Who We Are

The Clinical Trials Unit has been conducting clinical research studies since 1964.  We do clinical trials in all of the major therapeutic areas of dermatology including acne, psoriasis, eczema, warts, skin cancer, and hair disorders. 

Our professional, knowledgeable staff includes three clinical research coordinators and a registered nurse, with 56 years of combined experience in conducting clinical trials research.  The Director of Clinical Trials, Dr. Stuart Maddin, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of British Columbia.

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are medical research studies.  They are very scientifically controlled in order to evaluate how new drugs in development (called “investigational drugs”) treat or cure a specific disease or condition.  Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies spend many years researching and developing new drugs.  After performing laboratory testing and after the information, called data, is collected and analyzed, they must test and evaluate how their drug will work in humans.  New drugs or treatments usually go through three phases of clinical trial testing before enough data is collected to determine that it is safe and effective for use in humans.  The data is then sent to regulatory agencies such as Health Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to obtain approval to bring the drug to market so it can be used in treatment.  Clinical trials are also done after a drug is approved for use in people in order to obtain safety and effectiveness data on how a drug works in the long term. 

To find more information about clinical trials in Canada and understand how they are performed, visit the Clinical Trials Page at Health Canada which describes regulations, testing, and protocols. In the U.S., ClinicalTrials.gov provides patients, family members, and members of the public easy and free access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions, and has a good Resources Page.

For more information on the process of how new drugs get approved for use in Canada, you can visit the following Health Canada website:  Access to Therapeutic Products: The Regulatory Process in Canada.

Why we do Clinical Trials at the Skin Care Centre

We do clinical trials at the Skin Care Centre for many reasons.

Research
The dermatologists at the Skin Care Centre are all members of the University of British Columbia’s Department of Dermatology and Skin Science.  They serve as the investigators for our clinical trials.  While they work with currently approved therapies for their patients, they also actively participate in research to better understand diseases and to find new and better ways to better treat their patients.  To find out more information about our dermatologists, click here.

Discovery
When we do clinical trials of new investigational drugs or treatments here at the Skin Care Centre, our physicians and staff keep up-to-date with the latest developments in dermatology research.  It gives both physicians and their patients (as well as the public) access to cutting-edge drugs or therapies. 

Service
We provide our investigators, the pharmaceutical community, and the government with quality, accurate, timely and cost-effective Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV clinical trial services, featuring modern facilities and experienced, professional staff.  By doing this, we in turn provide patients with access to new and innovative therapies that may provide a better alternative to their current therapies or treatments.

Clinical Trials Currently Underway at the Skin Care Centre

The following clinical trials are currently being conducted in the Clinical Trials Unit at the Skin Care Centre in Vancouver.  If you like more information on any of these trials, please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions. 

We encourage you to check this page often, as we frequently have new studies starting throughout the year.

Clinical Trials Open for Participation

We are currently recruiting subjects for the clinical trials listed below. If you would like more information on one of the studies, click on it and a new window will appear with the information.

Psoriasis Clinical Trials

Calcipotriol Plus Hydrocortisone Ointment Compared with Tacalcitol Ointment in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris on the Face and on the Intertriginous Areas (LEO 80190-O22) / LEO Pharma A/S.

Efficacy and safety of alefacept in combination with narrow-band UVB (nbUVB) compared to alefacept alone in subjects with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis (AME-001) / Astellas Pharma Canada

PSUNRISE: A Multicenter, Open-label Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Infliximab (REMICADE®) Therapy in Patients With Plaque Psoriasis Who Had an Inadequate Response to Etanercept (ENBREL®) (C0168Z04) / Centocor Inc.

RESTORE (Raptiva® (efalizumab) Evaluation of Safety and Treatment Optimization Registry) - Observational, open-label, multi-centre, phase IV study of subcutaneously administered Raptiva® (efalizumab) in the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are candidates for treatment with Raptiva®.

Contact and Participation Information

For more information on Clinical Trials at the Skin Care Centre, please contact us.  We would be pleased to give you information on current and upcoming studies. 

Clinical Trials Unit
The Skin Care Centre
#113-835 W. 10th Avenue
Vancouver, BC   V5Z 4E8

Tel:  604-875-5296
Fax:  604-875-4108

Consent for Future Telephone Contact Form

If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and wish to be contacted by telephone regarding current or future studies, please print and complete the form in the link below.  When you sign this form, you give us your permission to keep your personal information on file so that we may contact you with information regarding studies that you may be eligible to participate in. Click here for the Contact Form.

Please note:  Canada has federal and provincial laws and ethical guidelines that protect your personal information and your privacy.  They prevent us from contacting you unless you provide written permission for us to do so. 

You may find more information regarding protection of your personal information and privacy at:

Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

Personal Information Protection Act: (PIPA)

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA)

Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, Section 3:  Privacy and Confidentiality (PDF)