N2 Committees
N2 committees are the heart of our work—bringing together clinical research experts to identify gaps, build tools, and share knowledge. Explore each committee below to learn how they contribute to Canada’s national research ecosystem.
Where collaboration leads to action.
Much of N2′s work happens through these committees, made up of passionate members from across the country. Whether based in academic hospitals, community health sites, regulatory bodies, or industry sponsors, our volunteers represent the full spectrum of Canada’s clinical research landscape.
Each committee develops a work plan and deliverables aligned with N2’s strategic priorities and shaped by input from the broader research community.
With over 125 active members contributing their time and expertise, these committees reflect the collaborative spirit that drives innovation and integrity in Canadian research.
Let’s work together—join an N2 Committee!
We’d love to hear from you! N2 committee members come from across Canada and represent a wide range of research sectors, roles, and organizations. Whether you’re new to N2 or a long-time member, your voice matters.
Click below to fill out a short form and let us know your interests—we’ll pass your details along to the appropriate Committee Chair.
Clinical Research SOP
The N2 Clinical Research SOP Committee develops and maintains N2 SOPs to support compliance with regulatory requirements and prepare for Health Canada inspections. They also provide tools and implementation packages to help organizations roll out and integrate these SOPs and resources across the N2 community.
Currently, N2 has several sets of SOPs:
- Clinical site SOPs for conducting clinical research (including, for example, how to properly consent a study participant, and how to manage Investigational Products, etc.)
- Site SOPs specifically developed for conducting investigator-initiated research (including, for example, how to set up a study protocol, or write a data management plan)
The SOPs provide a mechanism to assist sites in remaining compliant without having to develop their own. All SOPs are reviewed regularly and re-issued every two years by the N2 SOP Committee and independently audited to ensure compliance and to enable efficient, effective research conduct.
Committee Chairs:
Stephen Sundquist (Executive Director, Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network (3CTN))
Sassan Azad (Director, Medical & Scientific Affairs, A.I, & Med-Tech)
Education Committee
The N2 Education Committee develops online courses for those involved in funding, administering, reviewing, coordinating, or conducting health, social, and behavioural research.
In partnership with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) at the University of Miami—now part of the Biomedical Research Alliance of New York (BRANY)—N2 offers high-quality, web-based Canadian instruction. These courses promote safe, ethical, and responsible research with human participants, aligned with Canadian guidelines, regulations, and legislation.
CITI-Canada continually updates course content to reflect changes in the research landscape and expands its offerings annually to meet the growing demand for Canadian-focused research education.
Committee Chairs:
Suzanne Crowe (Clinical Research Facilitator, University of Ottawa Heart Institute)
Megan Reilly-Boyes (Compliance & Research Integrity Officer, University of Ottawa Heart Institute)
Public Engagement
The N2 Public Engagement Committee is responsible for the development and execution of a national clinical trials education and awareness strategy. This education and awareness program is a comprehensive framework to increase the public’s knowledge and understanding about clinical trials and clinical research.
The Committee has achieved key milestones, including launching the bilingual website
www.itstartswithme.ca / www.cacommenceavecmoi.ca featuring educational resources like videos, pamphlets, and presentations to raise public awareness of clinical trials.
Current efforts focus on maintaining the website, building a research culture, securing resources, hosting events, and uniting the Canadian clinical trials community to enhance awareness and recruitment initiatives.
Committee Chairs:
Munaza Jamil (Clinical Research | EDI Consultant & Trainer)
Sarah Bridges (Research Coordinator for the Maritime SPOR Support Unit)
Quality Committee
The N2 Quality Committee supports N2 members by developing recommended practice changes to comply with new directives or guidelines from regulatory authorities, adhering to established best practices, and fostering quality assurance programs. The committee provides collegial and constructive advice to the N2 Board of Directors on research quality and compliance, with a primary focus on assisting the N2 membership in addressing quality-related matters.
The efforts of the committee contribute to the on-going goal to make available tools and resources for member organizations to help improve or make incremental improvement within existing processes to ensure quality research.
The committee also serves as a resource and support for members subject to regulatory inspections by providing assistance on how to prepare for, host and respond with corrective and preventative action plans to regulatory audits.
Committee Chairs:
Sasha Eskandarian (Manager Research Compliance & Support Services, Hamilton Health Sciences)
Tracy Wong (Research Quality Assurance Specialist, Island Health)
Rapid Response Team
Responsible for coordinating responses to requests for feedback to regulators and funders on proposed regulatory, policy and program changes.
7 Responses to Canadian Regulatory Policies in 2024
7 N2 Rapid Response Team Members
Committee Chairs:
Whitney Duff (Clinical Research Lead, ZYUS Life Sciences Inc.)
Jean Smart (Regulatory Affairs and Quality Officer, Clinical Trials BC)
REB SOP Committee
The N2 REB SOP Committee is responsible for developing and maintaining all current Research Ethics Board (REB) SOPs in both French and English languages, and for ensuring that the SOPs meet all applicable requirements relevant to the review of health sciences research, including clinical trials.
The SOPs ensure the REB can implement policies, comply with regulatory and ethical requirements—including privacy for PHI—and effectively review health sciences research.
SOPs are reviewed regularly, updated every two years by the N2/CAREB SOP committee, and audited by experts to maintain compliance and support efficient REB functioning.
N2’s SOPs include:
- REB SOPs (with CAREB collaboration)
- Clinical site SOPs for clinical research
- Site SOPs for investigator-initiated research
Committee Chair:
Dorothy Herbert (Research Ethics Board Leader, Professional Practice Office, Interior Health)