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Research is both encouraged and promoted at Grand River Hospital (GRH).
We believe that research:
- enables high performance programs, services, and systems;
- nurtures effective and collaborative relationships; and
- promotes best practice through innovation and collaboration.
To this end, we take part in and lead a number of research projects to ensure that we remain at the forefront of best practice in care and service provisions.
Additionally, various departments within GRH collaborate within academia, as well as government and private agencies to participate in the conduct of clinical trials that contribute to improve patient care.
How is a research study approved?
Grand River Hospital’s research committee
The first step for all research, excluding studies at GRH’s regional cancer centre, is to obtain administrative approval from the GRH research committee. This committee serves as the initial point of contact and primary resource for those interested in conducting research at GRH.
All proposed research must be submitted to the GRH’s research committee for review and approval before it can begin. The committee assesses the impact on hospital resources, and determines whether a study meets the requirements for administrative approval or needs modification. Receiving administrative approval permits your application to proceed to ethical review. Ethical review may be conducted by the Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board (THREB), Coordinated Review with THREB & University of Waterloo REB, or through Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO).
Administrative Review/THREB review
In order to streamline the approval process, the same application template is used for both the GRH research committee review and THREB review. Links to all application documents are provided below. All application documents can be emailed to research@grhosp.on.ca.
We encourage you to view the following pages/files:
- Project review part 1
- Project review part 2
- Project review part 3
- Application for retrospective review of health records
Administrative review/CTO review
For studies that will proceed with ethics review conducted through CTO, please contact the Research Office to discuss the administrative approval process prior to submission of a centre application form.
A Research Data Agreement is required for all studies in which personal information and/or personal health information will be collected.
- Research data agreement (GRH RDA template, April 2017) (Word file, opens in new window)
- Research data agreement - University of Waterloo (GRH RDA Template UWaterloo April 2017 - opens in new window)
In some cases (such as industry-sponsored studies), a contractual agreement between the study sponsor and the hospital may be required. Contracts will be reviewed by GRH’s risk management department prior to hospital approval. GRH follows the Council of Academic Hospital of Ontario’s (CAHO) clinical trial agreement principles. Sponsors are encouraged to use these principles as a guide when developing their contract language in order to expedite the process. Industry sponsored studies are also subject to an overhead fee as indicated by hospital policy.
- Council of Academic Hospital of Ontario (CAHO) clinical trial agreement principles (opens in new window)
- Department impact and overhead fees policy (opens in new window)
- Health information management and decision support fee schedule (as of April 1, 2017 - opens in new window)
Research committee or administrative approval questions can be directed to:
Sarah Laferriere, Research Office Administrator
Phone: 519-749-4300 extension 2876
Email: sarah.laferriere@grhosp.on.ca or research@grhosp.on.ca
Grand River Regional Cancer Centre Scientific Review Committee
All oncology clinical trials are reviewed and approved by a scientific review committee.
The purpose of the scientific review committee is to lead and facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of oncology clinical trials activity and oncology research within the Integrated Cancer Program (ICP).
This committee reviews the scientific purpose, impact on Grand River Hospital (GRH) resources, and budget of proposed oncology clinical trials and makes decisions on approvals to proceed. The committee ensures that the research is aligned with GRH’s mission, vision and values and that all administrative requirements are fulfilled prior to approval. For more information about participating in a clinical trial at GRH or for more information about conducting oncology clinical trials at GRH please contact:
Carla Girolametto, Manager, Research & Clinical Trials
Phone: 519-749-4370 extension 2307
Email: carla.girolametto@grhosp.on.ca
The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (opens in new window)
For more information on clinical research for cancer patients, visit the Cancer Care Ontario website (opens in new window).
Contact
For general information, please contact:
Phone: 519-749-4300 extension 2876
Email: research@grhosp.on.ca
If you need to obtain a form in a more accessible format, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
Latest in research and innovation at GRH
Pilot project links cancer patients to follow-up appointments without having to leave home
April 3, 2018Kitchener resident Tom Fulmer is among patients who have benefited from follow-up appointments for prostate cancer treatment from the comfort of their homes.
Congratulations to oncology clinical trials team, winners of GRH's award of excellence
January 17, 2018GRH's oncology clinical trials team has won the hospital's latest award of excellence. The team members coordinate and support trials focusing on new medications for cancer treatment, or different ways of providing radiation therapy.
New technology improves children’s tonsillectomy recovery
August 18, 2017Grand River Hospital is bringing vastly-improved technology to a childhood rite of passage: having one’s tonsils removed.
Spotlight: high tech equipment improves treatment times by identifying pathogens faster
August 9, 2017GRH is using a bio-typer that helps cut identification times of various pathogens from days to just minutes in some cases… helping inform care providers’ decisions faster.
Spotlight: GRH’s laboratory plate streaker- using automation to improve lab testing
August 1, 2017GRH’s integrated department of pathology and laboratory medicine is using a new automated plate streaker in its microbiology lab. In additional to providing faster results to improve care, it also helps meet consistent standards when preparing 100,000 specimens a year for analysis
Collaborative University of Waterloo-Grand River Hospital project awarded funds to improve quality of life for older adults
February 3, 2017An innovative and inexpensive tool kit to better assess balance and improve quality of life for older adults, as well as people who have suffered strokes, injuries, and other disorders has been awarded $50,000 to further testing and improvement.
Better emergency dept. information gathering supports health and independence for seniors
August 29, 2016GRH is improving senior care and receiving international attention thanks to an innovative tool at use in its emergency department.
Inaugural med-tech conference a resounding success
May 25, 2016The first Waterloo Region Medical Technology conference brought the health and technology sectors together to celebrate successes and explore new ways to cooperate for the benefit of patients.
GRH and partners host med tech conference on May 25th at Freeport Campus
April 12, 2016The first meeting of Waterloo Region MED TECH Bridging the Gap will take place on May 25th at GRH's Freeport Campus. The day-long event will bring together health and technology sector speakers for a wide-ranging symposium.
Better data and smart thinking supports life-sustaining kidney care
April 1, 2016Advancing exceptional care at Grand River Hospital is constant work. GRH’s regional renal (kidney) and pharmacy programs have made great progress in providing better medication care at a lower cost.
Patient safety a key priority as Grand River Hospital ranks fourth nationally in hospital safety study
December 16, 2015Grand River Hospital has placed fourth in a comparison of patient survival rates in Canadian hospitals, ranking GRH among the safest hospitals nationally.
Grand River Hospital and BlackBerry: going the extra mile for patient privacy
June 1, 2015GRH has partnered with Waterloo-based BlackBerry to introduce secure instant messaging for health providers
Grand River Hospital, University of Waterloo launch partnership
March 20, 2015The University of Waterloo and Grand River Hospital have launched a partnership to enable academics and clinicians to collaborate on research that will benefit patient care and enrich university research.