REACH BC

💖May 20 is International Clinical Trials Day!

Clinical trials are key to new treatment options and better health – and they can’t happen without volunteers. Today, we’d like to thank everyone who’s ever joined a clinical trial or shared their input.

Whether you’ve contributed as a participant, or shaped trial design as a patient partner, your time and efforts matter. Improvements to medicine are only possible because of your support.

Did you know that you can find trials through REACH BC? Explore our study directory: https://reachbc.ca/studies

We had a great time at the Transforming Health Symposium, hosted by !

It’s always our pleasure to connect with the health research community, from researchers to industry leaders to people with lived experience. We love chatting with folks about their experiences with REACH BC, why they’re interested in health research, and ways to improve the platform. Thanks to everyone who dropped by our booth!

We had a great time at the Transforming Health Symposium, hosted by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia!

It’s always our pleasure to connect with the health research community, from researchers to industry leaders to people with lived experience. We love chatting with folks about their experiences with REACH BC, why they’re interested in health research, and ways to improve the platform. Thanks to everyone who dropped by our booth!

Two spots are still available for the Photovoice spring workshop, starting April 9! If you’ve cared for someone after their intensive care unit (ICU) stay, you could shape important research by sharing your story.

Please reshare widely. Details below.

Want to learn more? Read the full study description: https://reachbc.ca/project/961

*Note from the UBC ethics board: If you choose to interact with this post, you will be publicly identified with the study.

UBC School of Nursing

Volunteer opportunity: Have you cared for someone after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay?

The UBC CAPTURE Study is looking for caregivers of ICU survivors to join a 5-week Photovoice workshop project, starting April 9, 2026 on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. PST!

Through photos and group discussions, caregivers will:
• Share stories of supporting ICU recovery
• Explore how critical illness impacts emotional and social well-being
• Help create a virtual photo exhibit to raise awareness about the recovery journey

Sessions will be held virtually once a week for five weeks (No session on April 30, 2026).

The content of your photos is completely up to you. Participants will receive an honorarium as a thank you for their time and contribution.

Based in BC? Supported someone through ICU recovery? You may be eligible!

To read the full study description and sign up, please visit https://bit.ly/44ixzUY

*Note from the UBC ethics board: If you choose to interact with this post, you will be publicly identified with the study.

UBC School of Nursing

Wondering how you could participate in health research?

Join our session at 10 a.m. next week with patient partner Anita David. Learn about the REACH BC platform and different ways you can get involved, from health research studies to clinical trials to patient partner engagements. You’ll also hear how you can find studies related to your health interests, geographic areas or participation preferences.

Save your spot: https://bit.ly/4rSYhNC

Part of Okanagan Embrace Aging Month, hosted by Interior Health and the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan.

👥 We're at Putting Patients First 2026!

REACH BC is on-site connecting with patient partners, researchers, and community members to share how we support patient-oriented research across BC. Stop by our booth to say hi and learn more about how we can support your work.

Have you ever wanted to get involved in a research study or clinical trial?

In this session, learn how REACH BC can connect you with different health research opportunities in the province, based on your own interests. You’ll learn what REACH BC is, how it works, and ways to participate. Hear it from the REACH BC team and patient partner Anita David.

Tune in online, free of charge. All ages welcome – join at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18: https://bit.ly/3OyTB0R

Part of Okanagan Embrace Aging Month, hosted by Interior Health and the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, UBC Okanagan.

Have you signed up yet for our session with GenomeBC?

Join us next Monday at 9:30 a.m. PT to get a deep dive on REACH BC’s key features, how it can help you, and our collaboration with Genome BC’s Health Data Metacommons.

Register today: https://bit.ly/4tiD6pA

Maximizing Study Impact: Recruit and Engage Participants Across BC
Join our next Data Literacy Webinar to learn how REACH BC is transforming participant recruitment and engagement for clinical trials and health research across British Columbia.

📅 February 2, 2026 | 🕤 9:30–10:30 AM PST
💻 Online

Discover how REACH BC connects British Columbians with research opportunities and empowers researchers to broaden and diversify study recruitment. REACH BC is an initiative of Clinical Trials British Columbia, part of Michael Smith Health Research BC

🔍 Learn how REACH BC:
✔️ Connects researchers and participants across BC
✔️ Ensures privacy and data security for volunteers and researchers
✔️ Supports diverse communities in recruitment efforts
✔️ Helps researchers share study results and engage volunteers meaningfully

🎤 Featuring:
Michelle Chen – Platform Administrator, REACH BC
Justine Clayton – Coordinator, REACH BC

This webinar will also highlight REACH BC’s collaboration with Genome BC’s Health Metadata Commons, working together to streamline researcher access and create a more connected research ecosystem in BC.

🔗 Register now: https://events.genomebc.ca/reach-bc/10552466?ref=FB

How can REACH BC help drive recruitment and retention for your clinical trials and research studies? Join our February 2 session with GenomeBC to find out!

Learn the ins and outs of the platform, the different opportunities you can post, and how REACH BC can help you drive and broaden recruitment. You'll also learn about our collaboration with Genome BC’s Health Metadata Commons, and how we're working together to support a more connected, efficient research ecosystem in BC.

Save your seat: https://events.genomebc.ca/reach-bc/about?ref=LNK

Maximizing Study Impact: Recruit and Engage Participants Across BC
Join our next Data Literacy Webinar to learn how REACH BC is transforming participant recruitment and engagement for clinical trials and health research across British Columbia.

📅 February 2, 2026 | 🕤 9:30–10:30 AM PST
💻 Online

Discover how REACH BC connects British Columbians with research opportunities and empowers researchers to broaden and diversify study recruitment. REACH BC is an initiative of Clinical Trials British Columbia, part of Michael Smith Health Research BC

🔍 Learn how REACH BC:
✔️ Connects researchers and participants across BC
✔️ Ensures privacy and data security for volunteers and researchers
✔️ Supports diverse communities in recruitment efforts
✔️ Helps researchers share study results and engage volunteers meaningfully

🎤 Featuring:
Michelle Chen – Platform Administrator, REACH BC
Justine Clayton – Coordinator, REACH BC

This webinar will also highlight REACH BC’s collaboration with Genome BC’s Health Metadata Commons, working together to streamline researcher access and create a more connected research ecosystem in BC.

🔗 Register now: https://events.genomebc.ca/reach-bc/10552466?ref=FB

2025 has been an exciting time of growth, connection and impact for the REACH BC community and team. As we look back on this year, we’re grateful for the support and partnerships that help us move health research forward, improving care for people in BC and beyond.

With your help:
• REACH BC continued to grow, hitting 8500+ volunteers – a 22% increase since 2024.
• People across BC are helping push research forward, including community studies and early phase clinical trials with Providence Health Care.
• We launched a new feature with the BC SUPPORT Unit that enables researchers to share back study results, so participants can see how they’re making a difference.

This could not have happened without you. Thank you for being a part of the REACH BC community — whether you were a volunteer, researcher, patient partner, clinical trialist, or partner. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together next year.

Explore more highlights in our 2024-2025 impact report (PDF): https://bit.ly/4qc9iIE