The BC Ministry of Health invited Clinical Trials British Columbia to develop a model for a provincial health authority research ethics board service. As part of the Research Approvals Process Project (RAPP), the 18-week initiative aimed to make research approvals in BC more efficient and effective.
With support from Accenture, an external consulting firm with a deep understanding of operational, organizational and technology challenges on health authorities and research universities provincially, the project team delivered a service model design and transformation business case to the ministry and health authorities in November 2024. Health leadership is currently planning for implementation based on readiness, feasibility, and funding.
Ethics is only one facet of the RAPP initiative. Starting with this focus enabled a community-informed approach built on strong foundations already established by the research ethics community through the research ethics harmonization initiative.
This initiative occurred in three stages between June and October 2024:
Phase one (discovery):
- The consultant studied the work already underway in BC.
- Groups impacted by this work were engaged, including those involved in Indigenous research ethics.
- Single review models and best practices from other provinces and countries were explored.
Phase two (design and refinement):
- Workshops with representatives from impacted groups informed the service model design and desired future state.
Phase three (business case development):
- A transformation business case and high-level roadmap for implementing the future service model were created, based on insights from earlier stages.
In parallel, the RAPP team continues their work to improve and streamline the research approvals process in BC.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at researchethics@clinicaltrialsbc.ca.