RITHIM Staff

Freyja Arnason

Director, RITHIM

Freyja Arnason is the Director of the Research Improvements Through Harmonization in Manitoba (RITHIM) initiative.

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She has a Master’s degree from the University of Manitoba. Throughout her career she has worked in public administration in the areas of health policy, research and innovation. She is experienced in project and program management, change management, and policy analysis and development. She works closely with stakeholders including researchers, post-secondary institutions, industry, government and health system partners to foster research and innovation in Manitoba.

Liz Lylyk

RITHIM Manager, Impact & Privacy

Liz Lylyk is the Manager, Impact & Privacy, under the Research Improvements Through Harmonization in Manitoba (RITHIM) initiative.

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She comes to RITHIM with over 25 years’ experience in the health care system including 16 years in the Clinical Trials Unit at CancerCare Manitoba.  There, as the Resource Coordinator, Ethics & Regulatory Affairs, Liz held a key role establishing standards, guidelines and structure for trial conduct.  Liz is experienced in all aspects of clinical trials including research ethics board submissions, impact reviews, regulatory affairs, Health Canada submissions, consent development, pediatric trials, and investigator-initiated trials.

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At RITHIM, Liz will work closely with the Project Officers to support stakeholders including researchers, academic institutions, and health system partners to improve time-to-conduct for health research in Manitoba.

Elaine Burland

RITHIM Program Officer (PHRPC)

Elaine received a PhD in Community Health Sciences and an MSc in Family Studies, both from the University of Manitoba. She worked at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) from 2001-2020. Prior to joining MCHP, she worked for the South-Eastman Regional Health Authority as a research project coordinator for the ‘Tots Study’ and as a research coordinator for the Pembina Valley Learning Centre.

Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to gain experience in many different areas including program evaluation, research program management, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and working with administrative data. 

Anna Glybina (CHIPER)

RITHIM Program Officer

Anna is an International Medical Graduate and worked as a Nephrologist prior to moving to Canada in 2016. Here she started her career in Clinical Research and worked in the role of Research Assistant at SOGH Chronic Disease Innovation Centre for over 5 years, thus gaining experience in managing all aspects of clinical trials and various other research projects. At RITHIM she will be working closely with other Coordinators on coordinating submissions, review committee meetings, and providing support to researchers, members, and stakeholders.