The Manitoba government is launching a new clinical trials office to fast-track health research and announcing the new Research Improvements Through Harmonization in Manitoba (RITHIM) project to grow Manitoba's bioscience sector, Innovation and New Technology Mike Moroz, Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses and Advanced Education and Training Minister Renée Cable announced on July 2.
"Our government is committed to finding new technology solutions that will better serve Manitobans," said Moroz. "This innovative approach to health research, delivered through Research Manitoba, invests in the industry in our province, making us more competitive, enabling us to retain world-class researchers and helping us attract more investment opportunities."
Led by Research Manitoba, RITHIM will bring industry partners together to streamline the review system so research projects can be approved faster and more efficiently, noted the minister. The new electronic system will also create a single co-ordinated application process. The province recently announced an additional $5-million investment in Research Manitoba.
"Today's RITHIM launch announcement is an important milestone for Manitoba and the beginning of a new chapter for Research Manitoba," said Andrea Legary, chair of the board of directors, Research Manitoba. "RITHIM is unique across Canada as the first program of its kind to harmonize ethics, privacy and health institutional reviews. The Research Manitoba board of directors is proud of this achievement and thanks the Research Manitoba team for their dedication to improving the health research ecosystem in our province."
Manitoba's new clinical trial office builds on the province's strength as Canada's second-largest pharmaceutical exporter and a hub for biotech innovation, added Moses.
"This new office will make it easier and more efficient to do health research in Manitoba, attracting more private sector investment to the province," said Moses. "Improving clinical trials in the province will mean more high-paying Manitoba jobs, a stronger economy and a thriving biotech sector."
"Bioscience Association Manitoba was honoured to co-chair the Manitoba clinical trial working group that spent the past 10 months reviewing and developing recommendations to improve processes and timelines for research in Manitoba," said Andrea Ladouceur, president and CEO, Bioscience Association Manitoba. "We are excited to see the adoption of the lead recommendation of establishing leaders that will champion making Manitoba the destination for life changing and lifesaving, world-class research."
As leading researchers in the province, Manitoba's post-secondary institutions are participating in RITHIM and will be able to add capacity and efficiency to their research abilities, noted Cable.
"Amazing work is happening at our post-secondaries. This project helps us support that work by getting rid of onerous processes and letting researchers focus on research," said Cable.
The life sciences sector contributes over $5 billion annually to Manitoba's GDP, noted the ministers.
For more information on RITHIM, visit https://rithim.ca/.
