SESSION KEYWORDS: Multi-Jurisdictional Research, Community Collaboration, Institutional Review, HRPP

SESSION ABSTRACT

Nova Scotia Health is a national leader in delivering high-quality clinical trials to over 17,500 patients enrolled in 400-500 interventional studies at any given time. Nova Scotia Health launched a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) with the vision of increasing patient access to clinical trials through strategic supports that provide researchers with the people, processes, and technology needed to scale both investigator led and industry sponsored trials. The partnership journey through our Health Innovation Hub has delivered a sustainable business model that drives local economic benefits while embedding research into models of care. In alignment with the CTU, Nova Scotia Health is seeking accreditation through Human Research Accreditation Canada through the implementation of a Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). As the second health system in the country to seek accreditation, Nova Scotia has developed a novel framework that catalyzes capacity building, deepens collaborations, and has transformed our health system culture through clinical trials. Focused on delivery of high-quality clinical research, the HRPP platform provided a roadmap to streamline processes to improve the way studies are reviewed, approved, and monitored for compliance. The Research Ethics Board and Research Quality Program led this effort by integrating multifaceted reviews encompassing privacy, methodology, and ethics. This talk will highlight our journey and resources required to build the CTU and HRPP and the lessons learned along the way that have resulted in an Atlantic Canadian REB review process.