Bone Research & Education Centre (BREC)

What Bone Research & Education Centre (BREC) does

The Bone Research and Education Centre (BREC) is a private clinical research centre and specialty medical practice founded in 2014 and headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. BREC provides state-of-the-art clinical care for patients with metabolic bone diseases, calcium disorders, and parathyroid disorders, including osteoporosis, hypoparathyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, hypophosphatasia, X-linked hypophosphatemia, fibrous dysplasia, osteomalacia, osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget's disease, and renal osteodystrophy. The clinic operates on a physician-referral-only model, requiring new patients to be referred with complete clinical documentation before appointments can be scheduled through OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan).

BREC's core offering is a unified portfolio combining direct clinical care, Phase 1-4 clinical research trial execution, a Metabolic Bone Disease fellowship program run through McMaster University, and an extensive library of patient and physician education materials. Its clinical research infrastructure includes on-site DXA bone densitometry, cardiac monitors, EKGs, imaging and lab facilities, and ICU-trained nursing staff capable of supporting inpatient study requirements. The centre is anchored by Dr. Aliya Khan, Clinical Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and a globally recognized authority in hyperparathyroidism, who has published over 400 scientific papers and led the development of multiple international clinical guidelines.

BREC generates revenue primarily through OHIP-billed specialist consultations and ancillary clinical services, supplemented by likely pharma-sponsored clinical trial site fees given its Phase 1-4 capabilities. The enterprise operates as a single-jurisdiction specialty clinic concentrated in Ontario, with academic affiliation to McMaster University, partnerships with Halton Healthcare Services for bone biopsy services, and integration into international endocrine societies including ASBMR and ISCD. Leadership concentration around Dr. Khan, combined with a small staff of approximately 10-15 personnel, defines both the centre's clinical credibility and its principal key-person risk.

Name

Bone Research & Education Centre (BREC)

Legal name

Bone Research and Education Centre

Website

https://boneresearch.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Bone Research and Education Centre (BREC) is a private Oakville, Ontario specialty clinic and Phase 1-4 clinical research site focused on metabolic bone disease, calcium disorders, and parathyroid conditions, serving Ontario patients via physician referral and conducting pharma-sponsored trials under the leadership of Dr. Aliya Khan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Medical Clinic - Metabolic Bone Disease

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease) (HLAGAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)

Keywords

• Metabolic bone disease
• Clinical research trials
• Osteoporosis treatment
• Parathyroid disorders
• Calcium disorders

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Services Revenue: BREC generates revenue through clinical consultation and treatment services for patients with metabolic bone disease, calcium disorders, and parathyroid disorders. Services are provided through a specialized medical clinic setting with on-site diagnostic capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

BREC is a specialized medical clinic and clinical research centre providing on-site diagnosis and management of metabolic bone disease, calcium disorders, and parathyroid disorders. It also conducts Phase 1-4 clinical trials for new therapies and operates the Metabolic Bone Disease fellowship training program with McMaster University.

Product overview

The Bone Research and Education Centre (BREC) operates as a clinical care and research center focused on metabolic bone diseases, calcium disorders, and parathyroid conditions. BREC offers a unified portfolio combining direct patient clinical care services with clinical research capabilities (conducting Phase 1-4 trials), a Metabolic Bone Disease fellowship training program, and extensive patient and physician education materials. The center functions as a center of excellence with on-site diagnostic capabilities, monitoring facilities, and educational outreach programs rather than a traditional software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clinical Care Services State-of-the-art clinical care for metabolic bone disease, calcium disorders, and parathyroid disorders delivered on-site at the Oakville clinic, including on-site DXA bone density testing and multidisciplinary team involvement. Available to patients referred by a physician with supporting documentation.
• Clinical Research Services Phase 1 to 4 clinical trial services for new metabolic bone disease and related therapies, supported by state-of-the-art monitoring facilities including cardiac monitors, EKGs, on-site imaging and lab facilities, and ICU-trained nursing staff for inpatient protocols.
• Metabolic Bone Disease Fellowship Program McMaster University fellowship offering 1-year and 2-year clinical research training in metabolic bone disease, enabling fellows to evaluate, diagnose, and provide evidence-based management of complex metabolic bone diseases, with ISCD certification in BMD interpretation.
• Knowledge Dissemination Programs Multi-media learning center providing teaching sessions, preceptorship programs, satellite programs to underserved communities, and public education through small and large group sessions on metabolic bone disease topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Patient testimonials report significant quality of life improvements including energy levels increasing from 10% to 40% following treatment

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• McMaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBREC is affiliated with McMaster University where Dr. Aliya Khan serves as Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Geriatrics. The centre runs the Metabolic Bone Disease Fellowship program at McMaster University, the first program to offer both 1 and 2 year clinical research fellowships in Metabolic Bone Disease in Canada.
• Halton Healthcare ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBone biopsies for the Region of Halton are completed by Dr. Khan at Halton Healthcare Services. Clinical care provided with on-site diagnosis and management of complex metabolic bone diseases.
• American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Aliya Khan is Canadian Ambassador for ASBMR. Fellows attend ASBMR annual scientific meetings. Guidelines developed with participation of 100 international experts representing ASBMR and other major endocrine societies.
• International Society of Clinical Densitometry (ISCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Khan is founding chair of the Canadian Board of ISCD and chair of the ISCD Certification Council. Fellows obtain ISCD certification in interpreting BMD studies. Dr. Khan led development of national and international standards and guidelines for bone densitometry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ICON plc: One of the largest global CROs offering full-service Phase 1–4 trial execution, including dedicated rare disease and endocrinology franchises. Overlaps with BREC in clinical trial operations and could be a sponsor or a competitive site network for the same bone-disease sponsors BREC serves.
• Parexel International: Large global CRO with significant endocrinology and rare disease therapeutic expertise. Overlaps with BREC on Phase 2–4 trial design, enrollment, and execution, particularly for sponsors developing osteoporosis or parathyroid therapies.
• Charles River Laboratories: Large CRO spanning discovery through clinical development, with established endocrinology and bone/calcium metabolism capabilities. Comparable to BREC in clinical research execution in metabolic bone disorders, operating at meaningfully larger scale.
• IQVIA: Largest global CRO and clinical research site operator, providing Phase 1–4 trial services and a network of owned research clinics. A broad incumbent whose endocrinology and rare disease trial capabilities intersect BREC's specialty focus, and which frequently contracts with or competes against independent specialty sites.

Others

• American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR): Leading international scientific society for bone and mineral research, of which Dr. Khan is the Canadian Ambassador. Adjacent/ecosystem relationship: ASBMR curates conferences, networks, and guidelines that shape trial sponsorship and referral patterns flowing through BREC.
• WCG Clinical: Provider of clinical research infrastructure, site enablement, and trial technology to CROs and investigator sites. Relevant as an enabler/ecosystem company whose site enablement and ethical review services support the kind of independent specialty research centers BREC operates.

Direct peers

• Worldwide Clinical Trials: Mid-size CRO with deep specialty expertise in cardiometabolic, endocrine, and rare disease trials, running Phase 1–4 programs. Comparable to BREC as a specialized clinical trial execution provider in metabolic and bone-related indications where deep therapeutic expertise is a competitive advantage.
• Medpace: Mid-size clinical research organization that operates a network of investigator sites and conducts Phase 1–4 trials across multiple therapeutic specialties, including endocrinology and rare disease. Directly comparable to BREC in that it monetizes clinical research execution and patient enrollment in niche indications, although Medpace runs at vastly greater scale.
• Hospital for Special Surgery — Center for Metabolic Bone Disease: Specialized academic clinical and research program focused on metabolic bone disease, conducting clinical care and trials. Directly comparable to BREC in combining specialist metabolic bone patient care, fellowship training, and clinical research under academic affiliation.
• Columbia University — Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit: Long-established academic unit focused on metabolic bone disease, including osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and rare skeletal disorders; conducts clinical care, research, and training. Analogous to BREC as a renowned referral hub and clinical trial site for complex bone disease.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/boneresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bone-research-and-education-centre-brec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bone Research & Education Centre (BREC)