Site Reviewers

Our Site Reviewers are Canadian researchers and research administrators proﬁcient in the ﬁeld of expertise of the organizations applying for accreditation. They are chosen based on their knowledge, experience, professionalism and objectivity.

Site Reviewers are not members of the management or administration of HRA Canada.

Dr. Andria Bianchi is a Clinical Ethicist employed by the Centre for Clinical Ethics at Unity Health Toronto in Toronto, Ontario. In her role, Andria provides clinical, organizational, and research ethics support to multiple post-acute care organizations in the Toronto region.

In addition to her clinical ethics responsibilities, Andria is an Assistant Professor (status-only) at the University of Toronto – Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Council of the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority, an Affiliate Scientist with KITE Research Institute – Toronto Rehab, and a board member of the Canadian Association of Practicing Healthcare Ethicists – Association canadienne des éthiciens en soins de santé (CAPHE-ACESS). Andria is dedicated to contributing to the pursuit of ethically responsible research in multiple ways – she serves on two REBs as part of her employment, has been appointed as a Chair and Ethics Representative for Veritas IRB, and continues to contribute to the Human Research Standards Organization (HRSO) by serving as a Technical Committee member.

Colleen Cochran is the Research Planning & Facilitation Officer for the College of Arts & Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Colleen holds a BA (Hons.) in Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan with a research focus on the hemispheric lateralization of the human brain. Colleen also completed the Research Administration Certificate program at Mohawk College (sponsored by the Canadian Association of Research Administrators – CARA).

Prior to her current role, Colleen held a number of other positions at the University of Saskatchewan; Human Ethics Administrator, providing support for both the Biomedical and Behavioural REBs, and Research Executive Officer, managing a research office conducting both clinical and basic research.

Colleen is also a Technical Committee member serving on various HRSO Technical Committees developing the National Standards of Canada (NSCs), including CAN/HRSO-200.01-2021 “Research Ethics and Review Oversight”, CAN/HRSO-300.01-2022 “Conduct of Human Research NSC”, and CAN/HRSO-100.02-2022 “Development of a Training Program for Human Research Protection”.

Based in Montreal, Erica Monteferrante is a Project Manager for Clinical Trials for CATALIS Québec, a non-profit organization. She is responsible for both the review and execution of clinical research projects, and the development of research ethics practices.

Erica holds degrees from Université de Montréal (MA, Bioethics) and McGill University (BA, Western Religions). Since 2018, she has immersed herself in the operations of Research Ethics Boards at both the CEGEP and university level as an ethics member.

Alongside her role as a Site Reviewer for HRA Canada, Erica is a current member of the Quality Standards and Research Integrity Management (QSRIM) Technical Committee for the Human Research Standards Organization (HRSO).

Based in Moncton, New Brunswick, Karine Morin is the Regional Contract and Budget Manager for the Office of Research Services at the Horizon Health Network. Karine is responsible for the review and execution of research agreements, including the negotiation of study budgets. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Moncton and received her designation as a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) in 2013.

Regulatory Compliance has been Karine’s expertise and priority since she joined the research team in 2008 in her previous position at the Vitalité Health Network. Her past experiences include Clinical Trials Unit oversight, Policies and Procedures development & updates, Quality Assurance and training. Karine is currently a member of the Human Research Standards Organization (HRSO) Technical Committee “Conduct of Biomedical and Qualitative Research” (CBQR).

Dr. Ann Munro Heesters is the Director of Bioethics and the Director of Academic Affairs and Research Innovation (AARI) at the University Health Network. Ann is also a member of the University of Toronto’s Joint Centre for Bioethics. Ann has practiced in the field for more than 17 years and established the ethics services at Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation (now part of New Brunswick’s Horizon Health Network) and The Ottawa Hospital.

Ann came to Toronto in 2009 to become Director of Ethics and Spiritual Care at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Ann has an abiding interest professionalizing the work of health care ethicists and was a founding member of PHEEP (Practicing Healthcare Ethicists Exploring Professionalization) and an early director of CAPHE-ACCESS (the Canadian Association of Practicing Healthcare Ethicists).

Ann is a former Research Ethics Board chair and a current REB member. Some of her current interests include exploring ethics processes for the evaluation of research and quality improvement initiatives. She is now sitting on her institution’s relationship management committee and is helping that group to establish standards for managing conflict of interest cases.

Anik Nolet is a graduate from McGill University in political sciences (1995), from the University of Montreal in law (L.L.B, 1998), and from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, in clinical ethics (2003). Anik obtained a MA in Health law from Sherbrooke University and a graduate diploma in biomedical ethics from the Paris VI University.

Anik has been a member of the Quebec bar since 2000. Anik was also, for many years, a board member of Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB) and a member of many other research ethics committees such as l’Institut Philippe Pinel and the central ethics committee of the health ministry of Quebec.

Anik was appointed by the Health Minister of Quebec as the ethicist expert member of the Quebec Biovigilance committee. Anik is presently the CRIR’s (Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire en réadaptation du Montréal métropolitain) establishments research ethics coordinator, since 2002, and the research ethics advisor for the CIUSSS-du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, since 2016. Anik is a member of the Tri-Agency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (PRE, 2021).

Dimitri Patrinos is a lawyer (Ontario Bar) and is currently pursuing his doctoral studies at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. He is a graduate fellow of the McGill Research Group on Health and Law. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from McGill University, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Juris Doctor (JD) from the Université de Montréal, and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology from Concordia University.

Dimitri serves as a jurist member on the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Research Ethics Board. Alongside his role as a Site Reviewer for HRA Canada, Dimitri is a member of the Human Research Standards Organization (HRSO) Conduct of Qualitative and Quantitative Research (CQQR) Technical Committee (National Standard of Canada “Data Governance in Human Research”).

Nate Stepner is a Halifax-based clinical research professional with a comprehensive, 30-year background in pharma, biotech, CROs, and academic research. Nate holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from Boston University, a MHSc in Public Health from the University of Toronto, and a D.Litt. in Medical Sciences from St. Clements University.

Nate is the Scientific Advisor of the MicroResearch and Global Health Unit, Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University. Nate sits on the Board of Directors at Our Health Centre in a Chester, Nova Scotia and the Clinical Research Association of Canada. Nate is a Scientific Advisor with the National Organization for Rare Diseases and Biotalent Canada.

Nate is an active volunteer with the Red Cross serving as a field-based Disaster Mental Health Advisor and Public Health Project Manager.

Milena Taibi is a clinical research professional with experience in research ethics and clinical trials.

Milena earned her MSc in Animal Biology from McGill University and proceeded to obtain a graduate diploma in Clinical Research (Gr. Dip.), where she discovered her interest in pursuing a career in clinical operations. Milena currently works as a Project Manager at a Montreal-based Contract Research Organization. She is responsible for overseeing the daily conduct of several clinical trials, ensuring adherence to study and regulatory requirements. With her strong background in research ethics, Milena also ensures the protection of human research participants.

Milena is interested in the evolving regulatory environment of clinical trials and the application of National Standards of Canada to the clinical research landscape.