Full Board Application

Studies that involve more than minimal risk to participants are reviewed by the entire Research Ethics Board (REB) and must be submitted through the full board application process.

Studies that are greater than minimal risk may include studies such as:

  • clinical trials of drugs, devices, or natural health products
  • those collecting significant personal health information
  • those studies where the participant/patient population is particularly vulnerable

Applications that have been screened and determined to be complete before the application deadline are given priority scheduling for review at the next full board meeting. 

Please follow these instructions to submit a full board application to the REB:

Complete the application package in the eREB

Log into the Unity Health eREB to complete and submit an application. For information on creating an account and logging in, please see the eREB page.

The following documents (if applicable) will be required with your submission:

  1. Research protocol (mandatory).
  2. Consent forms. All forms should be on institutional letterhead and meet the guidelines for writing a research consent form. 
  3. Questionnaires, data collection forms, and/or study instruments.
  4. Investigator’s brochure(s) / product monograph(s), if applicable.
  5. Advertisement/poster. If recruiting participants by advertisement, must use institutional letterhead or hospital logo(s).
  6. Copy of Health Canada No Objections Letter (NOL) or other regulatory approvals, if applicable.
  7. Copy of peer review or any other REB approvals. If the study has been approved elsewhere, a copy of the approval letter is required.

Submit the application

Once your application is complete, the eREB will prompt you to obtain PI and Co-I signatures. Once the last investigator has signed, the application will be submitted to the REB.

Please consider submitting your applications well in advance of your planned meeting date, in the event that screening clarifications are requested. If clarification requests are not addressed prior to the deadline for a meeting, your application will not be scheduled for review at that meeting.

Screening of the application package by the Research Ethics Office

  1. Your application will be screened by a Research Ethics Coordinator for completeness and accuracy.
  2. If your application is incomplete or inaccurate, the Research Ethics Coordinator will contact you about revising the application and providing missing information or documents.
  3. Once an application has been determined to be complete, it will be scheduled to a Board meeting.

Review of application package by the Research Ethics Board

  1. Prior to the Board meeting, the Research Ethics Coordinator may send you preliminary questions from the reviewers. You are asked to respond to the questions in advance of the Board meeting to facilitate the review of your study at the meeting. 
  2. After the meeting (within one week) you will receive your review letter. This contains the concerns related to your study that were raised by the Board during review. You must satisfactorily respond to all of the items prior to your study being approved.
  3. Your Research Ethics Coordinator will be identified in your review letter and will be the point of contact between you and the Board and will work with you through the review and approval process.

Approval of research ethics application

Once the review is complete and all concerns have been addressed, your application will be approved for a maximum of one year, and your approval letter will be sent to you via email.

Note: This approval pertains only to the research ethics components of your study. Please ensure that all other institutional approvals and contracts have been established prior to beginning your research.

Changes, amendments, annual renewals to your study

As your study progresses, please make sure to keep the REB informed of any amendments, changes, or annual renewals to your study. In addition, please ensure your annual renewals are submitted prior to the expiry of your current approval.

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