Northern Health (NH) has officially launched its first Phase III clinical trial in Northern BC. The focus of the study is chronic kidney disease, and is being led by Principal Investigator Dr. Anurag Singh, through the Northern Centre for Clinical Research (NCCR) at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) in Prince George.
By introducing clinical trials to the region, patients can access treatments previously only offered in the lower mainland. Until now, many patients in the North were unable to participate in such studies due to high travel costs and the many hours needed to reach their destination. By breaking these barriers down, health care can better reflect and address the needs of our rural and Indigenous patients.
“This is an exciting step forward for kidney care in Northern BC,” said Dr. Singh. “Clinical trials give patients the opportunity to access new treatments, but people living in rural and remote areas often face barriers like long and costly travel to take part. By bringing these research opportunities closer to home, we hope to improve access, reduce these challenges, and ensure people in the North have a fair chance to benefit from new advances in kidney care.”
Why clinical trials matter
Clinical trials play a vital role in improving health care, they help test new medicines and treatments and offer access to alternative care options that are not yet widely available. When trials are done only in urban centers, there is a risk that the resulting therapies may not be generalizable to rural and remote populations. Including Northern and rural participant voices helps remove biases in research results and shapes fairer, more inclusive care for all.
Patient experience
With the first patient now having already joined the clinical trial at UHNBC, momentum is building as more patients prepare to take part. We spoke with Debra Shaughnessy, a participant in the trial, who expressed a positive perspective when asked about her experience in the trial.
What encouraged you to participate in this trial?
I decided to participate in the clinical trial after verifying with other kidney experts the value of participation. Also, it allowed me access to expensive drugs that have proven effective.
Do you feel the location of these clinical trials changed your experience compared to travelling to the lower mainland?
Having the clinical trials in Northern BC allows myself and other kidney patients the chance to participate. Having to travel to the lower mainland would be extremely difficult and expensive.
What has your experience been like working with the care and research team here in the North?
The team has been wonderful, informative, and accommodating.
What would you say to someone else who might be considering participating?
Definitely participate, the time input is minimal and the rewards are many. You will be part of something that could enhance your life and your future.
The heart of this work
This launch was made possible through the combined efforts of many dedicated individuals. Thank you to all who made this possible, but especially:
- Dr. Anurag Singh, Director of the Northern Centre for Clinical Research, and Julia Bickford, NH Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Evaluation
- Shared the leadership of this initiative and guided it to success.
- Tatiana Barcelos Pontes, NH Regional Research Manager at NCCR
- Oversaw coordination across critical NH departments, including laboratory services, pharmacy, biomedical engineering, privacy, legal, and contracts.
- Celia Belamour, NH Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
- Played a vital role in patient care and trial operations, supporting participants throughout the research process.
- Nazanin Heidari, NH Coordinator, Quality Management Clinical Research
- Contributed expertise in strengthening trial implementation and quality management.
- Shoba Alwin, NH Assistant, Clinical Research
- Supported operational integration of trials into the health care system.
- Institutional partners included:
- University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, University of Northern British Columbia, Northern Health, and Clinical Trials British Columbia.
“Starting a clinical trial is never easy,” reflected Julia Bickford. “But doing it while building a research site from scratch is a whole new level. It took strong relationships, constant communication, and a lot of teamwork from departments who already have full workloads.”
Looking ahead
The work is just beginning. Plans include expanding clinical trials into areas such as medical devices, rare diseases, and other chronic conditions that affect Northern and Indigenous communities. As partnership and patient capacity grows, the goal is to make research a regular and accessible part of health care in Northern BC.
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