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Human Research Ethics (prior to July 1, 2023)

Research Ethics Board: Information and Application Forms

Effective July 1, 2023, all research projects (funded or unfunded) that require Research Ethics Board (REB) approval are submitted to the University of Alberta’s Alberta Research Information Services (ARISE) online portal system.

This process applies for all new applications, as well as for all renewals or amendments of existing and approved applications. Visit the Human Research Ethics (July 1, 2023 and onwards) for details.

All applications that received CUE REB approval prior to July 1, 2023, will continue to be supported by CUE’s REB until June 30, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: THE RESEARCH ETHICS BOARD (REB) WILL ONLY REVIEW APPLICATIONS THAT USE CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY OF EDMONTON’S REB APPLICATION FORMS.

THE REB MEETS MONTHLY DURING FALL AND WINTER SEMESTERS. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED A MINIMUM OF 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE DESIRED COMMENCEMENT DATE OF A PROJECT.

Please allow 2 weeks for a response to your application.

REB MEETING DATES for 2022-23:

Application DeadlineREB Meeting Date
July 1, 2022July 15, 2022
August 5, 2022August 19, 2022
September 2, 2022September 16, 2022
October 7, 2022October 21, 2022
November 4, 2022November 18, 2022
December 2, 2022December 16, 2022
January 6, 2023January 20, 2023
February 3, 2023February 17, 2023
March 3, 2023March 17, 2023
April 7, 2023April 21, 2023
May 5, 2023May 19, 2023
June 2, 2023June 16, 2023

*Applications must be submitted to reb@concordia.ab.ca a minimum of 2 weeks before a REB meeting. If the deadline is missed, the application will be reviewed at the next meeting. Dates are subject to change.

For information on research involving human subjects and animals, general policies on research, Academic Research Council (ARC), internal research support, teaching load reduction, and REB, please consult the policy tab on the research website.

Federal guidelines governing research involving human subjects are described in the 2nd edition of the “Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans” (TCPS-2).

In addition to reviewing the information below, all researchers are encouraged to complete the TCPS 2 Tutorial Course on Research Ethics (CORE) before submitting their application to Concordia’s Research Ethics Board.

Undergraduate Student: Course-based research

In all courses in which undergraduate students are required to carry out research on human subjects as part of their course work, the instructor must report the nature of this research to the Department Coordinator.

  1. The Coordinator and one additional appropriate Faculty member will constitute a Departmental Ethics Review Committee, which will assess the proposed research and determine if it meets ethics requirements.
  2. The Departmental Ethics Review Committee will report its conclusions to the Chair of the REB before the undergraduate research project is scheduled to begin.
  3. The Chair of the REB may decide to accept the recommendation of the Departmental Ethics Review Committee or to forward the matter to the REB for REB assessment.

Undergraduate Student: Research / Independent Study

For information regarding Concordia University of Edmonton’s policy on undergraduate research projects involving human subjects and the review procedure at the department level, please consult: Ethics Review Procedures For Undergraduate Research Projects.

Faculty members who require students to conduct research on human subjects must structure assignments in such a way that they can ensure ethical guidelines are followed at all stages of the research. For more information, please consult: Faculty Responsibility For Student Research Involving Human Subjects.

This policy is directed to senior undergraduate students who are conducting an independent study and research with their professors. The intent is that, as much as is possible, the relevant Department undertake the ethics review assessment and that the student or students work with a professor, who will act as supervisor of the research project. Note that Departmental reviews should not be used for research in which an undergraduate student is carrying out research that is part of a faculty member’s own research program.

  1. The student will complete the REB Undergraduate Application Form.
  2. This application will be reviewed by the student’s supervisor as well as by the Department Chair.
  3. If the professor and Department Chair both approve the application, then the application is complete and does not proceed to the REB for review. The REB Chair is informed of the project and notified of the decision of the Department.
  4. Only in the case that the Department Chair has ethical concerns about the application should the application be submitted to the REB for review.

Graduate Research

Graduate student research that involves human subjects must undergo a full review by the REB. However, it follows a two-tier procedure.

  1. The Graduate Student must complete the REB Graduate Student Application Form. When completing the Graduate Student Application Form, students should consult the Protocol for Graduate Student Applications.
  2. The application will first be reviewed by the student’s supervisor and one other faculty member in the student’s department.
  3. Once the research proposal has ethics approval at the department level, it is forwarded to the REB Chair for full REB review.

Faculty members who require graduate students to conduct research on human subjects must structure assignments in such a way that they can ensure ethical guidelines are followed at all stages of the research.

Note that a Project Completion Report must be submitted upon completion of the research. If the research extends beyond one year following initial REB approval, an Annual Report must also be submitted.

Faculty Research

Faculty members planning to conduct research involving human subjects (behavioural /non-behavioural) must complete the Faculty Application Form and submit it to Concordia University of Edmonton’s REB for full review.

Note that a Project Completion Report must be submitted upon completion of the research. If the research extends beyond one year following initial REB approval, an Annual Report must also be submitted.

Those conducting research in Social Sciences and Humanities should review the guidelines of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Those conducting science-related research should also consider NSERC guidelines and policies. Faculty members involved in medical and health research should also review Canadian Institutes of Health Research guidelines.

Other Important Information:

  1. Common Mistakes in REB Applications
    To help applicants avoid many of the common mistakes that appear in REB applications, please consult: Common Mistakes in REB Applications
  2. REB Guidelines for Storage of Research Information
    All REB applicants must ensure the privacy of their research participants, and that their personal information is not improperly disclosed. The REB strongly encourages all applicants to consult and implement the REB Guidelines for Storage and Use of Personal Data.
  3. Important Submission Deadlines
    All applicants must submit their applications to Concordia University of Edmonton’s REB at least 8 weeks before they plan to commence their research. As the REB does not meet between May and September, those planning to commence their research during the summer months must submit their applications to Concordia University of Edmonton’s REB no later than March 1.
  4. Annual report, completion report, or application for extension of REB approval
    All researchers are responsible for filling out an an annual report and a completion report at the end of their research. If research will not be completed by the original estimated date, an application for extension should be submitted to the REB. The following form can be used for these reports: Annual Extension Completion Report Form
  5. Sample Letters of Introduction and Consent Forms (All REB applicants must ensure that they have proper Letters of Introduction and Consent Forms for their research participants. Below is a Consent-Form Checklist as well as some examples of Letters of Introduction and Consent Forms)