New portal for Canadian clinical research capabilities launched: CCTAM

 Database will help Canada regain its position as a leading competitive nation for clinical trials

OTTAWA, June 4, 2015 /CNW/ - Canadian Clinical Trials Coordinating Centre (CCTCC)

Introduction

The Canadian Clinical Trials Asset Map (CCTAM), a pan-Canadian database showcasing Canada's clinical research capacities was launched this morning in front of an audience of scientists, researchers and policymakers, by Senator Kelvin K. Ogilvie.

The CCTAM will help Canada regain its position as a leading destination for clinical trials in the global marketplace, providing a comprehensive picture of the breadth and depth of Canada's clinical research assets.

This dynamic, online database includes details on clinical trial sites, research networks, research ethics boards, institutions/hospitals and individual clinical research experts, and will help advance Canada's clinical research capabilities. The CCTAM offers tremendous marketing benefits to clinical research organizations and investigators and will allow clinical trial sponsors to place trials effectively and efficiently reducing clinical trial start-up times.

The CCTAM database is the only pan-Canadian, fully inclusive database that is bilingual, free to use, easy to search, comprehensive and regularly updated. A forthcoming update will allow users to search by federal riding boundaries.

Quick Facts

• With a growing number of assets, CCTAM already has over 700 database records.
• Clinical trials help develop new, potentially life-saving medications, vaccines and therapies, in addition to supporting Canada's knowledge-based economy.
• The CCTAM was created in response to the Action Plan to Help Attract More Clinical Trials to Canada and is overseen by the Canadian Clinical Trials Coordinating Centre (CCTCC) through extensive participation from clinical trial community in Canada.
• CCTCC is a partnership between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D) and HealthCareCAN.

Quotes

"The CCTAM is an important tool for enhancing Canada's competitiveness for clinical research. The availability of this resource will simplify the study feasibility process by quickly identifying suitable clinical trial sites in Canada. It will also be a valuable tool for highlighting Canada's clinical research capabilities to our global organizations."

- Dr. Shurjeel Choudhri, Senior Vice President and Head, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Bayer Inc.

"Clinical trials provide the evidence needed to bring a drug, medical device or practice into our health care system and Canada has tremendous research strengths in this field. The Canadian Clinical Trials Asset Map represents a virtual tool for practitioners in Canada and enables us to showcase our clinical research strengths and attract the best researchers from around the world."

- Dr. Alain Beaudet, President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

"Clinical trials are essential for improving health. The Canadian Clinical Trials Asset Map will allow healthcare organizations, investigators and others to showcase their ability and readiness to conduct clinical trials that will improve patient care, both globally and at home."

- Dr. Duncan Stewart, Executive Vice-President of Research, The Ottawa Hospital and HealthCareCAN representative for CCTCC

"BCCRIN is pleased to be a partner with CCTAM, recognizing the value of a coordinated strategy for highlighting the tremendous clinical research strengths we have in BC and in Canada. This is good for research sites, sponsors and ultimately for patients. "

- Heather Harris, Director of Operations, British Columbia Clinical Research Infrastructure Network

SOURCE Canadian Clinical Trials Coordinating Centre (CCTCC)

Image with caption: "Position Canada as an attractive destination for clinical trials in the global marketplace. (CNW Group/Canadian Clinical Trials Coordinating Centre (CCTCC))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150604_C4078_PHOTO_EN_17495.jpg

Sarah Douglas, Media Relations, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]