What is CRE-MSD?
The Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) conducts research to improve the understanding of and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Vision
Bringing researchers and workplace parties together to identify the key questions, research the best answers, and pass on the best knowledge that will lead to the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders at work.

Goals
1. To support workplace-partnered, stakeholder-focused research into the primary prevention of musculoskeletal disorders.
2. To generate transferable knowledge on the primary prevention of musculoskeletal disorders at work.

CRE-MSD brings together 35 researchers from nine different universities and institutes to collaborate on research into the prevention of MSDs. The Centre collaborates with and integrates multiple stakeholder groups within all stages of its research process on the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, including determining relevant research questions, data collection, conducting interventions, analysis and interpretation of the results. 

The Centre receives funding through a grant provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and its Research Advisory Council. CRE-MSD also receives support from the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. It receives advice and wisdom from an Advisory Committee that has broad representation from multiple stakeholder groups. The director is Dr. Richard Wells. 
 

CRE-MSD’s Mandate and Goals

Mandate:
To develop, through basic and applied research, the foundations for effective prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and disability.

This will be achieved through:
The identification of mechanisms of development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders

The development, implementation and evaluation of workplace strategies to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders and disability

Goals:
Increase research capacity in OH&S in Ontario through recruitment of researchers, training of students, and offering advanced training to practitioners.

Develop a coordinated, coherent, province-wide program of world-class OH&S research developing research areas, collaborating with other researchers, and by actively involving the major funder.

Build relationships with OH&S system partners and sector stakeholders

Improve knowledge transfer and utilization by increasing awareness, developing tools, increasing knowledge utilization by workplace parties and policy decision-makers, and stablishing the Centre as a trusted source of research knowledge.

Put in place Centre infrastructure, staff, organization and strategic planning process