Universal Agreement for Clinical Trials

The Ontario Universal Agreement for Clinical Trials (UACT) is a standardized clinical trial agreement developed by Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO) and the Ontario Leadership Table for Clinical Trials to streamline the start-up process for clinical trials between institutions and sponsors. Created through collaboration with legal and contract experts, the UACT provides a balanced, fair framework designed to reduce the time and resources typically required for individual contract negotiations. By adopting the UACT, Ontario aims to accelerate trial start-up timelines, improve access to clinical trials, and support faster delivery of research outcomes and patient treatments.

Access the UACT — Annotated Version

Interested in learning more about the UACT? Fill out the form below to receive a locked, annotated version of the UACT! Our team will provide additional guidance and support to help you effectively implement the UACT. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and make the most of the UACT in your work.

Our UACT Partners

Join the growing network of organizations committed to streamlining clinical trials and advancing research in Ontario through the Universal Agreement for Clinical Trials.

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Resources

The UACT Implementation Guide provides information to help you integrate UACT into your organization.

Contact

Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to us at quickstart@ctontario.ca. Our team is here to help with any inquiries you may have about the Ontario Universal Agreement for Clinical Trials.

Frequently Asked Questions

The UACT is a standardized clinical trial agreement developed by Clinical Trials Ontario (CTO) and the Ontario Leadership Table. It is designed to serve as a common contract for pharmaceutical drug trials conducted between sponsors (typically pharmaceutical companies) and institutions (such as hospitals and research centers) in Ontario.

The UACT was created to streamline the trial start-up process by reducing the time needed for contract negotiations, supporting Ontario’s goal of activating clinical trials within 45 days. It aims to simplify legal and administrative requirements, promoting efficiency and consistency across clinical trials.

The UACT is specifically intended for pharmaceutical drug trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. It includes a Clinical Trial Specific Agreement (CTSA) template to capture study-specific details.

The UACT is specifically intended for pharmaceutical drug trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. It includes a Clinical Trial Specific Agreement (CTSA) template to capture study-specific details.

The CTSA template is an appendix to the UACT that allows for study-specific details to be documented. This keeps the primary agreement consistent while accommodating unique elements of individual trials.

No, any institution and sponsor implementing the Ontario UACT can use it for their industry-sponsored pharmaceutical drug trials.

Currently, the UACT is specifically intended for pharmaceutical company-sponsored drug trials. Additional agreements for other study types may be developed based on community needs and feedback.attis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

No, while the UACT supports the 45-day trial activation goal, it primarily aims to streamline the contracting process, regardless of specific activation timelines.

The UACT is intended to be implemented “as is” due to prior consensus among Ontario Leadership Table members. Only minimal administrative details should be added, with trial-specific protocol information included in the Clinical Trial Specific Agreement (CTSA). Negotiations on CTSA revisions should be kept minimal to support the 45-day target.

No, a budget template is not provided. Sponsors will continue to share their own budget templates for negotiation purposes.

Please direct questions or suggestions to the quickstart@ctontario.ca.