First participant at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital Phase 1 Clinical Trials Unit helps advance medical science

The new Mount Saint Joseph Hospital Phase 1 Clinical Trials Unit (MSJ CTU), which opened in September 2025, is helping advance early-stage research in British Columbia, enabled by the commitment of its healthy volunteers.

Before any new medication or treatment reaches patients, it goes through a rigorous testing process to ensure that it is safe and effective. After extensive initial testing and development, the treatment enters the process of being studied in humans, known as clinical trials.

Clinical trial research is foundational to all medical advances. Phase 1 clinical trials test new potential treatments in healthy participants to assess their safety, understand how they behave in the body, and determine appropriate dose ranges. Healthy volunteers are central to this work, helping to establish a baseline understanding of a treatment before it is studied in patients with the conditions it is intended to treat. Results gathered at this stage determine whether a potential treatment can move on to larger Phase 2, 3 and 4 trials, and eventually receive regulatory approval to become broadly available to patients. 

The MSJ CTU’s very first participant, Britta Love*, recently completed the course of her trial, marking a significant moment not only for the new facility, but for early-stage clinical research in British Columbia.

“Clinical research depends on people – those willing to contribute, and those committed to caring for them well,” says Julie Hadden, Director, Clinical Research, at Providence Research. “The MSJ Phase 1 Clinical Trials Unit marks an important step forward for research in B.C., enabling early-stage innovation to happen closer to home and strengthening our provincial research ecosystem. It also reflects the strength of the teams and systems working quietly behind the scenes to ensure participants feel safe, supported, and respected.”

A new home for early-stage clinical research in B.C.

The MSJ CTU is B.C.’s first-and-only Phase 1 Clinical Trials Unit that conducts trials not related to cancer treatment, addressing a critical gap in early-stage drug development in the province. By enabling B.C. to support the full lifecycle of drug development, the unit helps ensure important research can be conducted closer to home, rather than requiring studies to be carried out elsewhere.

Britta was the first volunteer in the first trial conducted at the MSJ CTU. She learned about the trial through REACH BC, a provincial platform that connects volunteers with research opportunities. Her decision to sign up was influenced by a growing awareness of the importance of research and the vital role participants play in it.

“My partner had just finished her doctorate, and I came to understand how important research was, and the assistance that volunteers provide to researchers. I wanted to be a part of that,” says Britta.

MSJ CTU provides supportive, comfortable environment

Before enrolling, she asked detailed and practical questions about what the experience would be like. Her questions were clearly answered by the team, and she was able to tour the unit and have the study procedures thoroughly explained in advance.

“Elle, Lena and Danica just all reassured me how safe I was going to be here,” Britta says of the MSJ CTU team.

The MSJ CTU is purpose-built to support participant comfort and safety. It features eight participant beds, a lounge area with a kitchenette, dining table, couch, and television, in addition to laboratory and office space.

Britta’s participation in the trial began with a three-night overnight stay. She describes the unit as clean, bright, spacious, and well equipped, with comfortable beds, good showers, and thoughtful touches such as hot blankets and privacy curtains between beds.

“Honestly, it felt like a holiday. Other than giving blood and vitals, I brought my laptop and watched movies, talked to the lovely nurses, read and had naps. It was serene,” says Britta.

She could wake up at her own pace, except when tests were scheduled, choose meals delivered from local restaurants, and spend time reading or resting. She was given advance notice and clear explanations for blood draws and vitals checks, helping her feel prepared and comfortable.

Interactions with the CTU staff were a defining part of the experience.

“The warmth and kindness of the team put me at ease,” says Britta. “Having the kindness and support that Danica, Lena and Elle showed me throughout this whole thing was really meaningful.”

Participant proud to contribute to advancing medical science

Participating in a Phase 1 trial left Britta feeling proud, fulfilled, and grateful to be healthy enough to contribute at such a critical stage.

“Any invention today is the result of yesterday’s clinical trials,” says Britta.

She also appreciated the opportunity to support Canadian research and help keep innovation and early testing within the country. Looking ahead, Britta plans to volunteer for future clinical trials and encourages others to consider participating as well.

“If it’s at the Mount Saint Joseph’s Clinical Trials Unit, you’ll be in good hands, without question,” says Britta. “I can attest to the good feeling that comes out of helping humanity.”

“I am honored to have been part of the team that helped bring the MSJ CTU into existence,” says Lena Legkaia, Research Operations Manager for the MSJ CTU. “Helping operationalize the unit and prepare it for its first study has been both challenging and rewarding. Britta’s positive experience has reassured us that we are on the right path. We look forward to welcoming many more volunteers to take part in clinical trials in the future.”

Clinical trials are key to advancing medical science, ensuring that new, well-studied medications and treatments are made available to the patients who need them – which wouldn’t be possible without the generous participation of individuals in these trials.

“I highly recommend the experience, to take a few days off your life, give some blood, and help medical science alleviate suffering,” says Britta.

Building on the foundational early capacity established at MSJ, Providence will open a fully integrated CTU supporting all phases of clinical trials at its Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC) currently under construction next to the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the Jim Pattison Medical Campus.

When it opens in 2029, the CSRC CTU will support the development of novel treatments, particularly for non-cancer diseases, with purpose‑built infrastructure, including:

• An eight-bed inpatient unit for Phase I trials
• Dedicated spaces for Phase II–III trials
• Secure access and adjacency to principal investigators
• Integration with phlebotomy and clinical physiology laboratories

Together, MSJ and the CSRC will form a complementary, province‑leading clinical trials model.