Journal Article

Call for a pan-Canadian approach to ethics review in Canada

Longstaff, Holly, Evans, Laurel, Nicholls, Stuart G., Morin, Karine

2018

Overview

Obtaining research ethics approval is an important component of research conducted in humans. Increasingly, researchers undertake multicentre studies, which can require them to seek approvals from a number of research ethics boards (REB). Many researchers have complained about variability in decisions made by REBs, as well as long delays and increased costs associated with obtaining ethics approval. Some attempts have been made to reduce variation and delays but, despite many reports and intentions to make processes of research ethics approval in Canada more efficient, no national framework for REBs reviewing health research has been achieved. Some countries, such as New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom, have sought to solve similar problems through a process of accrediting REBs. Although approaches vary,5 the idea is that accreditation will harmonize REB operations by requiring them to meet a particular set of procedural standards.

• Publisher: Elsevier Inc,Joule Inc,CMA Impact, Inc
• Subject: Accreditation / Advisory Committees / Attitude of Health Personnel / Canada / Clinical trials / Collaboration / Congressional committees / Councils / Ethics / Ethics Committees - organization & administration / Ethics, Research / Humans / Informed consent / Internal Medicine / Medical research / National Health Programs - organization & administration / Provinces / Research ethics / Researchers / Total Quality Management - ethics / Working groups