CATALIS Celebrates Four Years of Success With the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service 🎉

CATALIS is proud to celebrate four years of success for the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service, which continues to demonstrate its effectiveness in optimizing administrative processes in clinical research in Quebec.

Since the launch of the pilot project in 2021, 216 evaluation requests have been processed by the CATALIS Central Office and then evaluated by participating healthcare institutions. To date, and thanks to the collective efforts of all stakeholders, the Service's performance is ~70% faster than typical median times.

• Scientific, ethical, and contractual approvals are obtained in a median time of 7 weeks.
• Institutional authorizations are obtained in a median time of 10 weeks, which includes all project evaluations: scientific, ethical, contractual, pharmacy, imaging, laboratory, and other required local conveniences.
• Site activation is completed in 13 weeks, which corresponds to the total median time elapsed between receipt of study materials for evaluation and site activation by the sponsor.

In 2024-2025, the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service processed 11% of pharmaceutical clinical trials submitted in Quebec, and our projections indicate that this volume will double in 2025-2026.

An Effective Ethical Review Process

While several pan-Canadian stakeholders express concerns about the cumbersome nature of ethical evaluation processes, Quebec stands out for the remarkable efficiency of its research ethics boards (REBs) within the service framework.

As early as 2021, public-private members of the CATALIS Network reviewed processes to ensure the quality of project submissions and optimize exchanges with REBs. Combined with the provincial multicenter ethics mechanism, these adjustments, made both upstream and downstream of ethical evaluation, have significantly reduced REB approval times.

This performance is all the more notable as REB evaluations in Quebec cover several dimensions: scientific evaluation, overall project ethics, as well as local ethics related to its implementation. They include verification of recruitment methods, consent processes, conflicts of interest, compliance with provincial laws and regulations, translation of materials for participants, administrative modifications to consent forms by sites, and consideration of institutional specificities.

Through this rigorous and collaborative approach, the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service has demonstrated over four years its ability to concretely reduce clinical trial startup timelines, thus enabling healthcare institutions and sponsors to accelerate access to innovation, and allowing patients faster access to clinical trials in Quebec.

Bayer Liver Cancer Study: 3 Quebec Institutions Rank Among the Top 3 Worldwide

Thanks to the support of the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service, three Quebec hospital research centers were positioned at the very top globally for the speed of implementation of a Phase I clinical study conducted by Bayer on hepatocellular carcinoma. 

The Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), with Dr. Daniel Juneau, was the first site activated worldwide from among 24 sites in 22 countries.

The Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS), with Dr. Frédéric Lemay, ranked second of all sites activated in the world.

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), with Dr. Victoria Mandilaras, was the third site activated, and it recruited the first patient worldwide.

The Jewish General Hospital (JGH) in Montreal authorized Novartis’ NETTER-3 study in only 8 weeks with support from the FAST TRACK Evaluation Service. This fast timeline allowed the team led by Dr. Petr Kavan to position itself as the second site activated worldwide for this Phase III study on gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs).

CATALIS Unveils Its Clinical Trials Quebec
Training Program

Please note that all training modules and tools are currently available in French only.

As part of our 2025–2026 action plan, CATALIS was tasked with promoting best practices in clinical research in Quebec by implementing a provincial training program for research professionals.

On one hand, following recommendations from our network, we renewed our partnership with N2 Network of Networks to provide Quebec healthcare institutions with free access to pan-Canadian core training programs.

In addition, we have also begun developing additional, more specialized training and tools to address the specific needs of Quebec.

Over the past few weeks, we have been gradually rolling out the Clinical Trials Quebec (CTQ) training program and tools, designed to support and harmonize clinical research practices across the province. These trainings and tools aim to strengthen regulatory compliance and raise quality standards in clinical research.

The following training modules and tools are currently available:

• Data Management
• ALCOA Principles and Data Correction
• Task Delegation
• Quality Management
• Inspection Orientation Guide
• Checklist for Administrative Research Management

We would like to warmly thank the public and private members of our Quality and Training Advisory Committee for their commitment and expertise in carrying out this provincial project.

And this is just the beginning: additional complementary training is already in development to continue supporting best practices in clinical research!

CATALIS Honors Louise Proulx at the Conclusion of Her Term on the Board of Directors

CATALIS wishes to express its gratitude and acknowledge the end of Ms. Louise Proulx’s term as a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

A Message From Me Jean Groleau, Chair of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of CATALIS brings together experts from Quebec’s healthcare institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, and independent directors. Together, they ensure sound governance and guide CATALIS’ key priorities, in line with its mission to optimize the clinical research environment and accelerate the development of innovative treatments for patients in Quebec.

Mr. Jean Groleau, Chair of the Board of Directors, along with all board members, wishes to sincerely thank Ms. Proulx for her exemplary leadership, generosity, and invaluable contribution to CATALIS’ mission.

Her departure marks the conclusion of a mandate characterized by collaboration, excellence, and dedication, leaving a lasting impact on the organization’s governance.