The Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology and the University of Waterloo Office of Research Ethics are pleased to host an information session with Clinical Trials Ontario.
Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO) representatives will detail
- The CTO model including how it works and how it focuses on all research, not just clinical trials.
- The new QuickSTART program.
- Challenges around REB parity and the CTO Qualification Program.
- Challenges of contracts, standardizing documents, training of researcher teams, online systems, etc.
- The Trial Site Network
The CTO Trial Site Network is a growing network of contacts at over 85 academic hospitals, community hospitals, and researcher networks across Ontario, who are ready to receive new industry-sponsored trials and pilot studies that align with their core areas of interest. This new network provides a one-stop-shop for companies looking to conduct clinical trials, observational studies or technology pilots in Ontario's Healthcare system. At no cost, they can work with CTO's Industry Concierge to share their opportunity with the participants in the Trial Site Network. The Industry Concierge will then assess whether any of the sites are interested in the study and facilitate introductions to any sites who are. Think of it as a clinical research / innovation broker. It is CTO's intent to help provide new connections with industry sponsors in their continued quest in attracting additional industry sponsors and trials to Canada. CTO is working with CROs and global pharma including IQVIA, Roche, and Medpace who would like to use the network to source new trial sites in Ontario and to support landscaping requests for future trials.
Speakers:
While working as a post-doc at Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Andrew was exposed to the amazing entrepreneurial biotech ecosystem in Toronto. It is Andrew’s passion to improve how science is translated into patient outcomes. Feeling disenchanted with lab work, Andrew joined a start-up biotech marketing initiative called TOHealth! where he gained an intimate knowledge of the innovation ecosystem and developed invaluable connections to the people working on the next therapeutics and devices that will improve care.
Andrew grew up in Detroit, MI and received undergraduate degrees from Michigan State University in Biochemistry and Psychology. It was while he was performing a forensic graduate degree from Wayne State University and working in his first cancer research lab that determine his career path and sent him to Roswell Park Cancer Institute where he received a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology and Cancer Therapeutics. In Buffalo he fell in love with the city of Toronto and immigrated to Canada to Post-Doc at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center.
Matthew D’Ascanio is the Associate Director, Streamlined Research Ethics Review System at Clinical Trials Ontario. Matthew is responsible for providing leadership and expertise in research ethics review processes and oversee CTO’s Streamlined Research Ethics Review System.
Prior to this role, Matthew served as the Manager of the Oncology Clinical Trials Department at Trillium Health Partners. Matthew has also worked as a Project Manager at The Hospital for Sick Children and Sunnybrook Hospital.
Matthew holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Human Biology and Physics from the University of Toronto and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research from Humber College.
LOCATION: EC5 1111 Enterprise theatre