What do we do?

The IH REB reviews proposals for research to be conducted within Interior Health by staff or physicians, or involving IH resources or people. Our purpose is to ensure that ethical and other obligations of competent research are met. In doing so, the IH REB protects the research participants, the researchers and the organization. Contact the Research Ethics Board for further information.

How to apply for a research ethics review

1. Please see this Guidance Note for instructions on how to complete the Application form.
2. For new applications, follow the steps outlined in the Application Process and use the Application for Ethical Review form.
3. For amendments to an approved research study, use the Amendments Application form.
4. For renewals, use the Renewals Application form.
5. For closures, complete the Closures Report.

Studies that will be conducted across multiple sites in BC are now eligible for harmonized ethics review. More information regarding the harmonized review process can be found at BCEHI.

If your study involves two or more of the institutions listed above who are parties to the BC Ethics Harmonization agreement, please start the process by completing a Cover Sheet for Harmonized Studies form and submit it to Research Ethics.

Deadlines, Outcomes and Policies

• Yearly schedule of application deadlines (for above minimal risk studies)
• Outcomes of an ethics review
• IH Research Ethics Policies (researchers must comply)
• Guidance Note - Consent Forms

Fees

The IH REB fee for review of commercially sponsored research is $3000 for the Initial Review and $500 for Annual Review and Renewal of Ethical Approval.  Payment is due with submission of application.

• Initial review fee - $3,000
• Annual Review and Renewal fee - $500
• Frequently asked questions and additional resources

Announcement from Research Ethics BC, a part of the Academic Health Sciences Network of BC:

On September 1st, 2018, the Provincial Research Ethics Platform (PREP) system will launch for current users of the UBC RISe electronic platform for new studies requiring Research Ethics Board (REB) review from two or more of the following Research Ethics Boards: FH, Interior Health, NH, VIHA, SFU, UBC, UNBC and UVic.

Benefits of PREP include:

• A single research ethics application for all harmonized reviews, irrespective of which REBs are providing oversight for the study;
• An easy-to-use online interface (presently hosted at UBC);
• Separate clinical and behavioural research ethics application forms;
• A web-based system that supports document management and certifications

Researchers are encouraged to prepare themselves for the launch of PREP by:

• Review the appropriate tutorial(s), that are available on the RISe website. These are accessible without a RISe account
• Create a Basic RISe Account. A UBC affiliation is not required. Ensure you use an email address that you check frequently as this is how all correspondence from PREP will come to you.
• lay in the RISe lay in the RISe Sandbox. This section of RISe allows you to create a mock application to become familiar with the process.
• Read and download the extensive Guidance Notes that are available for each of the six UBC REBs
• Make use of the Forms & Templates that are readily available online
• Take advantage of the built-in Guidance Notes when it comes time to fill out an application.
• For more information on PREP or Research Ethics BC, please contact the Research Ethics BC Navigator.

ATTN: Researchers who wish to cite their UBC affiliation in publications or presentations must have prior ethical approval from one of the UBC REBs. Please see UBC Policy 89.