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Canada’s Leader in Post-Market Drug Evaluation
CoLab network provides the credible and timely evidence needed to answer questions from Canada’s senior federal, provincial, and territorial health care decision-makers about post-market drug safety and effectiveness.
CoLab uses real-world evidence to support key health system decisions on drug safety and effectiveness.
The CoLab network brings together experts in applied research, scientific methods, and data analysis to answer questions about drugs that are already on the Canadian market and available to patients.
Post-market drug evaluation focuses on drugs that have proceeded through the approval process and are available to patients and consumers.
Our Goals
1.
Answer decision-makers' questions using best-in-class approaches that maintain methodological rigour while meeting timelines.
2.
Work collaboratively with our pan-Canadian network of partners and network collaborators.
3.
Foster a culture of quality improvement and innovation to continuously enhance the query process and timeline.
How it Works
Explore each step of our process:
Start
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Query submission
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2
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Scoping and refinement
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3
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Feasibility assessment
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4
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Response team assembly
  • Statistical analysis plan
  • Query protocol
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5
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Evidence generation
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6
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Study findings
  • Scientific report
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Finish
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Knowledge dissemination
Ensuring access to safe, effective, and clinically relevant drugs is an important role for Canada’s health systems.
Advances in clinical development and streamlined regulatory approval processes have resulted in faster access to drugs. However, with these advancements, drugs may be introduced into the market without full knowledge of their long-term and real-world effectiveness.
Post-market drug evaluations are important to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs after they have received regulatory approval and are being used by patients in Canada.
CoLab provides a wide range of services for Canada's federal, provincial, and territorial decision-makers.
analysis
Analysis
Perform targeted analyses and evidence reviews to provide insight into the use and real-world effectiveness of therapeutic products.
data
Data
Integrate data and make data accessible to generate evidence to support decision-making.
studies
Studies
Conduct observational studies to inform health system decision-making.
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Knowledge Translation
Integrate knowledge translation and mobilization initiatives to leverage the evidence produced through CoLab and expand its potential impact and benefit.
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Formulary Support
Provide support for formulary management and harmonization for pharmaceuticals across Canada.
monitoring
Monitoring
Monitor the pharmaceutical landscape to better position jurisdictions to proactively address impending health system issues.
CoLab works with a wide range of customers who have diverse questions and needs related to post-market drug evaluation in Canada.
CoLab can provide timely and reliable evidence to pan-Canadian decision-makers, including:

customer
Health Canada
customer
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
customer
Federal Drug Programs
customer
Provincial and Territorial Drug Programs
CoLab Network
CoLab is made up of a diverse group of experts from across Canada. Review the map to learn more about our core network partners and network collaborators.
Core network partners
A
CNODES
B
KSAU
C
ADTEC
D
CCRE Platform
Network collaborators
E
CAN-AIM
F
Exactis
Specialty collaborators
G
ActionADE
H
SEARCH & PREVENT
I
Dr. Michael Law
ABCDEFGHI
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CoLab Network
CoLab is made up of a diverse group of experts from across Canada. Review the map to learn more about our core network partners and network collaborators.
network_map
Show all partners
CCRE Platform
Core Network Partner

The Canadian Cancer Real-World Evaluation (CCRE) Platform comprises Canada's leading researchers in real-world evidence in cancer who are uniquely embedded within cancer agencies in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.

This team has extensive experience answering decision-maker questions.

CCRE can leverage its role as a data owner and custodian to respond rapidly to decision-maker questions by directly accessing and linking oncology-related health administrative databases.

This team is built on well-established collaborations with organizations such as Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), Alberta Health Services, BC Cancer Agency, the Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies, Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, Health Data Research Network Canada, and the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Submit a Query
Query Submission Form
To submit a query to CoLab, complete the online Query Request Form (link below) and select the following option for question #4:
  • Decision related to the safe and appropriate use of drugs approved by Health Canada and currently available to people living in Canada (a post-market drug evaluation).
Query Request Form
Queries should be about a health care decision or policy issue related to the safe and appropriate use of drugs. Once your query has been received, a member of our CoLab team will contact you.
Query Status
Ongoing
Complete
Most recent
Query & Therapeutic AreaReponse team(s) & Start dateProjected Completion
Query Status
Ongoing
Complete
Most recent

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