often developed by technical experts without input from patients, clinicians, policymakers, or the public. This lack of involvement raises concerns because building these models requires social and ethical judgments that can influence policy outcomes. Our project addresses this gap by studying what happens when transdisciplinary model users—such as patients and decision-makers—are actively involved in developing a policy model for asthma prevention in Canada. 

Using the “Lifetime Exposures and Asthma outcomes Projection” (LEAP) model as a case study, we will evaluate how this involvement affects model results, trust in the model, and the perceived value of the process. Findings will help research funders and health systems understand best practices for inclusive modelling, ultimately supporting more transparent, trustworthy, and patient-informed health policies in BC and beyond. This work will strengthen BC’s capacity in cost-effective, patient-centered strategies for asthma prevention. 

More info: https://leap.core.ubc.ca  

https://www.legacyairwayhealth.ca/