British Columbia is strengthening its position as a destination for clinical trials with the launch of a new provincial strategy.

Advancing BC’s clinical trials competitiveness: 2026-2029 Implementation strategy will enable a coordinated and efficient approach to bring and conduct clinical trials in the province. It focuses on reducing trial start-up times, embedding research more closely into healthcare delivery, strengthening the clinical trials workforce, and expanding access to trials for people throughout BC.

The strategy comes at a time of rapid growth for BC’s life sciences sector, which has become the fastest growing in Canada. BC is home to more than 100 active clinical trial sites and more than 600 clinical investigators, with expertise in oncology, precision medicine, and more.

The new clinical trials strategy outlines a coordinated, province-wide approach that builds on these strengths.

“Robust clinical trials can strengthen health outcomes and drive economic growth, while helping more people benefit from new treatments,” says Dr. Danielle Lavallee, Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation, Michael Smith Health Research BC (Health Research BC). “Within three years, BC will have a more efficient and competitive clinical trials system that advances access to innovation, strengthens workforce capacity, and expands the province’s ability to attract and deliver clinical research.”

Clinical Trials British Columbia, part of Health Research BC, will support strategy implementation. It consulted widely across the sector ahead of the strategy launch. More than 75 representatives, including clinical trialists, industry partners, research institutes, and health organizations, participated in discussions that helped refine the strategy and identify opportunities to build on existing work.

“This strategy is truly a collaborative effort by and for BC’s clinical trials community,” says Alison Orth, Director, Clinical Trials British Columbia. “It marks a shift from understanding our challenges to delivering system level action needed to make BC a leading destination for clinical trials and life-changing clinical research.”

The plan centres around five priorities over the next three years:

• Streamlining trial approvals and start-up processes to position BC as a leading destination for launching clinical trials
• Strengthening digital infrastructure to support research
• Building a sustainable and skilled workforce
• Increasing BC’s participation in national clinical trials initiatives
• Improving public awareness, access, and participation in clinical research

Workforce development and infrastructure are key components of the strategy. Next steps include building a provincial workforce action plan, expanding training opportunities for clinical research professionals, and implementing digital tools and data systems to support more efficient trial delivery across the province.

The strategy places a strong emphasis on equity and inclusion. It calls for greater patient and community involvement in clinical research. It also supports Indigenous self-determination and data sovereignty through Indigenous-governed structures and processes for trials involving First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. The goal is to ensure clinical research is accessible, culturally safe, and reflects BC’s diverse population.

The strategy was developed through collaboration between leaders from academia, healthcare, government, and the life sciences sector. They identified shared priorities and opportunities for action. The result is a roadmap intended to better align the province’s clinical trials ecosystem around common goals and measurable outcomes.

This work builds on several foundational pillars, including BC’s vision for clinical trials, the B.C. Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, the Look West Strategy, and national initiatives to modernize clinical trials.

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