The Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) Education team provides the Vancouver Coastal Health research community with education and professional development opportunities to advance knowledge, enhance skills, create connections among peers and support the next generation of health researchers. 

From workshops and demonstrations to lectures and symposiums, VCHRI promotes its own educational offerings, as well as those of academic and health partners to help facilitate an enriched culture of learning. Offerings cover a range of topics, including research design, project management, commercialization, regulatory and quality, privacy and data management, grant writing and knowledge translation.

Upcoming events and workshops

VCHRI Trainee Committee 

The VCHRI Trainee Committee is a student-led panel that aims to foster collaboration between trainees at VCHRI centres and programs. In consultation with VCHRI staff, the committee develops new trainee initiatives to promote research training, professional development and community engagement opportunities. The VCHRI Trainee Committee organizes the following events every year:

Science Social Hour: In this seminar series, trainees from VCHRI centres, institutes and programs share a lay version of their research to an audience of their peers while fostering consistent connections. Participants have five minutes to present their research followed by a few minutes of questions. The Trainee Committee hosts two sessions every academic year and each session is followed by a brief networking session with refreshments. 

VCHRI Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Heat: VCHRI trainees have a chance to participate in the annual 3MT competition at UBC by competing at the VCHRI 3MT Heat every February. In this heat, trainees attempt to clearly and concisely communicate the relevance of their research project in under three minutes. The winner and top performing trainees receive prizes from VCHRI and advance to the semi-finals at UBC and onwards. From there, the winner of the UBC 3MT Finals goes on to represent the university at the Western Regionals.

Trainees who participate in the VCHRI 3MT heat are eligible to apply for the VCHRI Trainee Awards — including the Top Graduating Doctoral Student and Rising Star Awards. 

Trainee Career Day: At Trainee Career Day, VCHRI trainees strengthen their career development skills through career-focused workshops and other programming designed to support their professional growth. This event also connects VCHRI trainees with partners from government, industry and other sectors through networking.
 
Coffee Meetups (previously Trainee Social Hour): The Coffee Meetup is an informal, in-person networking opportunity for new trainees to connect with final-year trainees, early-career researchers and professionals from industry and government. In a relaxed setting, participants can exchange experiences, seek guidance and explore potential career pathways. Coffee Meetups are offered one to two times per year, typically in the fall and/or spring.

Stay Connected: Follow VCHRI on LinkedIn, Instagram and VCHRI website to stay updated on trainee events.

Want to get involved with the Trainee Committee’s initiatives? Email education.award@vch.ca to share your ideas.

VCHRI Professional Development

The Research Training Series is comprised of monthly education sessions and workshops designed to support investigators, research staff and trainees in the acquisition of advanced skills, techniques and knowledge, and lead to enhanced practices in the conduct of research. Participants who attend these sessions are eligible for a certificate worth one Continuing Medical Education credit. We also welcome requests for workshop topics you would like to see featured on the Research Training Series. Please submit your requests to education.award@vch.ca. 

The Practice-based Research Series provides clinicians and researchers with a unique platform to explore ongoing research collaborations and extend the reach and influence of practice-based research. Former awardees of the Research Challenge and Knowledge Translation Challenge present the outcomes of their funded projects in seminars dedicated to improving patient experiences and translating evidence into practical application.

The VCHRI Research Day is an annual event showcasing the innovative research conducted by VCHRI investigators and their teams and how their results are integrated into patient care. The event welcomes local researchers, health care professionals, industry partners and other stakeholders to learn and collaborate to advancing our health care system and patient experiences. 

N2 Canada Courses and Resources

As a member organization of the Network of Networks (N2) Canada, VCHRI provides access to courses and resources made available through the network to support excellence in clinical research.

Courses: VCHRI facilitates access to the CITI Program, a learning platform offering courses and certifications that meet regulatory requirements for teams conducting clinical research. These courses are designed for a range of research team members, including investigators, research staff (such as coordinators, assistants, nurses and managers) and students/trainees. The following courses are available free of charge:

  • Good Clinical Practice – R3
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
    • Physical Science
    • Life Science
  • Biomedical Research Ethics 
  • Clinical Research Coordinators – Canada
  • Health Canada Division 5 (French and English)
  • Transportation of Dangerous Goods TDG/IATA

Resources: N2 Canada provides many tools and resources related to the following areas through their resource hub:

  • Regulatory and Ethics
  • Study Operations & Data Management 
  • Patient & Public Engagement
  • Research Planning & Strategy
  • Equity Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA)
  • Publication & Reports      
  • Canada’s Clinical Research Workforce Strategy

To request access to the CITI Platform, access member-only N2 resources, or if you have any questions, please contact education.award@vch.ca.

CANTRAIN Courses and Resources

The Canadian Consortium of Clinical Trial Training (CANTRAIN) provides online clinical trials training through self-paced modular units. Each module focuses on a specific topic, allowing learners to build knowledge progressively in a flexible and accessible format. CANTRAIN courses are currently being migrated to a new platform. More information will be provided soon.

Other Resources

Looking for a certificate of attendance for a recent VCHRI education session or workshop you attended?

Request an attendance certificate

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