Research Ethics Boards (REB)
There are two Research Ethics Boards (REB) at the University of Ottawa.
- The Social Sciences and Humanities REB evaluates all research projects originating from School of Management, and the Faculties of Arts, Education, Law and Social Sciences (except School of Psychology)
- The Health Sciences and Science REB evaluates all projects originating from the Faculties of Engineering, Science, Health Sciences and Medicine and the School of Psychology
Research projects taking place at any of the regional affiliated hospitals (recruitment or data collection) must also be reviewed by the REB of that hospital. It is generally recommended that researchers submit their applications to the hospital REB first, and once approval is obtained, submit to the uOttawa REB for expedited review. We recommend that researchers contact both REBs before beginning this process to ensure the correct steps are being followed.
Information on the affiliated hospital REBs can be found at the following links:
Ottawa Health Science Network REB (Ottawa Hospital and Heart Institute)
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario REB
Royal REB (Institute of Mental Health Research)
Current members
Social Sciences and Humanities REB
Barbara Graves, Education, Chair
Jaime Flamenbaum, Ethics Expert
Marina Pavlovic, Law
Patricia Larocque, Community Member
Trevor Milford, Community Member
Nicole Proulx, Community Member
Cristelle Audet, Education
Boulou Ebanda De B'béri , Arts (Communication)
Ari Gandsman, Social Sciences (Sociology)
Elizabeth Marshman, Arts (Translation and Interpretation)
Frédéric Vairel, Social Sciences (Political Studies)
Cheryl Webster, Social Sciences (Criminology)
Jessica Whitley, Education
Magda Donia, Telfer School of Management
Philippe Frowd, Social Sciences (Political Studies)
Geoff McCarney, Social Sciences (International Development and Globalization)
Bianca Nugent, Student Member (School of Social Work)
Non-voting members:
Riana Marcotte, Protocol Officer for Ethics in Research
Kim Thompson, Protocol Officer for Ethics in Research
Germain Zongo, Protocol Officer for Ethics in Research
Health Sciences and Science REB
Daniel Lagarec, Chair
Isabelle Mercier, Ethics Expert
Wendy Gracias, Community Member
Robert Roy, Community Member
Miodrag Bolic, Engineering (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Derrick Gibbings, Medicine (Cellular and Molecular Medicine)
Josée Lagacé, Health Sciences (Rehabilitation Sciences)
Hélène Laperrière, School of Nursing
Dave Miranda, Social Sciences (Psychology)
Gordon Robertson, Health Sciences (Human Kinetics)
Vanessa Taler, Social Sciences (Psychology)
John Williams, Medicine (Epidemiology and Public Health)
Audrey Giles, Health Sciences (Human Kinetics)
Stéphanie Bogue Kerr, Student Member (Social Work)
Inès Zombré, Student Member (Health Sciences)
Non-voting members:
Riana Marcotte, Protocol Officer for Ethics in Research
Kim Thompson, Protocol Officer for Ethics in Research
Germain Zongo, Protocol Officer for Ethics in Research
Composition
Both the Social Sciences and Humanities REB and the Health Sciences and Science REB adhere to the guidelines set forth by the TCPS 2 (Article 6.4). The membership of the REB is designed to ensure competent independent research ethics review. Provisions respecting its size, composition, terms of appointment and quorum are set out below (TCPS 2, p. 70).
Article 6.4: The REB shall consist of at least five members, including both men and women, of whom:
- At least two members have expertise in relevant research disciplines, fields and methodologies covered by the REB
- At least one member is knowledgeable in ethics
- At least one member is knowledgeable in the relevant law, but that member should not be the institution’s legal counsel or risk manager. (This is an advisable but not mandatory requirement.)
- At least one community member who has no affiliation with the institution
It is advisable that each member be appointed to formally fulfil the requirements of only one of the above categories. To ensure the independence of REB decision making, institutional senior administrators shall not serve on the REB.
Quorum for REB meetings consists of the minimum requirements of membership representation outlined in Article 6.4. Each REB is presided by a faculty member or by a member of the community. A Protocol Officer, a non-voting member, acts as the Secretary of the REB.
Mandate
The mandate of the REBs is to assess and sanction the ethical aspects of all research projects involving human participants conducted under their jurisdiction by their professors and students, prior to their inception and during their execution. The REBs also verify how researchers plan to take on their ethical responsibilities. The REBs must also approve all projects in which students, professors or support staff of the University of Ottawa serve as research participants.
- Each member is appointed by the Vice-President, Research.
- The mandate is a three-year period, renewable once, with the terms staggered to maintain continuity.
- For student members, the mandate is a one-year period, renewable twice.
- A period of observation and training takes place before the beginning of the mandate.
- The Vice-President, Research may appoint substitute members so that REB activities are not paralyzed by any unforeseen eventualities.
Duties and responsibilities
- To set guidelines in matters relating to the ethics approval of research involving human participants in accordance with the TCPS 2
- To review policies and procedures at timely intervals to ensure that research project evaluations respect the principles established by the TCPS 2.
- To be available for consultation by researchers within the university community
- To undertake an educational function on ethical matters related to the conduct of research with human participants within the university community
- To review research projects and issue ethics approval to projects meeting ethical standards.
- To examine annual status reports for ongoing projects and grant or refuse extension of ethics approval for such projects.
- The Appeal Board reviews cases in which the decision of a REB is being contested and confirms or modifies the REB's decision after consultation with this REB.
REB Authorization Agreements
The University of Ottawa has signed agreements with the following affiliated hospitals and their respective REBs:
- The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
- Childrens’ Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)
- The Royal and the Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR)
- Bruyère Continuing Care