CLINICAL TRIAL EXPERTISE: BC is home to world-class clinical trial investigators and globally certified coordinators. Our researchers are internationally known for their expertise in oncology, cardiology, neurology, infectious disease, pediatric clinical trials and more.

LEADING RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS: BC has multiple research-focused post-secondary institutions located across the province. The University of British Columbia is ranked in the top 50 world-wide for translational research. UBC’s Research Excellence Program provides support and funding to clusters led by researchers at the institution and aims to build networks with high-achieving goals.

NETWORKED INFRASTRUCTURE: BC has an extensive network of clinical research hubs embedded within our health care system to provide infrastructure and support for trials across the province in both hospital and community settings.

DIVERSE POPULATION: BC is home to ~5.6 million people and the most ethnically diverse province in Canada with substantial South Asian, East Asian, European and Indigenous communities. Almost 30 percent of the population are immigrants.

STRONG AND GROWING LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR: BC is home to the fastest-growing life sciences sector in Canada. Our government has a strategy to accelerate BC’s development as a worldwide life sciences hub by nurturing new talent, developing new lab space, expanding clinical trial capacity, and leveraging research capacity.

PEDIATRIC CLINICAL TRIALS SUPER HUB: BC Children’s Hospital supports access to clinical trials for children. When this super hub eventually expands, those same clinical trials can be delivered to children throughout the province and the Yukon.

EARLY PHASE RESEARCH: BC has two new Phase I facilities aimed to accelerate early-stage research and a third in development. This includes a dedicated inpatient clinical trials unit for early-phase therapies, and a new Phase I unit for healthy volunteer trials set to launch in summer 2025 at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital.

NORTHERN CENTRE FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH (NCCR): The new NCCR is focused on enabling clinical trials and research relevant to northern, remote and Indigenous populations to improve health care. The NCCR supports rural populations and remote communities to have access to more clinical research opportunities.

IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND STREAMLINING: BC is working towards a harmonized system for research ethics review processes of clinical trials conducted across multiple jurisdictions, and a provincially harmonized Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS) with centralized program management.

ADVANCING THE WORKFORCE: Clinical Trials BC supports the growth of a quality-focused clinical trials workforce across the province. Trial personnel are provided with fit-for-purpose resources, tools, financial support, internship, and mentorship for their professional development and training needs.

A FOCUS ON QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE: Our quality management system (QMS) program enables adherence to regulations and best practices. This program includes development and implementation planning, tools and resources, mentorship, communities of practice, training and a quality leadership course.

ENHANCED ENGAGEMENTS WITH PATIENTS, COMMUNITIES AND THE PUBLIC: REACH BC is a provincial digital platform that supports researchers with their recruitment activity and results sharing for clinical trials. With its unique matching algorithm, it enables equitable participation in trials and meaningful patient and public involvement.