At Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), a newly launched Hematology Research Unit is now delivering specialized treatments to patients with blood cancer.
For patients who have exhausted standard therapies, the unit provides access to clinical trials. This includes options like CAR-T cell therapy, which genetically alters immune cells to be able to fight cancer cells.
Dr. Kevin Song, a hematologist at VGH and UBC, serves as both the medical director of the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of BC — which operates the Hematology Research Unit — and director of the Hematology Research Program at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI).
“We are the largest malignant hematology group in the province,” said Song in an interview with The Ubyssey. "There are a number of [patients] who still, with the standard treatment, cannot be cured ... For many years, we have been trying to get other treatment options that are not necessarily standard of care, but are, at this stage, being ... researched across the world."
According to Dr. Bernie Eigl, the provincial director of clinical trials at BC Cancer, clinical trials play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes across British Columbia. Many treatments available today exist because past patients volunteered to participate in trials, allowing researchers to test new therapies before they’re approved for broader use in clinics.
Song explained that many patients with hematological malignancies, such as leukemia, can be cured with conventional treatment. But for others, the cancer returns or resists therapy altogether. Clinical trials, which explore new or repurposed drugs, can offer vital alternatives.
However, conducting these trials requires something hospitals increasingly lack: bed space.
“Sometimes we don't have enough beds ... to be able to bring the people in the hospital,” said Song. “And that is particularly important for the drug trials ... where it's either being tested initially to make certain it's safe and that it works, or in slightly more advanced stages when it's being given to a larger number of people to see … the chances of effectiveness.”
Song said this new unit was born out of that need. With collaboration from colleagues and funding from VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, a little-used space was converted into a flexible clinical trial zone. Two rooms allow for overnight stays, while a third can accommodate multiple patients during the day.
This area does not compete with hospital beds dedicated to regular treatment, according to Song, but it makes the trial process more predictable and accessible for those who qualify.
Song sees this as more than just a space — it’s the foundation for translational science, where research moves quickly from the lab bench to the patient’s bedside.
“We do have investigators who are doing important work … on petri dishes or on animal models such as mice,” said Song. “Hopefully, what we can do with patients … is take some of these samples and try to research them out in these research units.” Song also mentioned that the VCHRI is looking into opening another unit similar to the one at VGH.
Song highlighted three key takeaways for students: First, the medical field is advancing rapidly, especially with new technologies driving innovation. Second, young researchers have a crucial role to play, whether in labs, hospitals or the pharmaceutical industry, especially in shaping the future of medicine. Third, medical progress affects everyone around us.
“It could be you yourself, it could be a family member, it could be a friend. So in doing this, we are in a situation where we’re really trying to help ourselves and everybody around us, to make things better for British Columbians.”
When asked whether the model could be applied beyond hematology, Song was optimistic. “Our hope is that we will have other interactions with other groups … that [treat], for instance, non-hematological cancers, where some of these cellular therapies may be applicable.”
“I think that this unit is hope for everybody we take care of. It’s a message of hope for tomorrow.”
