San Francisco Declaration on
Research Assessment (DORA)

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) endorses the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) as part of its commitment to fair, inclusive and responsible evaluation of research excellence.

As an institute dedicated to improving the lives of older adults, MIRA recognizes that traditional academic metrics alone cannot capture the full value, quality and impact of research that meaningfully engages and benefits communities. Aligning with DORA reinforces MIRA’s mission to support research based on real-world impact, methodological rigor and contributions to the aging sector.

MIRA integrates design thinking into its research programs to ensure that the questions our researchers ask and the solutions they develop are informed by the lived experiences of the people impacted by the research — older adults, caregivers, clinicians, policy makers and community partners. This collaborative, iterative approach makes knowledge user engagement a catalyst for research innovation and societal benefit. Accordingly, MIRA asks its funded researchers to report how engagement has shaped or changed their projects, ensuring that community voices concretely influence research direction and outcomes.

In alignment with responsible research assessment principles, MIRA values a broad spectrum of outputs that contribute to knowledge mobilization and community impact. These include media engagement, public talks, publicly accessible datasets and tools, policy contributions, interdisciplinary collaboration and other forms of knowledge sharing not traditionally emphasized in academic evaluation.

By endorsing DORA, MIRA reinforces its commitment to recognizing and rewarding research that advances equity, fosters genuine community engagement, and delivers meaningful improvements in the lives of older adults.