Research Approvals Processes: December 2025 update

Over the past two months, the RAPP team has been actively advancing multiple workstreams, aiming on bringing the project closer to its goal of streamlining research approvals and increasing timeliness of health research in BC.

Workstream Updates

Operational 

The RAPP team conducted and presented an analysis of available and known software solutions to host a provincial operational approvals platform. Following this initial analysis, the RAPP team is now organizing demonstrations of potential software solutions. The health authority staff who work most closely with these systems will have an opportunity to provide their feedback on the demonstrations. This will assist in understanding system requirements and positive features.

Privacy 

The Privacy Working Group was reinstated in September, and a monthly series has been created. In the November meeting, the Provincial Health Services Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority presented their criteria for privacy impact assessments to the group to assist with understanding opportunities for adopting streamlined practices already active in some health authorities.

Contracts and Agreements

The Contracts and Agreements Working Group is providing standardized advice for the review of investigator-initiated study contracts. This work is anticipated to be complete soon and will allow this working group to move onto next actions.