International review panel selects CanReview to set up, initiate, and conduct a pan-Canadian single REB review and approval process with strict timelines.
The Accelerating Clinical Trials consortium was funded in 2022 in the wake of the COVID pandemic to help facilitate the conduct of clinical trials in Canada. One of the main administrative slowdowns in the clinical trials process is the redundancy of ethics approvals in multi-centre trials. Currently, researchers who wish to conduct a multicentre randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Canada are required to get multiple research ethics boards (REB) approvals across the different research centres.
As part of ACT Canada’s mandate to improve the ecosystem for conducting clinical trials in Canada, we held an open competition to select a group to set up and run a sustainable pan-Canadian, distributive, single REB review and approval process with strict timelines for the initiation and conduct of multicentre RCTs in Canada.
- “A single, pan-Canadian Research Ethics Board approval process is a timely endeavour of significant impact, that will improve the efficiency of randomized controlled trials across the country and facilitate patients’ access to potentially life-changing studies.”
– Dr. Fei-Fei Liu, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Cancer Research
A panel of reviewers were selected to independently evaluate the proposals. These panelists included Michael Linke (US), Marion Campbell (UK), and John Cairns (BC), as well as the Selection Committee (detailed below) who have expertise in research ethics boards, as well as conducting high-impact, multicentre trials.
- “Streamlining research ethics review for multijurisdictional research will strengthen collaboration, reduce delays, and ultimately enhance patient access to innovative treatments nationwide. Today’s announcement marks an important and promising step forward for Canada. I commend the applicants for their vision and express my sincere gratitude to the expert reviewers who volunteered their time and expertise to guide this initiative in the right direction.”
– Lawrence Richer, Center Director, Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Center.
The proposals that achieved a mean score of 70 or more on the written application moved forward to the interview stage. The Selection Committee – which led the interviews, scoring of applications, and final selection of the winning group – consisted of 1 member from the United Kingdom (Matt Westmore [co-chair]), 3 from the United States (Megan Singleton [co-chair], John Alexander, Gordon Bernard) and one member each from Eastern, Central, and Western Canada (Chris MacKnight, Deborah Cook, Adeera Levin). Their expertise included single national REB process, REB conduct, and trials.
- “It has been a privilege to co-chair the rigorous review process for these groundbreaking proposals. CanReview’s approach marks an important step toward a single, national REB that will streamline research ethics reviews, enhancing Canada’s competitiveness in innovative research for the benefit of all Canadians. We look forward to seeing how CanReview’s system will reduce duplication, support diverse communities, and foster nationwide collaboration. We have firsthand experience of single coordinated research ethics services, in the UK and the US, and so we know the transformative impact this can have for Canadian researchers and patients alike.”
– Matt Westmore, Chief Executive, UK’s Health Research Authority
& Megan Singleton, Associate Dean, Human Research Protections and Director of the Human Research Protections Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The Selection Committee members independently scored the interviews. After the interviews were completed, the Selection Committee met to review the anonymized scores and comments for the written applications, presentation, and interview questions and to engage in discuss to ensure all relevant considerations were given before finalizing their selection. At this meeting, the Selection Committee’s final decision was consistent with the scoring and was unanimous. The Selection Committee has selected CanReview as the successful group to set up and run the pan-Canadian, distributive, single REB review and approval process with strict timelines, for the initiation and conduct of multicentre RCTs in Canada.
- “The launch of our national ethics platform will help to make research accessible more quickly to more Canadians by harmonizing reviews and reducing research costs.”
– Deborah Cook, Canada Research Chair of Research Transfer in Intensive Care, McMaster University. - “I congratulate ACT on this very important achievement! Implementing a single national ethics review board in Canada will streamline the approval process for clinical trials and significantly reduce the time, cost and complexity associated with multiple reviews. Clinical trials bring tremendous value to Canada and Canadian patients by supporting our clinical research infrastructure and by providing patients access to groundbreaking therapies. Establishment of a single national REB will attract more global research investments into Canada and will maintain Canada’s position as a leader in clinical trials.”
– Shurjeel Choudhri, SVP and Head, Medical & Scientific Affairs, Bayer Inc.
CanReview will be governed by an External Advisory Committee, as well as a Leadership team consisting of experts from 8 Provinces and Territories. The CanReview plan for a pan-Canadian REB process includes leveraging existing digital platforms for ethics approval which have already been audited and approved by both Health Canada and the FDA.
- “A strong research and clinical trials environment is critical to ensuring Canadian patients have access to the latest medical innovations. Roche applauds the efforts of the ACT Consortium to streamline research processes in Canada and we look forward to leveraging the new process to improve timely access to our trials for patients,” said Brigitte Nolet, President and CEO of Roche Canada Pharma. “By addressing all aspects of therapeutics development, from early research to public access and reimbursement, we will enhance Canada’s competitiveness in the global clinical trials environment and continue to be an attractive destination for future investments.”
Many countries (e.g. Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States) have a single national REB approval process to improve the efficiency of conducting multicentre randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and avoid the unnecessary duplication of work.
- “The planned single national ethics review proposal for clinical trials in Canada represents a huge opportunity for the people of Canada to access innovative therapies. Streamlined, excellent ethics oversight of clinical trials will position Canada as a world leader in medical research. Clinical research studies will be done according the highest ethical and scientific standards. The diversity of the Canadian population, the quality of Canadian researchers and the strengths of the healthcare system will translate into an economic benefit for us all.”
– Raphael Saginur, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa / Ottawa Health Sciences Network Research Ethics Board Chair.
CanReview’s work to establish a pan-Canadian review board will reduce the duplication of work that is currently taking place when conducting multicentre studies in Canada.
- “I am thrilled to hear here the news of the creation of a national REB for clinical trials, it has been long overdue. This will hopefully be a major step towards enabling Canadians timely access to clinical trials. I say this as a physician and as the husband of someone who had to travel to the USA in order to enroll into a clinical trial.
Our experience showed us the profound barriers that prevent the average Canadian accessing a trial outside of Canada. These barriers are financial, logistical, time and health related.
I applaud ACT for their leadership in this regard.”
– Jonathan Hooper, Clinician Investigator and Intensivist, The Ottawa Hospital.
- “A single national REB for clinical research in Canada will strengthen ethical oversight, promote efficiency, and foster public trust in the research process. By streamlining approvals, standardizing practices, and ensuring consistent protection for participants, this ACT initiative will enhance Canada’s ability to conduct high-quality, ethically sound, and timely clinical trials.”
– Rebecca Barnes, Executive Director, N2 Canada.
