Raising the bar on clinical research at Interior Health

High-quality clinical research requires specialized skills.  

Health Research BC’s Clinical Trials BC team is leading a province-wide program aimed at expanding the pool of skilled and accredited research staff by providing enhanced education and training support. 

The Workforce Advancement and Training Program helps research organizations and their staff excel in one of the world’s most heavily regulated industries. The program increases access to essential training, including international certifications and professional designations. 

Dusty De Jesus, Clinical Research Coordinator at Interior Health, has seen the impact first-hand.  

“The support we have received from Clinical Trials BC over the last several years has made a fundamental difference in our capacity to conduct clinical trials,” she says. “The training has provided us with knowledge and guidance to standardize our processes and therefore ensure compliance with regulations.” 

Previously, Interior Health staff relied on mentorship and knowledge sharing about how to conduct clinical trials. Research team members received training when they joined the organization, but the courses were not standardized or accredited beyond formal N2 – Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Canada course completion certificates. 

Now, Interior Health staff have access to a range of opportunities, including:  

• Quality Leadership Program
• Quality Management Systems Program
• Audit Inspection Preparedness Program
• Partnered E-learning tools
  • Association of Clinical Research Professionals Learning Management System
  • Network of Networks (N2) CITI-Canada courses and other resources 

Together, these programs have helped standardize training and increase the number of people in BC qualified to conduct clinical trials. 

“The education sessions with Clinical Trials BC certainly provide us with credibility,” says Dr. Barbara Jean Buckley, Researcher, Manager Research Compliance at Interior Health. “When sponsors from industry or qualified investigators want us to conduct a clinical trial, they can come to us knowing we have the applicable clinical research education and training.” 

The numbers speak for themselves. Since Clinical Trials BC began providing support, 189 staff have completed a CITI-Canada course, with a total of 568 CITI-Canada course completion certificates issued.

“We can now say with confidence that all clinical research team members have completed the many certifications to adhere to various regulatory bodies’ guidelines and requirements, as well as received education in best practices,” says Dr. Buckley. “This has increased the capacity of our team to provide the best quality research for patients, physicians and research as a whole.”

Stay informed

Stay tuned for more exciting stories that highlight impacts being made across BC. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.