ECHO Program for Clinical Trialists, Investigators, and Biostatisticians

Our ECHO program is designed to provide a collaborative platform for healthcare professionals, researchers, and trainees to share knowledge, best practices, and challenges in clinical trial design and conduct. Each session will feature a 20-minute didactic lecture by an expert, followed by open discussion of issues submitted by community members. Through these virtual learning sessions, participants gain access to expert guidance, real-time case discussions, and a supportive community that fosters continuous education and networking with peers.

During each ECHO session, participants will have the opportunity to present a problem for group discussion. These can include questions about a specific study protocol you're working on or areas where you seek further clarity or even a common challenge in clinical research methodology or execution. Learn more about presenting a problem.

Attendance at all sessions is not required. We recommend that participants attend at least 60% of the program to derive the greatest benefit.

Join a Canadian community to enhance your clinical trial design expertise and connect with mentors and peers nationwide.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

Gain the ability to rapidly and effectively design and implement clinical trials, essential for gathering the data needed to adjust therapies for new diseases.
Learn to adapt to constraints and shortages within the healthcare system.
Enhance their ability to collaborate with various experts, including medical specialists (physicians, surgeons, nurses, allied health professionals), scientific staff (biostatisticians, scientists, graduate students, epidemiologists), and operational staff (data and study coordinators, regulatory personnel, medical writers).
Be better equipped to conduct high-quality clinical trials, thereby improving their job prospects.
Develop skills to share knowledge, collaborate effectively, and address challenges in clinical trials.

Topics

All Sessions are 12:00- 1:30 PM ET

Wed, Sept 23, 2026

Topic: Scientific Communication

Speaker: Dr Lehana Thabane

Wed, Oct 7, 2026

Topic: Designing Credible Control Groups for Non-Drug Interventions

Speaker: TBC

Wed, Oct 28, 2026

Topic: Rescue Strategies When Recruitment Fails

Speaker: Dr Dean Fergusson

Wed, Nov 11, 2026

Topic: Bayesian Statistics, Challenges People Face

Speaker: George Tomlinson

Wed, Nov 25, 2026

TBC

Wed, Dec 16, 2026

Topic: Writing Successful Grants – What Reviewers Like to See

Speaker: Dr. Nancy Butcher

Wed, Jan 13, 2027

Topic: Machine Learning: An Introduction and a Use Case in Clinical Trials

Speaker: Dr. Philippe Boileau

Wed, Jan 27, 2027

TBC

Wed, Feb 10, 2027

TBC

Wed, Feb 24, 2027

Topic: Doing Trials Right: Ethical Approaches to Opt‑In/Opt‑Out, Withdrawals, and Hard‑to‑Reach Populations

Speaker: Dr. Charles Weijer

Wed, Mar 10, 2027

Topic: What Would Make You Stop a Trial?

Speaker: Dr. Lawrence Mbuagbaw

Wed, Mar 31, 2027

Topic: Protocol Deviations: When Do They Threaten Trial Validity?

Speaker: TBC

Wed, Apr 21, 2027

Topic: Target Trial Emulation: When Is It Appropriate?

Speaker: TBC

Wed, May 5, 2027

Topic: How to Conduct Implementation Trials

Speaker: TBC

Wed, May 19, 2027

TBC

Wed, June 2, 2027

Topic: Considering Equity in the Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials

Speaker: Dr. Lawrence Mbuagbaw

Wed, June 16, 2027

Topic: How to Develop a Protocol and Write a Grant

Speaker: TBC

Wed, June 30, 2027

Topic: CAREERS PANEL

Speakers: TBC

Interprofessional Hub Team

Lora Giangregorio, PhD

Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science

Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

University of Waterloo

she/her

Dr. George Tomlinson

Senior Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute,

Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Dr. Grace Lam

Clinician Scientist

Adult Respirologist Assistant Professor,

University of Alberta, Division of Pulmonary Medicine

Dr. Monica Taljaard

Senior Scientist, Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Full Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa

Dr. Lawrence Mbuagbaw

Research Methods Consultant and Clinical Epidemiologist

Associate Professor, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University

Director, Biostatistics Unit, St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton

Catherine Birken MD, MSc

General Paediatrician, Paediatric Medicine

Professor, University of Toronto (U of T)

Senior Scientist, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute

Dr. Jonathon Maguire

Professor, Paediatrics and Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto

General pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, St. Michael’s Hospital

Scientist, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto

Andrew Day, MSc

Head Biostatistician, Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University

Biostatistical Consultant, CMAJ

Kevin Thorpe

Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Scientific Lead, Clinical Trials Design and Analysis, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Lehana Thabane, PhD

Vice President of Research, St Joseph’s Healthcare

Scientific Director, Research Institute, St Joseph’s Healthcare

Professor of Biostatistics