Meet the clinical research nurses at The Institute—caring for patients and advancing discovery
Source: The Institute
May 14, 2025
During National Nursing Week 2025, the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute) proudly recognizes a group of professionals working at the vital intersection of research and patient care: clinical research nurses. A team of 19 operates out of the Centre for Innovative Medicine (CIM), The Institute’s dedicated clinical research facility. Here, they ensure that research and patient care move forward—together.
“Clinical research nurses play an essential role in advancing new treatments, therapies and technologies,” says Dr. Angela Genge, Director of Clinical Research at the CIM. “Their expertise and empathy ensure clinical trials are conducted with both scientific rigour and human compassion.”
The dual role of a clinical research nurse
At The Institute, clinical research nurses are both caregivers and coordinators. Their work often begins before the first patient is enrolled in a study: they may play a key role in reviewing protocols, identifying eligible participants, and ensuring trials meet strict ethical and regulatory standards. Once a patient joins a study, the nurse becomes a key point of contact—monitoring side effects, collecting data, and providing compassionate support every step of the way.
Nursing on the front lines of discovery
Stephanie Van Rensselaer, a Clinical Research Nurse-Coordinator with a long career in patient care, exemplifies the dedication of CIM nurses. She began as a bedside nurse and moved to research in 1989. She joined the CIM in 2018 where she contributes to studies in gastrointestinal, breast and blood cancers. “You come to know your patients so well. You are part of their life, and they are part of yours,” she says. Stephanie has also witnessed the lasting impact of clinical trials: “Some of the drugs I saw in studies decades ago are now standard treatments. It’s thanks to the patients who agreed to take part in research back then that we have those options today.”
At the CIM’s Infusion Unit, nurses like Alyssa Colloricchio bring their expertise and empathy to patients undergoing chemo- and immunotherapy as part of clinical trials. Together with Christina Monahan, Phase I Clinical Research Nurse-Coordinator, she supports Phase I trials—studies that introduce treatments to humans for the first time and can offer new hope to patients with few remaining options. “The research here is so dynamic,” she says. “It’s incredibly meaningful to be part of a team that supports patients during such a critical and courageous step.”
Linda Chin, who supports patients with genitourinary cancers, brings both humour and compassion to her work. “I can’t change a diagnosis, but I can influence how the journey goes,” she says. Whether it’s ordering pizza for visiting family or helping patients laugh through difficult days, Linda is committed to treating people as more than their illness—seeing them not just as patients, but as individuals with full lives, stories and identities beyond their disease.
Lilia Yasmine, a former emergency nurse now at the CIM, values the deeper patient relationships that research nursing makes possible. “In the ED, you rarely see the same patient twice. Here, I’ve worked with some families for years.” Supporting trials for rare diseases and early phase treatments, she helps guide patients through complex journeys with consistency, empathy, and clinical skill. “It’s a privilege to support families through these moments while continuing to grow as a clinician.”
A legacy of excellence and empathy
As Canada celebrates National Nursing Week, The Institute honours its clinical research nurses—not only for their clinical skill, but also for the heart they bring to science. These professionals do more than collect data—they walk beside patients through some of the most difficult chapters of their lives, ensuring research is grounded in care.
In their hands, science moves forward with humanity.
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