Dr. Anne Junker and Victor Espinosa named 2023 Clinical Trials BC Awards recipients
24 May 2023
Vancouver, BC, May 24, 2023 – Clinical Trials BC is pleased to announce the recipients of two recognition awards: the Leadership & Advocacy Award and the Service & Support Award. The awards honour individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions and impacts to the clinical trials community in British Columbia (BC) and beyond.
“We are thrilled to bestow these awards on two very deserving individuals this year,” says Alison Orth, director, Clinical Trials BC, part of Michael Smith Health Research BC. “We thank them for their inspirational contributions that have made impacts to the clinical trials and research community throughout their careers.”
Leadership & Advocacy Award
The Leadership & Advocacy Award honours outstanding leaders and advocates for clinical trials at the provincial and/or national level. It is awarded to leaders who educate, mentor, advocate or spearhead projects, programs and strategies that benefit the clinical trials community.
Dr. Anne Junker, FRCPC
Associate professor emeritus (Pediatrics), The University of British Columbia/BC Children’s Hospital
Principal, UBC Emeritus College
This year, the award is presented to Dr. Anne Junker, who contributed four decades of work in clinical practice and clinical trials-related activities in pediatrics.
The award recognizes Dr. Junker’s extraordinary leadership contributions to the establishment of formal pediatric clinical trial guidance and the advancement of pediatric ethics, quality assurance, rare disease research and clinical trial data management efficiencies at all levels of governance. She is a strong promoter and advocate for the development of clinical trial and research networks in BC, Canada and internationally, including the Global Genomics Alliance, Maternal Infant Child and Youth Research Network (MICYRN) and (BCCRIN), which is now known as Clinical Trials BC.
Dr. Junker has mentored and inspired many clinical trial clinicians and professionals and is an avid supporter of education and training for all research team members.
“Congratulations on your award. Very well deserved. I am proud to have learned from you, continuing your legacy at BC Children’s Hospital research.” – Dr. Vesna Popovska, director research of Neurosciences Program at BC Children’s Hospital
Service & Support Award
The Service & Support Award recognizes the community-based, volunteer commitment of an individual, organization, company or agency to improve the research and clinical trials community.
Victor Espinosa
Manager, research informatics/statistics, Island Health
This year, the award is presented to Victor Espinosa, who has made distinguished contributions in service and support to advance clinical trials in BC and Canada.
His work in developing secure data management and statistical analysis systems has been instrumental in supporting clinical trial capacity and infrastructure building in the province and beyond. By validating and leveraging accessibility to REDCap , Victor has enabled clinical trial researchers with access to a validated electronic data capture platform that meets strict regulatory requirements. He is an active member of the international REDCap Consortium and recognized as a “REDCap All Star” in 2022 for his involvement and extensive contributions of clinical trial modules, processes and training elements. His work continues to support hundreds of clinical and health service research initiatives across BC and North America.
“Victor is a great representative for British Columbia on the global stage when it comes to research, and in particular, research data management. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for the researchers in our province and everything that you continue to do now and will do into the future.” – Cindy Trytten, director of research at Island Health
About Clinical Trials BC
Clinical Trials BC supports clinical trial investigators, sites and institutions to ensure a world-class destination for clinical trials. Focusing on infrastructure and capacity building with a collaborative approach, we enable clinical trial excellence across British Columbia. As part of Michael Smith Health Research BC, our mission is to maximize the health, educational and economic benefits of clinical trials to the citizens of British Columbia.
Learn more about the Clinical Trials BC Annual Awards.
