Three Major Projects Mark the Start of the Patient Advisory Committee’s Operations
Patient partners and 11 patient organizations representing various medical conditions are at the core of CATALIS Quebec’s new Patient Advisory Committee. This committee was mandated by CATALIS management to identify common issues and solutions that will facilitate patient engagement and increase patient participation in, and referrals to, clinical trials across Quebec.
CATALIS Quebec firmly believes that having patients, family caregivers, and patient organizations participate in its network is essential to ensuring that innovation through clinical research will improve health care in Quebec.
The Patient Advisory Committee met for the first time on December 2 and reiterated its commitment to working together on three of CATALIS Quebec’s flagship projects aiming to:
- Complete the Patient Advisory Committee training by integrating new patient partners so they can contribute to developing the patient partner component in accordance with the Quebec health industry’s best practices
- Participate in developing the personalized support service for patients and clinicians to help them find clinical trials that meet very specific profiles
- Take part in developing the Recherche Clinique Québec information hub, a web platform which will offer multiple direct services to patients, clinicians and sponsors, and will aim to inform, mobilize and engage them in Quebec clinical research.
These three projects, which will begin early in the new year, will reflect an innovative, patient-centred approach aimed at supporting CATALIS’ mission of improving the clinical research environment in Quebec.
Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s Chief Scientific Officer John Wallenburg, who served on the first Patient Advisory Committee, highlighted the benefits of the CATALIS network to patients. “Clinical research is complex and expensive, and the many obstacles that impede clinical trials’ effectiveness all have negative consequences for patients. In carrying out its mission, CATALIS Quebec will accelerate the adoption of innovative therapies in Quebec and Canada and encourage both industry and researchers to bring additional high-priority clinical studies to Quebec, all of which will result in long-term benefits for patients,” he stated.
Marie-Claude Dufour, the Director, Programs & Services and Government Relations of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, also validated the importance of collaboration within the CATALIS network. She said, “CATALIS Quebec’s mission signifies that we are walking together in the same direction, that we have a common goal, and that we must combine our efforts and our voice with those of other organizations. We would like to see innovative treatments being developed in Quebec with an increase in the number of clinical trials available. People with MS and other medical conditions could improve their situation by receiving the best available treatments.”
Follow the Patient Advisory Committee’s progress by visiting our website and social media channels, and by subscribing to our newsletter. We also invite you to follow our committee members’ actions and witness these patient organizations’ impact on their respective communities.
™The heart and / Icon on its own and the heart and / Icon followed by another icon or words are trademarks of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada used under license.
