Alberta Assets

Alberta is home to numerous organizations that can provide expert support to industry-sponsored clinical trials. Below, you’ll find a listing of organizations sorted by category.

This list is updated monthly and is not meant to be exhaustive database of all Alberta research assets. If you require assistance connecting with any of the organizations listed below or would like to discuss your specific clinical trial needs, contact us.

Key Alberta programs and initiatives

In collaboration with the provincial government, a number of academic and research organizations have introduced initiatives to position Alberta as an even more attractive destination for conducting clinical trials. These include initiatives to improve start-up times, enhance patient recruitment, centralize trial management and enable access to high-quality medical data.

Alberta Health Services

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is Canada’s first and largest province-wide, fully-integrated health system, responsible for delivering health services to nearly 4.4 million people living in Alberta, as well as to some residents of Saskatchewan, B.C. and the Northwest Territories. AHS support research that drives evidence-informed assessment, development, and adoption of innovation to improve quality of service, health outcomes, and value to patients

Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is the province’s largest research and innovation agency. From funding to commercialization, the group provides support to organizations and industry sponsors interested in conducting research in the province.

BioAlberta

BioAlberta is a member-driven association that represents and promotes the province’s vibrant and diverse life sciences industry.

The University of Alberta

The University of Alberta in Edmonton is one of Canada’s top teaching and research universities, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering and health sciences. The University is home to one of the world’s top medical schools, and features a full network of research support teams, facilities and resources.

The University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Home to an extensive clinical trial infrastructure, the University is among the tope research universities in Canada and features an integrated medical school – the Cumming School of Medicine.

Alberta Cancer Clinical Trials

Alberta Cancer Clinical Trials (ACCT) was established to promote collaboration between the Cross Cancer Institute Clinical Trial Unit and the Tom Baker Cancer Centre Clinical Research Unit, supporting their work to ensure a consistent approach is taken to promote clinical trials across Alberta, while also working closely with primary funders such as the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF).

The Calgary Centre for Clinical Research

The Calgary Centre for Clinical Research (CCCR) is a clinical research support service, located within the Cumming School of Medicine, that provides a full suite of specialized support—from consultations to budgeting and financial guidance—for sponsors conducting research at the University of Calgary.

Covenant Health Research Centre

The Covenant Health Research Centre is dedicated to promoting innovation, facilitating inquiry, developing partnerships, and integrating research into practice in alignment with Covenant Health’s Mission, Vision, Values and strategic directions.

The Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Centre (NACTRC)

The Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research centre (NACTRC) is a collaboration between the University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services. The organization serves sponsors and investigators to increase studies and streamlines processes, provide education and facilitate clinical research between the university and Alberta Health Services.

The REB Exchange

The REB Exchange is an innovative technology platform that enables a single provincial ethics review for multi-site research conducted in Alberta. By providing a centralized, singular point of submission, the REB Exchange reduces study costs and increases efficiency by helping avoid duplication during the submission process, ensuring high quality reviews, and shortening study start-up times. It also allows for more efficient methods of reporting serious adverse events and reduces the need to engage multiple local research ethics boards.

The Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta (HREBA)

The Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta (HREBA) provides ethical review and oversight of research involving humans conducted in the province. The board includes three committees:

The University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Board (HREB)

The University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Board (HREB) was established in 1997 by Capital Health (now AHS), Caritas Health (now Covenant Health) and the University of Alberta. HREB is simultaneously and concurrently the research ethics “board of record” for all three institutions and was created to streamline and simplify health research ethics review in the greater Edmonton area.

The University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB)

The University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB) provides ethical review and oversight to research involving humans conducted at the University of Calgary.

Be The Cure

Be the Cure is a provincial awareness campaign designed to educate Albertans about the importance of participating in clinical trials. Running for over five years, the campaign has reached across the province to create an engaged and informed population that understands the importance of clinical research. In addition, the associated health research database easily connects patients with research opportunities.

IMPACT Clinical Trials Accelerator Program

The IMPACT Clinical Trial Accelerator is a program for new ventures in the life sciences or biomedical industries who seek to commercialize their health-related inventions, conduct clinical trials, and secure regulatory approval. Venture Navigators work with start-ups to design, support, execute, and report on their clinical trials, including connecting with a Principal Investigator. 

Innovate Calgary

Innovate Calgary is the innovation transfer and business incubator centre for the University of Calgary. As part of the Office of the Vice-President (Research) portfolio, and as a member of the UCalgary innovation ecosystem, the group works closely with researchers, faculty, and students to help bridge the gap between discovery and creating economic and societal impact. Services include focused startup support programs and services for research-intensive companies.Â