Update from Stirling Bryan, Interim Executive Director, VCHRI and Gavin C.E. Stuart, Vice President Research, VCH
Clinical trials translate discovery into care by delivering new therapies that improve patient outcomes and shape clinical practice. To strengthen research and innovation capacity at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), and in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), VCH is establishing a Phase 1 Clinical Trials Research Unit (P1-CTRU) at UBC Hospital.
Opening in Summer 2026, the P1-CTRU will be a purpose-built, in-hospital facility that expands British Columbia’s capacity for first-in-human and early-phase clinical trials. As a response to feedback from the VCHRI research community, the unit meets demand for enhanced early-phase trial infrastructure and specialized support. The P1-CTRU demonstrates VCH’s goal of embedding research within clinical environments to improve patient access to innovative therapies as part of routine care.
The P1-CTRU will provide:
- Dedicated clinical space with advanced patient monitoring
- Specialized research nursing and clinical trial coordination
- Streamlined regulatory, operational and trial activation expertise
- New opportunities for collaboration across VCH and with academic and industry partners
By integrating research into care delivery, the P1-CTRU will support high-quality, patient-centred services across specialized and complex disease areas. Purpose-built infrastructure and expert staffing will ensure rigorous safety standards and rapid access to clinical support when required.
This initiative aligns with British Columbia’s Biomanufacturing Strategy and Look West Strategy, which emphasizes the importance of strong clinical trials infrastructure to drive innovation and access to new therapies. The P1-CTRU positions VCH as a key contributor to the provincial research and life sciences ecosystem.
Planning is underway, and investigators with early-phase protocols or industry partnerships are encouraged to connect ahead of launch. Further updates will be shared through Spring 2026.
Thank you for your continued leadership and collaboration in advancing clinical research that improves patient care across our health system.
Learn more at vchri.ca/p1ctru
