CURC Membership

Principles of Membership

Purpose & Mandate

To facilitate the conduct of urology research in Canada including clinical trials.

Conditions of Membership

CUA members may apply for active membership. Membership in other non-profit co-operative Urology associations is encouraged and does not contravene CURC principles. Associate members of the CUA are eligible to be Associate members of the CURC.

CURC members who have been accepted as participants in a clinical trial offered to them via the CURC expedited review and call for sites process must participate in this trial through the auspices of CURC. Members participating in studies offered by CURC are prohibited from participating in these studies independent of CURC.

Relationship with the Canadian Urological Association (CUA)

The CURC will assume a cooperative relationship with the CUA.

Obligations of Membership

All full active members will agree to:

  • Pay annual dues as currently set by the membership.
  • Maintain membership in the CUA
  • Participate in the peer-review adjudication of research projects and agree to act as reviewers when assigned.
  • Participate in decision making of the consortium, express individual viewpoints and respond to matters in a timely manner.
  • Participate in the annual general meeting, usually held during the CUA annual meeting, and/or satellite meetings held in conjunction with other major urology meetings.
  • With respect to participation in clinical trials, members will abide by the democratic decisions of the CURC, which will function by vote or consensus.
  • Members are required to direct inquiries regarding upcoming studies to CURC headquarters for consideration on behalf of the consortium. The CURC will negotiate contracts with drug companies on behalf of its members.
  • Membership in competing for-profit clinical research organizations involved in urologic clinical trials may place an individual in a potential conflict of interest with respect to the above requirement. This may make such applicants ineligible for membership.
  • All members are required to disclose all personal financial contracts or interests with commercial or non-profit agencies (as per CURC Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form). The purpose is not to discourage or disallow such relationships but to protect the CURC against accusation of possible conflicts of interest.
  • Based on a formal review, CURC will endorse trials based on merit. Occasionally, CURC may determine that a trial lacks scientific value or ethical acceptability. If members choose to participate independently in such a trial despite the consensus of the consortium, they would forego membership until that trial finishes, and then reapply for membership. Members are free to pursue other types of urology research (and in fact are encouraged to do so), as well as studies of non-urology diseases.
  • All Members are required to abide by the terms of any blanket corporate confidentiality agreements executed by the CURC Chairman, on behalf of the CURC members and the organization at large.

Benefits of Membership

In return the CURC will:

  • Provide a cross Canada communication network among clinicians and researchers interested in urology research.
  • Negotiate collectively for clinical trial contracts with industry.
  • Provide an opportunity for members to participate in clinical trial development via working groups and expedited review committees.
  • Assist members with the development of their clinical trials sites.
  • Promote the development of multicentre non-commercial projects, the design of clinical protocols and outcome measures, and the conduct of observational studies.
  • Provide all centers with rational budgeting for clinical trials. This would relieve CURC centers of the need for direct negotiations with other companies, although individual concerns will be taken into account.
  • Participate in and promote public and physician education.
  • CURC may also assist individual centres in obtaining advice or funding for public awareness initiatives and/or various other projects.
  • Liability Insurance

Meetings

  • (1) Annual General Meeting (AGM)
  • (2) Adhoc Business Meeting(s)

Officers:

  • Chairperson: nominated and elected by full membership for a 3-year term
  • Vice Chairperson: nominated and elected by Board of Directors for a 3-year term
  • Secretary-Treasurer: nominated and elected by Board of Directors for a 3-year term
  • Executive Assistant: external position

Board of Directors: [ n = 8]

  • Candidates are nominated and elected by full membership for a 3 year term
  • Past chairman is ex-officio member of Board
  • Members must be of regional Canada wide representation
  • Responsible for producing official documents and policy agreements
  • Responsible for all financial matters
  • Responsible for revisions and amendments to Bylaws and Principles of Membership
  • Responsible for crisis management and conflict resolution
  • Responsible for revoking membership
  • Board members confer on a regular basis by ad hoc meetings and conference calls

Ex Officio Directors: [ n = 3]

  1. *Canadian Uro-Oncology Group (CUOG) Representative
  2. *Canadian Urological Association (CUA) representative
  3. CURC Past Chairman ( if applicable)

*(must eligible for CURC Membership)

Credentials Committee [n = 3]

  • Appointed by the Board
  • 3 year term
  • Credential and approve new members
  • Responsible for ensuring members meet obligations

CURC Membership Agreement:

I hereby accept the terms of the Canadian Urology Research Consortium Principles of Membership, and agree to abide by them.
- all fields required -
Name of CURC Member:
e-mail:
E-Signature of CURC Member:
Date:
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