Clinical Trial Navigators

Our Clinical Trial Navigators play a crucial role in the network's operations. We have 16 individuals based at 16 institutions across Canada. They serve as our "boots on the ground," actively driving network initiatives such as linking local investigators with clinical trial opportunities and gathering metrics to evaluate the success of clinical trials in Canada.

Ameen Abdelmajid

  • Ameen Abdelmajid is a seasoned clinical research professional and pharmacist with extensive experience in regulatory compliance, clinical data management, and medical communication. Based Atlantic Canada, he has worked with renowned organizations such as Sanofi, IQVIA, and Abbott, leading clinical trials and regulatory submissions. With certifications in SAS programming and data visualization, Ameen specializes in designing protocols, statistical analysis plans, and managing large-scale data studies. Ameen is committed to advancing innovation in pediatric rare disorders.

Nawel Akli

  • Nawel is a clinical research coordinator at CHU Sainte-Justine since May 2023. She has scientific background with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and is currently completing a Master's degree in drug development, with a specialization in Canadian regulations. She mainly manages study visits and regulatory filing. She trains new employees on electronic ethics’ committee submission. She is very happy and excited to start this new challenge with MICYRN and to share her knowledge and competencies!

Ali Dicks

  • Ali is the Research Navigator at the CHEO Research Institute in Ottawa, ON. With nearly a decade of involvement in clinical trials, Ali has extensive experience supporting researchers to navigate complex multi-centre studies. She serves as the primary point of contact for investigators and research teams during the study start up process. Key responsibilities include budget negotiations, supporting feasibility assessments and ensuring regulatory compliance. In addition, Ali aids teams to overcome challenges and assists with program development and growth.

Geneviève Legault

  • My role at the Department of Pediatrics is to facilitate the research activities of members of the department. I have expertise in project management and clinical research, and have participated in various research projects in neonatology, PICU and general pediatrics. I am very interested in improving the clinical research experience for pediatricians, as I firmly believe that it is a key factor in increasing their research capacity and ultimately improve quality, equity and access to health care for children. I also love winter sports and my family, but not in that order!

Frédérique Badeaux

  • Coming soon!

Davy Eng

  • Davy is an experienced Clinical Research Professional with over 15 years of experience. Since April 2022, she has managed the Pediatric Clinical Research Unit (PCRU) at CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (CRCHU) where she oversees daily operations and ensures adherence to both local and international regulations. Her key responsibilities include managing feasibility assessments, coordinating start-up activities, and leading budget negotiations with sponsors and CROs. Since April 2024, Davy has taken on the role of Clinical Trial Navigator for the MICYRN-RareKids-CAN Initiatives, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing pediatric rare disease research by facilitating project feasibility assessments and supporting start-up processes at CRCHU

Faiza Khawaja

  • Faiza Khawaja, MSc, CCRP, CCRA, CMLT, CPPCR is an experienced clinical research professional with over 17 years in clinical trial management, monitoring, coordination and education. She currently serves as Research Project Manager at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, where she leads national research initiatives in neurodevelopmental disorders and also serves as a clinical trial navigator. She is dedicated to making research more accessible, transparent, and family-centred.

Cara Grobbecker

  • Cara Grobbecker is a Research Coordinator and Clinical Trial Navigator at Children’s Hospital London Health Sciences Centre. She works with several Investigators in implementing clinical trials for pediatric rare diseases and serves as the local point of contact for pediatric rare disease clinical trial inquiries.

Dori-Ann Martin

  • Dori-Ann Martin is an RN and also the Clinical Trials and Implementation Specialist with the One Child Every Child Program at the Alberta Children's Hospital. Prior to that she was the Research Coordinator within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for 14 years. She has experience in all levels of study coordination and is now taking on a new role focused on expanding support for clinical trials to enhance access to research for the children of the Alberta Children's Hospital.

Sidra Shafique

  • I am the Clinical Navigator at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre. With a strong background in clinical research, I have contributed to multiple studies across various therapeutic areas. My experience includes comprehensive patient recruitment strategies, coordination and scheduling of study visits, and meticulous data collection. I have supported both site-level and project office operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and smooth communication between stakeholders. My role has also involved maintaining study documentation, managing databases, and assisting with protocol implementation, making me a skilled and reliable member of any clinical research team.

Hafsa Azher

  • Hafsa is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She holds a BSc in Population Health and Mental Health Studies from the University of Toronto and brings a patient-centered approach to her work. Hafsa manages research projects from initiation to completion, including ethics submissions, recruitment, and monitoring. Her experience spans from orthopaedics, oncology, gastroenterology, to rare diseases, including an N=1 Health Canada-regulated trial on spastic paraplegia. As a Clinical Trial Navigator, she is excited to support innovative research and collaborative care.

Henry Okpaladigbo

  • Henry works closely with the British Columbia national collaboration, Dr. Turvey, and local investigators to bring innovative treatments to children and families impacted by rare diseases. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences from Simon Fraser University, gaining a deep understanding of health's social, behavioral, and biological factors. Henry has supported various projects at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, including divisions like Rheumatology, Oncology, and Clinical Teaching Unit. He is committed to advancing healthcare and improving access to therapies for children across BC. Henry finds purpose in helping turn hope into reality for families facing rare diseases.

Dory Sample

  • Dory has many years of experience in research: in a clinical environment as a research nurse, in a CRO in drug safety, and in industry as a monitor, medical writer, and project manager of international clinical drug trials. She is currently the Clinical Research Director for the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute in Edmonton. Through all of this, Dory has gained a deep understanding of clinical research studies and processes, and strives to think globally and strategically, while promoting the strength and value of collaboration.

Jeannine Schellenberg

  • Jeannine Schellenberg is the Trial Manager of the Research Support Unit at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. She plays a key role in facilitation of external relationships with clinicians, researchers, faculty, academic and health care institutions, and industry. Jeannine is the point of contact for any investigator or organization wishing to engage support services from the RSU for the conduct of clinical trials within the institute.

    Jeannine started her career as an NICU nurse caring for our most vulnerable patients, then as a research coordinator. She continues to seek to improve the lives of all pregnant people, children, youth, and families in Manitoba through quality research.

Daislyn Vidal

  • Hello! My name is Daislyn Vidal. I am the Clinical Navigator at the University of Saskatchewan. My clinical research experiences include patient recruitment, the coordination of study visits, data and sample collection, project office work and other aspects of different studies concerning the prevalence of non- communicable diseases & conditions. My research passions include knowledge translation & education and the development of strategies to prevent or overcome different health conditions or diseases. I am also very passionate about equity, diversity and inclusion in clinical research. In my spare time I love keeping active and trying foods from different cultures!

Humaira Ahmed

  • I am a Clinical Research professional with a strong track record in managing clinical trials across diverse therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, allergy, dermatology, respiratory, and pediatrics. I’ve worked on all parts of the research process, from creating study plans and recruiting participants to running the studies and managing the data, making sure everything is done safely, efficiently, and according to the protocols and regulatory requirements.

    Currently, I work in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University, supporting pediatric clinical trials in infectious diseases under the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Pernica.

    In addition to my role as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University, I’ll be serving as Clinical Trial Navigator for RareKids-CAN, supporting rare disease research and facilitating access to clinical trials for children and their families.