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A recap of BC AHSN activities and announcements in May
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BC Academic Health Science Network News
The BC Academic Health Science Network (BC AHSN) is pleased to provide the following update on current activities within the BC AHSN organization, which includes the BC SUPPORT Unit, Clinical Trials BC and Research Ethics BC.

Our update on activities for May 2018 includes:

Announcing Research Ethics BC


In April, we informed you that BC AHSN had received board approval to bring the BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative (BCEHI) in-house and support it on an ongoing basis.

Now, we’re pleased to announce a new name for this effort under BC AHSN. The former BCEHI is now known as Research Ethics BC , reflecting its transition from initiative status to its establishment as an ongoing BC AHSN resource.

Research Ethics BC supports a provincial, harmonized system for research ethics reviews of multi-jurisdictional studies involving human subjects (i.e. involving the resources, people, patients or data from more than one BC institution). It’s founded on a collaborative effort by a group of BC health research partners to develop the harmonized ethics review models now in use by most BC health authorities and research universities.

Harmonization streamlines the ethics review and approval process, allowing for submission of a single ethics application across all partner institutions. It also standardizes processes among research ethics boards, ensuring review quality and compliance with national policies.

By streamlining and improving research ethics review processes, Research Ethics BC is helping British Columbia become more competitive and innovative in health research.

In the coming months, key activities will include:
  • Launching a shared technology platform to support an online harmonized ethics review process;
  • Increasing the awareness and use of Research Ethics BC resources for harmonized ethics review;
  • Renewing partner reciprocity agreements and seeking new institutional partners to join Research Ethics BC.
For more information, visit our new Research Ethics BC page on the BC AHSN website.

Now part of BC AHSN, Research Ethics BC was previously supported by a number of partner institutions, with core funding and additional support provided by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.
 

BC SUPPORT Unit gears up for 2nd annual conference


Mark your calendars: on October 4, 2018, the BC SUPPORT Unit will hold its second annual patient-oriented research conference, Putting Patients First: Lessons Learned for Patient-Oriented Research (#PPF18). The conference will be held at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel.

Anyone doing a project in patient-oriented research is invited to submit their abstract for a breakout session or a poster. The submission deadline is June 17, 2018; see the BC SUPPORT Unit's Call for Abstracts for more information.
 

N2 provincial membership renewed


From left: Minnie Downey, BC SUPPORT Unit Executive Director; Stirling Bryan, BC SUPPORT Unit Scientific Director; and Jim Pankovich, N2 Board Chair.From left: Minnie Downey, BC SUPPORT Unit Executive Director; Stirling Bryan, BC SUPPORT Unit Scientific Director; and Jim Pankovich, N2 Board Chair.

We've signed on the dotted line to renew our provincial membership with N2 Network of Networks, as part of the Clinical Trials BC strategy to support and grow a highly-skilled workforce for clinical research.

The provincial membership enables BC research organizations to become N2 members and provide access free of charge to their research personnel. Also included in the membership agreement is access for independent investigators.

N2 offers an extensive suite of online clinical research tools (such as SOPs), content and access to CITI Canada courses such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

This Clinical Trials BC initiative is made possible through a provincial membership agreement with BC AHSN, funded through the BC SUPPORT Unit's Training & Capacity Development initiative.
 

We're coming to a research event near you


Representatives across the BC AHSN organization will be out in full force at a number of research events planned for May and June.
 

cartoon of people talkingFive Days in May, Island Health

May 7: "The Participant Voice: Shaping the Clinical Trial Experience." As part of its ongoing public engagement around the Canadian Clinical Research Participation Survey, Clinical Trials BC is co-hosting an innovative workshop with Island Health Research. This event will explore the perspectives of people who have been invited to participate in a clinical trial and either declined or enrolled. The workshop will present the survey results and engage participants in a roundtable discussion to hear their insights and suggestions related to six key survey findings. Two patient partner speakers – Melanie and Stephen Reid – will also share their personal experiences as clinical trial participants.

Recommendations will go forward to help inform best practice guidelines and policies that enhance clinical trials access and experience.
 

International Clinical Trials Day

Clinical Trials BC is taking to Twitter in celebration of International Clinical Trials Day (May 20). On Monday, May 21, all BC health authorities and research institutes are encouraged to share their stories and join us in thanking and recognizing BC’s clinical research professionals using the hashtags #clinicaltrialsday and #clinicaltrialsdayinbc.

Check out our tweet on the world’s first known clinical trial – it may not be what you’ve been led to believe!
 

13th Annual Research Week, Fraser Health

June 8: "Patient Engagement: What, Why and How?" Presenters will include staff from the BC SUPPORT Unit Fraser Centre, as well as BC AHSN Board member and patient partner Delia Cooper. This session will provide tips, tools and experiential learning for clinicians, researchers, health care professionals and members of the public. Open to all health care professionals and the public; register here.

June 15: "Clinical Trials Research Management Symposium." Presenters will include staff from Clinical Trials BC, the BC SUPPORT Unit Fraser Centre, and the BC Health Research Connection Project (a BC SUPPORT Unit demonstration project). Open to all health care professionals; register here.
 

Save the date: June 14 ACRP education event

Clinical Trials BC is making plans for an Education Roundtable discussion with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) Canada on June 14th. For information or to attend, please contact Alison Orth (aorth@bcahsn.ca). Formal invitations will be sent out mid-May, including a WebEx option. Learn more about ACRP Canada Chapter.
 

BC Emergency Medicine Network reaches out


Since its launch last September, the BC Emergency Medicine Network's membership has grown to include 556 physicians from 75 different emergency sites across the province.

BC Emergency Medicine Network logoSeveral new and exciting initiatives began this year. In partnership with the Rural Coordination Centre of BC, the Network is bringing together rural doctors from across the province to review and discuss the clinical resources to improve them and ensure they are relevant to rural practitioners. In addition, a new project committee is exploring how the Network can improve indigenous health with respect to emergency care. An environmental scan of related initiatives will inform project planning.

Over the past few months, the Network has presented its early learnings at the Centre of Health Services and Policy Research annual conference; the Networks Leadership Symposium; and the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine Research Day. Presentations are also scheduled at the Western Emergency Department Operational Conference in Victoria, Rural Health Conference in Nanaimo and the Ontario Emergency Administrative Conference in May.

The Network will continue to engage with its members, policy makers, health leaders, researchers and most importantly patients – sharing, supporting and innovating to improve patient care. You can follow their progress at www.bcemergencynetwork.ca.

BC AHSN supports the BC EM Network, including through BC SUPPORT Unit demonstration project funding.
 

BC SUPPORT Unit seeks KT Lead


The BC SUPPORT Unit is seeking a Knowledge Translation (KT) Lead to work at the Vancouver office.

The KT Lead will be a key member of the BC SUPPORT Unit Provincial Hub and regional centre teams. The Lead is responsible for developing strategic plans and supporting the operational delivery of those plans through the regional centres, the Hub and through several funding partners in British Columbia.

To see the full job posting, visit the BC SUPPORT Unit's Careers Page. Application deadline is May 14, 2018.
 
Sign up for bi-weekly updates from the BC SUPPORT Unit.
 
Copyright © 2018 Michael Smith Health Research BC, All rights reserved.


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