Research Involving Human Participants
The Research Ethics Board (REB) strongly recommends that all applicants consult the Terms of Reference regulating the mandate and procedures of the REB and familiarize themselves with the processes followed for review, decisions, and appeals. Any questions about the ethical review process can be directed to ethics@nipissingu.ca.
Purpose
The Tri-Council Policy Statement 2: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2 2022) document describes standards and procedures for governing research involving human participants. The Councils (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC) have adopted this policy and required, as a minimum, that researchers and institutions apply the ethical principles and the articles of this policy. The Councils aim to protect human research participants, ensuring the respect of the principles of free and informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and minimum risk.
Mandate
The mandate of the Research Ethics Board is “to approve, reject, propose modifications to, or terminate any proposed or ongoing research involving human participants which is conducted within, or by members of, the institution, using considerations set forth in this Policy as a minimum standard.” (TCPS, Article 1.2, Authority of the REB)
Accountability
Each institution through its REB is directly accountable to the Tri-Councils. External audits or research ethics monitoring are regularly carried out. The Councils will consider funding (or continued funding) only to individuals and institutions which certify compliance with the TCPS regarding research involving human participants.
Protocols
Each protocol submitted will be thoroughly reviewed and processed in a timely manner. Please await a response as one will be shared as soon as the review has been completed. The REB appreciates your patience.
It is the responsibility of any researcher (Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator) to become familiar with the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (2018) and complete the TCPS-2: CORE 2022 training course.
Members of the Research Ethics Board
Voting Members
- Dr. Kristina Karvinen, Chair - School of Physical and Health Education
- Dr. Geoff Hartley, Vice-Chair - School of Physical and Health Education
- Dr. Laurie Peachey, Vice-Chair - School of Nursing
- Dr. Anahita Baregheh - School of Business
- Dr. Christine Lalonde - Department of Psychology, Sociology, Child and Family Studies and Social Welfare
- Dr. Tara McGoey - Canadore College Representative
- Dr. Anna-Liisa Mottonen - Canadore College Representative
- Dr. Derek Neal - Department of History, Anthropology and Ancient Studies
- Triana Ortiz-Wilde - Canadore College Representative
- Jessica Stickle - Community Member
- Shiv Mohan - Community Member
Non-voting Members
- Research Coordinator (non-voting)
For composition requirements please refer to our Terms of Reference.
Meeting Dates
The NUREB meets monthly throughout the entire year to discuss ethics protocols and ethics education. Applications are reviewed on a rolling fashion and may be submitted at any time.
Research with Indigenous Participants/Communities
In accordance with a commitment made by Nipissing University in 2010 all faculty, student and staff research and academic engagements related to Indigenous peoples and/or communities will involve the participation of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives - Research (OII) prior to submission of an REB Protocol. The OII will assist in facilitating and coordinating with appropriate First Nation, Inuit and/or Métis resource people and communities. Researchers intending to conduct research related to Indigenous peoples, communities and institutions as participants are expected to:
- become familiar with “Research Involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada,” Chapter 9 in the Tri-Council Policy Statement - Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans
- initiate and engage in dialogue with the OII about the proposed research, including steps already taken by the researcher to build and maintain a trusting, collaborative research relationship, and plans for engagement with the Indigenous community or communities.
Protocol Submission
Applications for research with human participants
All REB forms are accessible through the Romeo Researcher Portal.
Requirements for submission of a complete protocol
- Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2) CORE-2022 Certificate of Completion - for all project team members (create an account with your Nipissing email address and complete training here). Note that as of July 2022, we will only accept the newest version of the CORE module (CORE-2022).
- Participant Information Letter/Consent - if required
- Confidentiality Forms - if required
- Recruitment Posters/Adverts - if required
- Additional Certifications/Approvals - if required
- Community Engagement Plans - if appropriate (through Office of Indigenous Initiatives)
See the Protocol Forms tab for guides to creating Participant Information Letters and recruitment materials. If you would like further assistance or samples, contact ethics@nipissingu.ca.
REB will not review incomplete protocols. If your protocol has any missing or incomplete information, it will be returned to you for completion before NUREB review. In all cases the Principal Investigator (PI) is required to make the official submission of a protocol. The PI must confirm that all information within the application is accurate and they believe the application is ready for review. In the cases of student research, the faculty supervisor shall be designated the PI.
Multi-Stage protocols
The NUREB requires that programs of research involving successive studies or multiple stages be broken into separate protocols, that is, one study per protocol. If there are any questions, please contact the Chair or Vice-Chair of NUREB.
Types of reviews
Minimal risk studies will be eligible for Delegate Review (2 reviewers, 1 chair). Allow up to 5-6 weeks after submission for the Research Ethics Board to respond with a decision.
Above minimal risk studies may require Full Board Review (reviewed by all REB members, 1 chair). Allow a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks after submission for the REB to respond with a decision.
Events for research with human participants:
- Renewals
- Modifications
- Report on Adverse Events
- Final Reports
If minor in nature, events are reviewed by the REB Chair or Vice-Chair. Allow up to1 week after submissionfor a response with decision on any event.
Ethics Forms
All ethics forms are available through the ROMEO system; click here to sign into the ROMEO system.
Guidance Documents not in the Romeo system
- Guiding policies: NUREB Terms of Reference and Research Involving Human Participants Policy - The Terms of Reference in particular provides helpful guidance to researchers about the ethical review of research at Nipissing.
- NUREB Guide: Participant Information Letters (Informed Consent) - List of requirements and examples for the creation of the Participant Information Letter (PIL)
- NUREB Guide: Recruitment Materials
- NUREB Guide: Course-Based Research - See also LibGuide on Course-Based Research
- Statement of Confidentiality - To be used for Research Assistants, transcribers etc.
- Participant Information Letter (PIL) template - This template is a very basic PIL that may be a useful starting place for researchers new to ethics protocols. Be sure to use it in conjunction with the NUREB Guide on PILs linked above.
TCPS2 Certificate of Completion
Each member of the research team must complete the TCPS2 online tutorial (CORE-2022). Note that as of July 2022, we will only accept the newest version of the CORE module (CORE-2022). Submission of the Certificate of Completion is required. Tutorial is found at the following link: http://tcps2core.ca/login.
For Nipissing students, faculty and staff, please ensure that you use your Nipissing University e-mail address to register in Romeo.
Researchers External to Nipissing University
If you are external to Nipissing University/Canadore College and wish to conduct research with Nipissing or Canadore faculty, staff or students, you must first obtain (1) institutional authorization (Institutional Support for Research Request) from the Associate Vice-President, Research, Innovation & Graduate Studies and then (2) ethical approval from the Nipissing University Research Ethics Board.
Once you have obtained a signed institutional authorization form, you can request ethical approval by completing an Institution Approval Request using the Romeo system. You will need to attach your home institution’s approved protocol, ethical clearance letter/certificate, and all corresponding appendices.
Research with Canadore College
Please note that NUREB approval does not signify authorization from Canadore College to participate. Nipissing University acts as their REB and reviews files for ethical compliance only. Prior to submitting your application to the NUREB, you should contact Canadore College directly regarding their willingness to participate. Proof of institutional authorization should be included in the application as a condition of final approval.
Please contact the Research Office for institutional authorization: research.centre@canadorecollege.ca.
Appeals
Researchers have the right to request, and the NUREB has an obligation to provide, reconsideration of decisions affecting a research project, through deliberation, consultation or advice. The researcher and the NUREB must have fully exhausted the reconsideration process, and the NUREB must have issued a final decision before the researcher initiates an appeal.
Nipissing University has signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding – Ethics Appeal Agreement with a cooperating university.
The application for appeal should include:
- A letter from the Researcher justifying their reasons for requesting the appeal;
- The original ethics application submitted; and
- Documentation outlining the NUREB’s decision (minutes, REB reviews, etc.).
The Research Coordinator will be responsible for forwarding the documentation to the Appeal Committee.
Appeals may be granted only on procedural grounds or when there is a significant disagreement over an interpretation of the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS2) at www.pre.ethics.gc.ca. The decision of the Appeal Committee shall be binding. The Appeal Committee shall forward a report summarizing their findings and recommendations within 30 days of their decisions to the Ethics Chair of the other institution's REB.
TCPS Core 2 Certification
The Federal Granting Agency's tri-council Panel on Research Ethics (PRE) is offering an on-line seminar on the operation of the ethics rules for researchers doing research that in any way involves humans. All researchers who will be directly contacting participants or their identifiable data are required to provide the NUREB with evidence of their certification within their applications.
Please use the link below to acquire a TCPS Core certificate:
Useful Links:
- ROMEO login/Registration ROMEO
- Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (PRE)
- Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB)
- Tri-Council Policy Secretariat 2nd Edition of Policy for Research Involving Humans Document - TCPS2
- Assembly of First Nations Research Ethics (AFN)
- Guidelines for Ethical Aboriginal Research (GEAR)
- First Nations Principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP)
International Research
When doing research in another country, please check the following link to ensure you have obtained the required approvals. Ensure you have obtained institutional authorization from the host institution to conduct your research. Researchers are still expected to follow all the TCPS guidelines regardless of where the research is taking place. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/international