Clinical Trial Support Unit

Welcome to the CTSU!

"We bid you a warm welcome to the Clinical Trial Support Unit of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine!
The Clinical Trial Support Unit (CTSU) is a centralized clinical research resource that standardizes clinical and administrative procedures for the conduct of human research. The CTSU is a joint initiative of the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, and the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research and provides investigators at the three member institutions with the resources and knowledge needed to conduct clinical research. It does so in a manner that follows good clinical practice guidelines and withstands legal scrutiny.
We hope you can find all of the information and resources you seek on our pages. If not, please contact us and we will guide you."

The Clinical Trial Support Unit (CTSU) provides best-in-class, patient-centric, clinical research coordination services and support toward the advancement of medical research and improvement of healthcare through clinical trials in a highly compliant regulatory environment. We facilitate and support investigator sites throughout the complete study life cycle including start-up, management, and close-out of clinical trials across a diverse range of therapeutic areas. Our unit supports investigator-initiated research from principal investigators across Canada and the U.S., and industry-sponsored research from pharmaceutical and biotech companies as well as charitable organizations. Contact our wonderful team for details.

For new service requests please complete the Intake Form

For questions regarding CTSU Operations: ctsu.operations@usask.ca

For questions regarding CTSU Contracts: ctsu.contracts@usask.ca

For questions regarding CTSU Accounting: ctsu.accounting@usask.ca

For all other CTSU inquiries: ctsu.admin@usask.ca

We are initiating a more rigorous intake process. Upon submission, we will reach out to request the necessary study documents. The review process will take approximately 1–2 weeks, during which we will carefully assess our capacity to meet your needs.

CTSU Intake Form

Meet Our Team

Dr. Marek Radomski

Vice-Dean of Research

ovdr.vicedeanresearch@usask.ca

Dr. Radomski MD, PhD, DSc, MPAL, FCAHS was appointed as Vice-Dean Research in 2016 to lead the Office of Vice Dean Research (OVDR) and is currently serving the second term of office. Dr. Radomski is a highly-cited pharmacologist (>29,350 citations by Google Scholar to date) who worked both in academia and the pharmaceutical industry in Poland, UK, Spain, Canada, USA, and Ireland. He mentored many MSc, PhD, and postdoctoral students. He is interested in platelet regulation, cancer, nitric oxide, and MMP biology and pharmacology, as well as in nanomedicine, nanopharmacology, nanotoxicology, and more recently, in SARS-CoV-2 research. In 2020 Dr. Radomski was inducted to the fellowship of Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Dr. Haissam Haddad

Clinical Executive Advisor

(306)844-1132
haissam.haddad@usask.ca

An esteemed cardiology researcher with over 250 publications, Dr. Haddad BSc, MD, FRCPC, FACC, FAAC, is a Professor of Cardiology and the Unified Head of Medicine for both the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon Health Region. His position as Clinical Executive Advisor works closely with the leadership team to provide oversight and guidance for CTSU operations. All decisions regarding the CTSU are reviewed and approved by this position.

Megan Truscott

Director of Research

(306)966-6516
megan.truscott@usask.ca

The Director of Research oversees the administration of the Office of the Vice-Dean Research and Clinical Trial Support Unit and is a key member of the Vice-Dean Research leadership team. Megan provides guidance and direction to the fantastic lineup of OVDR and CTSU staff, and sets team and individual priorities. This position works with departments, senior leaders, and other key stakeholders across the College of Medicine and larger University community in order to assist the Vice-Dean Research and the entire portfolio to achieve its strategic goals.

Keleigh Garcea

Project Manager – Clinical Operations

ctsu.operations@usask.ca

The Project Manager – Clinical Operations is a term position that will work closely with the Director to evaluate the current operations, identify areas for improvement and implement new policies and procedures that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit.

The Project Manager’s expertise lies in orchestrating cross-functional teams, ensuring adherence to timelines and budgets, and maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

Travis Beauchemin

Contract Specialist

ctsu.contracts@usask.ca

The Contract Specialist provides legal advice and services regarding clinical research, including clinical trials, to the University of Saskatchewan and the CTSU’s other institutional members, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA). The Contract Specialist demonstrates a familiarity with evolving industry practices and policies and applies that knowledge to assist the parties in achieving their goals and visions. This position drafts and negotiates of a variety of contracts related to clinical trials.

Chantal Jantzen

Research Financial Analyst

ctsu.accounting@usask.ca

The Research Financial Analyst is key to the achievement of financial operations, including budget development, monthly financial reporting, quarterly forecasting, detailed variance analysis, and year-end reporting. This position acts as the financial liaison for all things research within the College of Medicine. The analyst provides analytical proficiency with regard to the full range of fund types while actively ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.

Sue Heffernan

Contract Support Specialist

(306)966-6957
ctsu.contracts@usask.ca

The Contract Support Specialist is the first point of contact for all contract related items regarding clinical trial research at the University of Saskatchewan. She oversees and manages clinical trial contracts for the Legal Counsel and Clinical Trial Support Unit team. This includes administrative, planning, and contract management support and expertise in order to facilitate the initiation, progress, and completion of clinical trial contract agreements of the CTSU.

Colton Holmes

Research Finance Coordinator

ctsu.invoicing@usask.ca

The Research Finance Coordinator provides detailed research finance services and finance administrative support for the Vice-Dean of Research and Clinical Trial Support Unit teams. This includes support to research finance and finance activities, internal funding initiatives and clinical trial finance operations in order to facilitate major initiatives of the OVDR and CTSU.

Kari Boudreau

Research Administrative Coordinator

kari.boudreau@usask.ca

The Research Administrative Coordinator provides detailed research and office administrative support to the Vice-Dean of Research and Clinical Trial Support Unit teams. This encompasses providing administrative support, overseeing office processes, coordinating events, and ensuring the seamless facilitation of key initiatives within the OVDR and CTSU.

Amy Wright

Administrative Coordinator

ctsu.admin@usask.ca

Clinical Research Professionals

Clinical Research Professionals (CRPs) provide clinical project management services to support and facilitate the regulatory, budget and ethical aspects of clinical development. Our team of CRPs fully understand the clinical trial landscape in the context of regulatory environment. They are abreast with the evolving regulatory landscape and apply current standards to ensure quality deliverables. Our CRPs are also members at Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) and offer best-in class services to our sites and investigators. The CRPs participate in the development of clinical research projects as well as provide logistical guidance and act as an educational resource for the research community.

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Amanjot Kaur

Olufunmilayo Oyero

Dr. Rahul Mandlik

Salima Nazim Meghani

Simona Meier

On Leave
Institutional Clinical Research Educator

Valeryia Rzheuskaya

Yessica Lopez Hernandez

Clinical Research Coordinators

Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) proficiently assist the Principal Investigator and associated research team through providing research coordination and support. This position utilizes good judgment and decision making, follows procedures and guidelines set by the PI, and collaborates closely with the research team. The CRCs expertise ensures a safe environment for research participants and staff.

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kelsey

Kelsey Bjorkman

Shelley Gustafson

Janet Peters

Clinical Research Lead

Clinical Research Nurses

Clinical Research Nurses (CRNs) provide similar support to the Principal Investigator and associated research team as their non-RN counterparts. In addition to research coordination, CRNs hold Nursing degrees and can perform per-protocol medical procedures that fall within the nursing scope of practice. The CRNs expertise ensures a safe environment for research participants and staff.

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