QuickSTART Cuts Clinical Trial Start-Up Times to 45 Days in Ontario

TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2026 /CNW/ -- Clinical trial sponsors can now start studies in Ontario in as little as 45 days through QuickSTART, a new accelerated study start-up pathway, launched today by Clinical Trials Ontario and the Ontario Leadership Table for Clinical Trials, representing the province's leading research hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. By reducing timelines that can traditionally take three to six months or longer, QuickSTART will help speed up clinical trial access for patients while making Ontario a more competitive destination for global trial investment.

QuickSTART aims to reduce delays, strengthen coordination between hospitals, research institutions and industry sponsors, and streamline the process required to begin a clinical trial. Through a parallel review process, key activation elements including contracting, budget negotiations, and research ethics reviews are brought together within a shared 45-day timeline.

"Slow start-up times have been a significant barrier to Ontario's competitiveness as a life sciences leader, discouraging global sponsors from bringing studies to our province and delaying health opportunities for patients," says Dr. Bradly Wouters, Chair of the Ontario Leadership Table for Clinical Trials and Executive Vice President, Science and Research, University Health Network. "QuickSTART is changing that by aligning research teams, institutions and sponsors around a common process and timeline that enables studies to move from planning to activation far more efficiently without compromising on quality."

QuickSTART's ambitious 45-day target was validated this summer, when the first pilot engagements exceeded expectations, completing the pathway in under 40 days.

"This exceptional outcome will have a positive impact on the front lines of care," says Dr. Chris McIntyre, member of the Ontario Leadership Table for Clinical Trials and Interim Vice President of Research, London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute, which led the first study to complete the QuickSTART pathway. "Our team was able to complete start-up in under 20 days. For patients in London and the surrounding area, this will mean faster access to trials and the innovative therapies they bring."

The other research sites and industry sponsors participating in the first QuickSTART studies--Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Parkwood Institute, University Health Network, AstraZeneca, and Roche Canada--experienced similar results.

"As a result of this pathway, Canada was the second country to be activated globally," says Dr. Dan Edgcumbe, Vice President Medical & Regulatory Affairs, Country Medical Director, Roche Canada. "Speeding up clinical trial start-up improves our healthcare system and helps us attract international investment that supports good-paying jobs and economic growth."

QuickSTART was supported through a $5 million investment by the Government of Ontario as part of the province's Life Sciences Strategy. The program is led by Clinical Trials Ontario and leverages proven provincial tools, including the Ontario Universal Agreement for Clinical Trials and CTO's Stream platform, which supports streamlined ethics reviews across more than 180 research sites.

"QuickSTART's early success reflects the commitment and collaboration of clinical trials leaders across Ontario who came together to design a solution that will enable patients to access trials more quickly," says Susan Marlin, President & CEO, Clinical Trials Ontario. "We are grateful to the Government of Ontario for its continued commitment to strengthening Ontario's life sciences sector as a key driver of health and economic sovereignty."

About Clinical Trials Ontario

Clinical Trials Ontario is a leading non-profit organization in Canada's clinical trials community supported by the Government of Ontario. We fuel Ontario's life sciences sector by working collaboratively with research institutes and hospitals, industry, health charities, patients and the public, and other health innovation organizations to strengthen clinical trials, advance cutting-edge therapies and devices, and accelerate economic growth, while supporting the highest ethical and quality standards. By supporting global leadership in clinical trials, we can shape a brighter, healthier future. Learn more at ctontario.ca.

SOURCE Clinical Trials Ontario

Media Contact: Elise Johnson, Director of Communications, Clinical Trials Ontario, [email protected]