CNIA fosters opportunities for its members and the broader scholarly community to engage in and advance research aligned with its mandate to strengthen nursing informatics. Through the leadership of its Directors of Research, CNIA promotes a collaborative and ethically grounded research environment that emphasizes meaningful partnerships with researchers, institutions, and stakeholders. This work is guided by a commitment to active engagement in research processes that prioritize ethical conduct and generate clear benefits for participants and the wider community. CNIA also supports researchers by offering guidance, resources, and facilitation as needed, helping to advance high quality, impactful research in nursing informatics.

Would you like to get involved?

Do you have a question for us?

We would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us at:

research@cnia.ca

Meet CNIA Dicterors of Research 

Dr. Anila Virani and Irene Chen

Dr. Anila Virani brings more than twenty five years of experience across healthcare practice, academia, and research, with a sustained focus on advancing healthcare education and practice through digital innovation. She holds a PhD in Nursing and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia, where she contributed to the development of a virtual care platform for diabetes. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing. Her work sits at the intersection of technology and healthcare, with a focus on artificial intelligence, digital health, and technology enhanced learning. She is passionate about creating accessible, future focused learning environments and has led the development of innovative tools, including AI enabled simulation platforms and virtual experiences that strengthen empathy, communication, and clinical decision making in nursing education. As a CNIA Director of Research, Dr. Virani is committed to advancing collaborative, ethical, and impactful research that shapes the future of nursing informatics. She is dedicated to empowering researchers, fostering meaningful partnerships, and supporting innovations that improve health outcomes and transform care for diverse communities.

Irene Chen is a clinical nurse educator with over 20 years of diverse clinical and informatics leadership experience. She is a doctoral nursing student at University of Calgary and holds a Master of Nursing from Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as specialized education in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from the Michener Institute. Her scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed publications, national conference presentations and serves on the inaugural Research Council in the Osler Institute of Health Innovation. She dedicates to bridging clinical practice, research, and healthcare informatics across Canada, and to empower Canadian nurses through informatic research, collaboration, and innovation.