Under its 2030 Vision, the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre is strengthening its role as a national leader in clinical trials by prioritizing innovation, coordination, and inclusivity. At the forefront of this effort is Dr. Sushmita Pamidi, who leads Research Priority 4 and co-chairs the Accelerating Clinical Trials–Clinical Trials Unit (ACT-CTU), driving a more integrated and strategic approach to clinical research. Clinical trials are being advanced through Research Priority 4, which focuses on expanding investigator-led and early-phase studies that bring new therapies directly to patients.
A key driver of this transformation is the Accelerating Clinical Trials–Clinical Trials Unit (ACT-CTU), which streamlines processes, supports trial design, and enhances regulatory capacity. Since its launch, ACT-CTU has supported dozens of trials, funded pilot studies, and established a Novel Trial Methods Hub to promote cutting-edge approaches such as adaptive and biomarker-driven trial designs.
The Institute’s strength lies in its collaborative ecosystem, bringing together clinical leaders, methodologists, and national partners to improve efficiency and scale multi-site research. At the same time, there is a strong commitment to equity, ensuring trials better reflect the diversity of patient populations and generate more meaningful, generalizable evidence.
Together, these efforts position The Institute to accelerate the translation of discovery into real-world impact, delivering innovative, precise, and inclusive care for patients across Canada and beyond.
The RESP Program plays an active role in advancing this priority, with members contributing both scientific leadership and innovative trial development. Through the ACT-CTU’s inaugural internal funding call, RESP investigators were among the first to receive seed funding for flagship feasibility trials. Deborah Assayag was awarded support for a pilot study on first-line rituximab in systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease–related interstitial lung disease, while Nicole Ezer received funding for a study aiming to improve post-operative lung resection outcomes using eosinophil-guided inhaled corticosteroids.
RESP members are also key contributors to the broader clinical trials ecosystem at The Institute. Senior investigators such as Dick Menzies and Benjamin Smith provide national and international leadership in infectious diseases, clinical epidemiology, and randomized trials, while methodological expertise is strengthened through collaborators such as Andrea Benedetti in biostatistics and epidemiology.
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From vision to impact: Transforming clinical trials at The Institute. Under the 2030 Vision, Research Priority 4 is accelerating investigator-led, innovative and inclusive clinical trials — strengthening The Institute’s role as a national leader in precision health. The Institute News. March 23, 2026
Increasing clinical trial expertise at the RI-MUHC. The RI-MUHC ACT-CTU reports on the realization of its vision for 2024 to build a clinical trials community and strengthen trial capabilities at the RI-MUHC. The Institute News. June 27, 2024.