The Hematology Research Unit (HRU) at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute supports high-acuity investigational therapies that require intensive inpatient monitoring and multidisciplinary clinical oversight. The unit provides immediate access to hematology, infectious disease, critical care and advanced diagnostics.

The hospital-integrated model enables the safe delivery of first-in-human therapies, advanced immunotherapies and other complex investigational treatments that cannot be conducted in traditional outpatient research settings.

B.C.’s Leading Early Clinical Trials Hub

HRU supports inpatient and outpatient delivery of investigational therapies in hematologic malignancies, including: 

  • Early-phase hematology clinical trials
  • Cellular therapies including CAR-T
  • Bispecific antibody treatments
  • Novel targeted therapies for leukemia and lymphoma

Infrastructure and Clinical Integration

Embedded within the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant (LBMT) Program of British Columbia, HRU supports intensive investigational therapies and operates within a clinical and research environment aligned with Health Canada regulatory requirements and FACT accreditation.

Integrated program teams:

  • Specialized hematology physicians and nursing teams
  • Clinical research coordinators and regulatory staff
  • Pharmacy, cellular therapy and apheresis services
  • Laboratory and transfusion medicine
  • Diagnostic imaging and allied health services

Unit features:

  • Three single-patient research rooms
  • Integrated ICU and hospital specialty support
  • Flexible inpatient–outpatient treatment capacity
  • Direct access to hospital clinical and research infrastructure

HRU Clinical Trial Pathway

The HRU supports principal investigators and industry sponsors across the full pathway from early study concept through trial delivery with the help of Hematology Research Program staff.

[pathway graphic]

Protocol Development

Investigators and industry sponsors who have identified a study concept work with research coordinators, pharmacy and operational leadership to assess feasibility within the inpatient hematology environment. HRU supports protocol development by:

  • Assessing inpatient feasibility and patient population availability
  • Translating protocol requirements into inpatient workflows
  • Identifying monitoring, medication handling, and safety requirements
  • Supporting operational planning for complex therapies
Regulatory and Ethics Approvals

The HRU helps manage submissions and provides operational input for studies undergoing institutional and regulatory processes including:

  • Research Ethics Board (REB) approvals
  • Institutional operational approvals
  • Contract and sponsor agreements
  • Pharmacy, laboratory and safety reviews
Infrastructure and Staffing Support

The HRU provides infrastructure to safely deliver complex investigational therapies for approved studies, such as:

  • Dedicated spaces designed for research care
  • Trained nursing staff familiar with investigational protocols
  • Integration with laboratory, transfusion medicine and imaging services
  • Collaboration with hematology physicians and research staff
  • Staff education through bedside reference materials and study-specific workflow resources
Trial Activation and Patient Enrollment

HRU supports trial activation through:

  • Staff education and protocol training
  • Study workflow implementation
  • Preparation of order sets, monitoring requirements, and documentation tools

HRU supports patient enrollment through: 

  • Treatment delivery
  • Protocol-driven monitoring
  • Coordination with research teams for ongoing data collection and safety reporting

Partner with HRU

As a provincial referral destination, patients across B.C. can be referred by their hematology or oncology teams for assessment of clinical trial eligibility at Vancouver General Hospital. Contact Dr. Florian Kuchenbauer to explore collaboration opportunities.