Dr. Paula Littlejohn is a Clinical Research Lead in the Department of Evaluation and Research Services at Fraser Health Authority. She provides leadership for the Mobile Clinical Research Unit that supports the growth of clinical research capacity across one of British Columbia’s largest and most diverse health regions. Her work focuses on expanding access to high quality clinical trials through a mobile research model and on developing a framework for practice embedded research across the Fraser Health region. Through the use of a Clinical Trial Management System, she strengthens operational efficiency, productivity and helps position Fraser Health as an attractive partner for academic and industry sponsored research. Dr. Littlejohn completed her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of British Columbia with Dr. Brett Finlay, where she studied how early life micronutrient deficiencies influence the gut microbiome and host metabolism. She pursued postdoctoral training at the University of British Columbia and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute under the supervision of Dr. Bruce Vallance and Dr. Michael Kobor, where her work focused on the effects of nutritional deficiencies on intestinal epithelial repair in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Her career includes a decade in the pharmaceutical sector and recognition through several competitive awards including the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Intensive Track in 2024 where she was selected as one of twenty female scientists worldwide. She is also a former Triangle awardee and an active advocate for equity and Black excellence in STEM. Outside of work she enjoys family time, writing, music, superhero films and learning Mandarin with her family.