The ACT Consortium Contracts Working Group has developed the Governing Data and Biological Sample Transfers Agreement (gDSSA)—a streamlined approach to facilitating research collaborations. This agreement establishes a binding framework with pre-negotiated terms and conditions, significantly reducing execution timelines by enabling focused negotiations.
A key feature of the gDSSA is the transfer letter, which outlines study-specific details while maintaining the integrity of the pre-established terms. Changes are kept to a minimum, ensuring efficiency and consistency in the execution process.
Adoption and Impact
Executed in February 2024, the gDSSA initially included 29 Canadian signatories from universities, research institutes, hospitals, and health authorities. Since then, the agreement has expanded to include over 50 adoptees, demonstrating its value in fostering research collaborations.
When is the gDSSA Best Used?
The gDSSA is ideal for research involving:
- Secondary use research
- Retrospective chart reviews
- Prospective chart reviews (without consent)
- Data analysis
Who Should Consider Signing On?
The gDSSA is beneficial for:
- Academic institutions and research institutions/organizations
- Hospitals and health authorities
- Affiliated institutions involved in data and biological sample transfers
How to Become An Adoptee?
Complete the attached Joinder Form and return it to jencox@ohri.ca, contracts@ohri.ca, and sierra.rosiana-easlick@phri.ca.
Once you have returned the Joinder Form, you will receive a Word version of the gDSSA for use.
Alberta Health Services AND The Governors of the University of Alberta
CHU de Québec – Université Laval
Dalhousie University
Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
Institut du Savoir Montfort
Kingston Health Sciences Centre, together with its research institute, Kingston General Health Research Institute
Lawson Health Research Institute, a joint venture of London Health Sciences Centre Research Inc. and Lawson Research Institute
Maternal Infant Child and Youth Research Network
McMaster University
Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Providence Health Care Society
Provincial Health Services Authority (on behalf of BC Cancer)
Provincial Health Services Authority (on behalf of BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre)
Queen’s University at Kingston
Shared Health, the provincial health authority under The Health System Governance and Accountability Act, operating the Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg
The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
The Saskatchewan Health Authority
The University of British Columbia
The University of Manitoba
The University of Saskatchewan
The University of Western Ontario
Unity Health Toronto
University of Alberta
University of Ottawa
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
*This is not a complete list. Only signatories who have given consent to be publicly named are included.
