About
Our Story
In 2018, Alberta Innovates, the Government of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the Institute of Health Economics made a joint $1.2 million investment to establish the Alberta Real World Evidence Consortium. Their shared goal: to harness the province’s world-class health system data and build a research infrastructure capable of generating evidence that drives real decisions — in policy, clinical practice, and health technology assessment.
The initiative was championed by Alberta’s Ministries of Innovation and Technology and Health, and guided by the Deans of Medicine at the time, Dr. Richard Fedorak (University of Alberta) and Dr. John Meddings (University of Calgary). Their leadership brought institutions across the province into alignment — bridging academic researchers and data custodians, and positioning Alberta as a destination of choice for real world evidence research.
That foundation has only grown stronger. Today, the Alberta Real World Evidence Consortium conducts high-quality, impactful real world evidence studies that continue to raise Alberta’s profile as a national and global leader in RWE, and support improved health outcomes and evidence-informed decision-making for Canadians.
Our Purpose
We leverage Alberta’s world class health system data to deliver timely decision grade evidence.
Core Values and Beliefs
Integrity.
We uphold the highest academic standards and best practices.
Collaboration.
We achieve goals by working together with respect and transparency.
Support.
We advance health by providing evidence to guide informed decision making.
Our Team
Our team consists of highly experienced thought leaders and a core group of talented individuals. We also collaborate with a wide network of research partners and clinical experts.
Scott Klarenbach, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Co-Director
Scott Klarenbach is a clinician, health economist, and Professor at the University of Alberta. He has expertise and demonstrated experience in the type of evidence that is needed to inform health care and drug policy decision making.
Tyler Williamson, PhD
Co-Director
Tyler Williamson is a Professor of Biostatistics and Director of the Centre for Health Informatics at the University of Calgary. He is an internationally recognized expert in combining electronic medical records and administrative data for health services research.
Jeff Round, PhD
Investigator
Jeff Round is Professor of Health Economics at the University of Alberta. His research portfolio includes the use of real world evidence for policy and reimbursement decision making. He has led and participated in national and international initiatives on the use and reporting of real word evidence in health technology assessment.
Colin Josephson, MD, MSc, FRCPC, CSCN (EEG)
Investigator
Colin Josephson is a clinician-scientist in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre for Health Informatics, O'Brien Institute for Public Health, and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. His research is focused on applying advanced analytics, machine learning, and predictive modeling to epilepsy outcomes.
Karen Martins, PhD
Associate Director, Research And Strategy
Karen Martins oversees funding partner engagement, knowledge user relationships, strategic direction, and the research portfolio. She has a comprehensive research scope that spans numerous therapeutic areas and research methodologies from bench to bedside to health systems.
Brandee Borne, BSc
Associate Director, Operations And Strategy
Brandee Borne directs the business office and oversees contracting, research agreements and legal matters, finance, organizational structure, human resources, and strategic direction. She ensures appropriate and necessary research infrastructure and agreements to support key functions of the Consortium.
Huong Luu, MD, PhD
Project Lead, Statistics
Huong Luu brings a clinical perspective and a wealth of epidemiological and biostatistical research experience to the team. She routinely applies advanced statistical methods across a broad range of therapeutic areas and various administrative datasets to facilitate evidence-based decision making.
Khanh Vu, MD, PhD
Project Lead, Statistics
Khanh Vu is a public health researcher, epidemiologist, and biostatistician with training in medicine. He has considerable experience in epidemiological and clinical trial design, and analysis of administrative health data using advanced statistical methods.
Elsa Hansen, PhD
Project Lead, Research
Elsa Hansen has been leading research at multidisciplinary institutes focused on disease and human health for over a decade. A mathematician by training, she has extensive experience in project conception, design, analysis and the communication of results.
Mani Liu, MSc
Biostatistician
Mani Liu has a background in statistics, biostatistics, and mathematics, with expertise in analyzing administrative health data using advanced statistical and epidemiological methods. She has applied her skills across various projects, including the evaluation of healthcare resource utilization, survival analysis, and epidemiological investigations.
Brent Korte, BA
Business Development Lead
Brent Korte is the first point of engagement for prospective partners. His knowledge of the regulatory, health technology assessment, and reimbursement intricacies in Canada allows him to support initial strategic approaches and utility of collaboration between industry partners and the Consortium.
Melanie Boldt, BComm, PAg
Communications Officer
Melanie Boldt supports the work of ARWEC in communications, marketing, strategic planning and development.