[2012October17th]
1. The Alberta Clinical Research Consortium (ACRC) is pleased to announce CITI-Canada Training:
Dear Research Community,
Through the combined efforts of the Alberta Health Services, Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions, the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Covenant Health, the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary - all involved in the Alberta Clinical Research Consortium (ACRC), we are pleased to announce online clinical research training for researchers and study coordinators in both academic and community-based settings from across Alberta. This training opportunity is one of the ACRC strategic priority #3 activities in developing 'provincial standards and opportunities for clinical research training.'
CITI is an online training program through N2 (Network to Network) that provides courses on Good Clinical Practice, Responsible Conduct of Research and Biomedical Research Ethics Tutorial with additional courses to come. These courses are GCP and Health Canada compliant which have been adopted by a number of pharmaceutical companies and clinical research associations as evidence of training. The online course can be completed at your convenience, stopped and started at any time, and upon completion of the courses, a certificate can be printed for your records. It is important to note that completion of the CITI training does not replace study-specific training.
We invite you to find out more about the courses and how to log in by clicking here: http://www.aihealthsolutions.ca/acrc/news.php#5
Regards,
On behalf of the ACRC Strategic Priority #3 Working Group members:
Lori Anderson – NACTRC
Jody Berube – RERC
Mary-Ann Clarkes – Covenant Health
Marilyn David – AHS
Mary Hodges – AHS
Scott Jamieson – University of Alberta
Tammy Mah-Fraser (Chair) – Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions
Carolyn Walker – Center for Neurologic Research
2. Legal representatives of the ACRC's partner organizations support and recommend the use of a model Clinical Trial Agreement (mCTA) developed jointly by Rx&D, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and The Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations (ACAHO). To read more." http://www.aihealthsolutions.ca/acrc/news.php#4]
[2012May24th]
News from the Alberta Clinical Research Consortium (ACRC)
The ACRC is pleased to release its inaugural Strategic Plan. The plan outlines the strategic priorities and activities that will be undertaken this year to achieve the vision of "high quality, integrated, and efficient clinical research for Alberta". It was developed with input from researchers, division chairs of the University of Alberta and University of Calgary, representatives of Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology, as well as representatives of Canada's major pharmaceutical companies. You can read the Strategic plan on the ACRC website at http://www.aihealthsolutions.ca/acrc
What is the ACRC Initiative?
The ACRC was established in 2010 when a group of leaders from the clinical research community expressed the need to increase alignment and coordination for clinical research administrative processes in Alberta. The initiative involves researchers and representatives from Alberta Health Services, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, Covenant Health, University of Alberta and University of Calgary, with facilitation and project management by Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions.
The ACRC is initially focusing on three strategic priorities:
1. improve the efficiency of clinical research administrative processes across the province;
2. standardize legal review guidelines for contracts and agreements related to clinical research; and
3. establish provincial standards for clinical research training.
The ACRC is working with the Alberta Health Research Ethics Harmonization Initiative to help make research processes more accessible, consistent and timely.
What's ahead?
In advancing the strategic plan, the working groups have identified 3 – 5 specific activities to be undertaken this year for each of the strategic priorities listed above. Some of the projects that will be announced in the upcoming months include: posting of clinical research events happening around the province, a guidance document for archiving of clinical research records, and an outlined process for submission of contracts.
For more information
Successful improvement of the clinical research administrative processes relies on a collaborative effort. We welcome your input as these strategic priorities unfold. We invite you to visit the ACRC website at: http://www.aihealthsolutions.ca/acrc/ and click on "Subscribe" to receive updates. If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Mah-Fraser, ACRC Project Manager, Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions at 780-423-5727 Ext 241 or tammy.mah-fraser@albertainnovates.ca.
