Health Sciences North (HSN) and the Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) are pleased to be ranked among Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals for an eighth consecutive year by RE$EARCH Infosource.
Research and innovation are essential elements of patient care at Health Sciences North. With strategic themes including Cancer Solutions, Healthy Aging, Cardiovascular Health, and Indigenous Health, HSNRI strives to generate research that improves health outcomes for people in the region.
Between 2020 and 2021, there was a total of 154 investigators and research staff with 49 currently funded clinical research projects and eight new clinical trials. We’ve also had various medical leads join HSNRI to provide strategic leadership in the thematic area of research. Their ongoing efforts help secure external funding, build academic partnerships, and develop departmental strategies.
Two of these medical leads include Dr. Lacey Pitre and Dr. Deborah Saunders. Working collaboratively as the Cancer Solutions research leads, Dr. Pitre and Dr. Saunders have assisted in implementing the Canadian Remote Access Framework for clinical trials (CRAFT) at HSN.
Across Canada, access to cancer clinical trials is limited for many patients, preventing access to innovative drugs therapies, new diagnostic or imaging technologies and supportive care interventions.
The Northeast Cancer Centre is one of three sites in Canada selected to be part of the CRAFT project. The development of the CRAFT project at HSN will provide patients equitable access to clinical trials despite their geographical locations.