Geographical disparities in clinical research have long contributed to health inequities between urban and rural BC — but nephrologist Dr. Anurag Singh is looking to challenge that status quo in his new leadership position, heading up an innovative northern research centre.
When Anurag first moved to Prince George a decade ago, he was inspired by a small but mighty community of local health researchers, whose dedication to improving health outcomes across northern BC underscored a need for expanded clinical research opportunities.
Now, as inaugural director of the Northern Centre for Clinical Research, he hopes to build on that vision. By bringing together academics, clinicians, and Indigenous and community partners to improve Northern Health's capacity for translational biomedical research, they are working to forge a brighter future.
“For so long, clinical research has been centered around major urban areas,” says Anurag. “Now, with a dedicated centre for clinical research based in Prince George, northern communities will benefit from biomedical discoveries and advances in clinical care much sooner.”
A response to long-standing geographical disparities, the centre was initially launched in 2022 — part of a collaboration between the UBC Faculty of Medicine, the University of Northern British Columbia, and Northern Health. It builds on existing infrastructure and partnerships to expand translational biomedical research, and has already kickstarted a number of research studies and clinical trials – including innovative treatments for cancer, neurological conditions, kidney disease, and more.
As medical director of kidney services for Northern Health, Anurag knows full well the importance of localized, person-centered care. That's why the Northern Centre for Clinical Research has formed a 30-member advisory council to guide its activities, joining Indigenous health scholars and leaders, health professionals, researchers, patients and community members to support clinical research that is relevant and beneficial to people in Northern BC.
Anurag and his team have also built deep partnerships with regional and province-wide organizations, and grown their core team of staff — seven members and counting! Together, they’re creating the infrastructure needed to foster a resilient and independent research ecosystem in the north.
"Our work is about improving the health and lives of northerners, and doing so in a way that is inclusive, collaborative, built on trust and partnership, and very much rooted in local realities and values,” says Anurag. "We’re hosting a wider range of clinical trials and enrolling more participants in clinical trials than ever before — with many more about to get underway."
