The research collective: bridging the chasm.

Decision-makers in healthcare face many challenges in obtaining, analyzing and applying research results, including multiple priorities, competition among stakeholders and the time required to synthesize evidence. The research collective described by Pineault et al. appears to expedite access to information that can help inform policy decisions. It also challenges both researchers and decision-makers to better understand each other's context. Achieving such an understanding will require us all to step outside our traditional comfort zones, but this greater trust and flexibility stand to benefit all those who work in the healthcare system and those who rely upon it for care.