Dear Nova Scotia Health Research Community,

The newsletter is the primary method for dissemination of new information, reminders, and updates for the research community. We hope you find our newsletter both helpful and informative. We welcome your comments, suggestions, and content for future editions.

Do you have a friend or colleague working within Nova Scotia Health research who is not receiving our newsletter? They can Sign up here to be added to the mailing list!



Please contact us with any questions or comments regarding research and clinical trials. You can reach us at ResearchQuality@nshealth.ca. We are here to support you!

We’d like to help celebrate your team's wins and successes! Please forward the information to ResearchQuality@nshealth.ca and we’ll include it in the next newsletter.

Upcoming HRPP SOP Lunch and Learns

Join us virtually on Teams to learn more about our institutional processes in research. HRPP Lunch and Learns occur every 4^th Thursday of every month from 12-1 pm. Share the link below with your teams.  

April 24: HRPP-SOP-006 Management of Participant Privacy in Research

Teams link 

Meeting ID: 238 800 021 687  

Passcode: J8k9XP  

New HRPP SOP

• HRPP-SOP-007 Changes to Personnel, Principal Investigators, and Principal Investigator Absences now published and can be found here, along with previously issued SOPs. Stay tuned for more SOPs to be added in the coming months!

SOPS Needed?



Does your team need an SOP that has not yet been written by HRPP? Please reach out to HRPP@nshealth.ca with your suggestions.

Pan-Canadian Research Connect Webinar with Health Canada



On March 5, Pan-Canadian research Connect Network & N2 hosted a webinar titled “Health Canada & Clinical Trial Compliance: Navigating Inspections, Regulation, and Best Practices”. If you missed this highly informative webinar, you can download the slides and video using the following link: https://we.tl/t-dB8WB1GpU7

Upcoming Pan-Canadian Research Connect Webinar

Dear Pan-Canadian Research Community,

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming Pan-Canadian Research Connect Webinar on April 9^th at 11:00 AM (EST), titled: "Practical Considerations for Clinical Trials in Rare Disease Drug Development."

Rare disease clinical trials present unique challenges, requiring innovative solutions to ensure successful study design, regulatory compliance, and patient engagement. This session will provide an invaluable opportunity to explore these complexities with leading experts in the field.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Unique Challenges of Rare Disease Clinical Trials. Identify key obstacles such as small patient populations, limited natural history data, and diagnostic delays.
• Describe Regulatory Frameworks and Incentives. Explore the role of regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA, EMA) and incentives like Orphan Drug Designation in advancing rare disease research.
• Analyze Study Design Considerations. Compare traditional and innovative trial designs (e.g., adaptive trials, basket trials, N-of-1 studies) and their applicability to rare disease research.

Our Distinguished Speaker & Moderator:

• Dr. Rob Freishtat, President & Co-Founder of Uncommon Cures, a leader in rare disease clinical research, biotechnology innovation, and clinical trial transformation.
• Dr. Stelios Georgiades, Director of the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University, renowned for his work in autism and neurodevelopmental research.

Virtual | Registration Link: Practical Considerations for Clinical Trials in Rare Disease Drug Development

N2 Community Forum – CanReview:

Join us on April 22, 2025, from 2:00–3:00 PM EDT for our next N2 Community Forum— and everyone is welcome to attend, free of charge for N2 Members!

Following the N2 Annual Conference, we’re excited to host an interactive “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session with members from CanReview — a national platform designed to streamline and harmonize the ethics review process across Canada.

Whether you’re new to CanReview or looking to deepen your understanding, this is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the CanReview team, ask your questions, and gain insight into how this platform is evolving and supporting research ethics review across the country.

Come connect, learn, and explore the possibilities of CanReview in an open and engaging space!

Register here

 N2 Newsletter

Subscribe to the N2 mailing list

Upcoming Research (S: drive) Shared Folder Migration

Why are we moving the shared folders?

The research shared folders are being moved to a new, more secure central system that has enhanced security features, including file auditing capabilities, and more standardized group permissions (I: drive). The new system also offers more frequent backups, and it lets folder owners better manage user access and check user access rights.

How are we moving the folders?

The IMIT team has already laid the groundwork by gathering access details and mapping out a plan for the migration. They will work closely with folder owners to ensure that only the right people have access, update shortcuts to the new drive, and then transfer the data. All the data will be moved over carefully, and its original details will be maintained.

When will the migration happen?

IMIT will work with folder owners before the migration takes place – this will not happen automatically. Folders will be moved during non-business hours to minimize disruption. Depending on how much data each folder holds, the migration process can take a few minutes to a few hours. No files are expected to be lost during this process. Old folder locations will still be accessible to the IT team, who can retrieve any files that might have been missed.

What’s happening now?

The first step in the migration is ensuring everyone who needs access to a folder has it. The research ops team is reaching out to users who currently have access to the shared folders. We're confirming the access list to ensure it is up to date and to remove any outdated permissions. Once confirmed, the IMIT team will reach out to support the new mapping to the I drive. They will also help set up new shortcuts to your relevant folders. You will work with the IMIT team before your folders are migrated.



What can you do to prepare?

• Organizing and removing unnecessary files from a folder
• Ensure users have the proper access
• Identify the list of applications that are writing to the shared folder or a database

Recruiting for event supporting women and non-binary scientists:

Are you a woman, non-binary, or genderqueer individual who works in science and is passionate about research? Are you eager to talk to the general public about your work and promote science outreach in a fun, informal setting? If so, then Soapbox Science needs YOU!

We are looking for scientists in all areas of STEMM, from PhD students to professors, from entry-level researchers to entrepreneurs and industry professionals, to join us in transforming the Halifax waterfront into an arena for public learning and scientific debate.

For more information, please visit http://soapboxscience.org/.



For questions or volunteer inquiries please contact BrewerK@dal.ca or Kateclark@dal.ca.

Next MSSU Patient-Oriented Research Training:

The next MSSU Patient-Oriented Research Practicum is being held April 23 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. online.

The Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit offers a 2.5-hour Patient-Oriented Research training practicum for individuals who have completed the four modules of the CIHR-IMHA’s e-learning A How-to-Guide to Patient Engagement in Research. This hands-on practicum focuses on patient engagement in the Maritimes and provides practical advice, resources, and opportunities for networking and discussion. Our content is responsive to the learning needs of participants and aims to help participants take the first steps in patient engagement in research, offering guidance to address common challenges and ensure meaningful engagement. Topics may include: recruiting for diversity, creating welcoming inclusive spaces, navigating power dynamics, considerations for engaging people who have experienced inequities, and trauma-informed engagement practices.

Register by emailing Shelley Strickland at Shelley.Strickland@nshealth.ca

Or visit https://mssu.ca/event/patient-oriented-research-training-practicum/

Funding Deadlines

Upcoming Research Grant Opportunities - Apr - June 2025.pdf



We expect to announce the 2025 Nova Scotia Health Research Fund within the coming week, and all dates and details will be posted on the Innovation Hub website and emailed out to teams who have expressed interest. Stay tuned!

CBC Radio Interview on Cape Breton Lung Clinic and a New Research Initiative

Listen Here!

New York Times Article: Dr. Luke Chen

Drugs Have Uses We Can’t Imagine. He’s Using A.I. to Find Them. - The New York Times

Please note that this article is behind a paywall. You may gain free access to a limited number of articles if you sign up for a free account.

Did you know that the average phase 3 trial has 118.5 deviations per protocol that affect nearly 33 percent of enrolled participants? A clear, concise, well-designed protocol is essential to maximize protocol adherence.

Thank you for reading the Research Bulletin! The next edition will be May 2025.

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