Research Ethics Process

All research studies that undertake activities beyond quality improvement are mandated to undergo ethical review. Studies focused on quality assurance (and not research) are exempted from ethical review. However, the intention to publish findings is not the litmus test to determine whether a study is research or quality assurance focused.

The UBC-PHC REB recommends applicants to refer to the ARECCI (Alberta Research Ethics Community Consensus Initiative) screening tool to assess ethical obligations of their research and/or quality improvement projects. 

Applicants are encouraged to contact the REBA team or the Board for inquiries on if ethical review requirements apply to their project. Alternatively, if in doubt, applicants can submit an application for contingency.

The following types of projects are exempted from REB review: 

• Quality Assurance Studies
• Quality Improvement Studies
• Program Evaluation Activities

Such projects must follow the following procedure to address ethical concerns and ensure compliance with applicable requirements.

The UBC-PHC REB requires that all applications be submitted electronically through the Researcher Information Services system (RISe). RISe is an online research administration tool that allows researchers and administrators to manage and track applications online through to approval, certification and awarding of funds.

RISe is a secure online document management system used by all UBC Research Ethics Boards to process applications for ethical review of research involving human subjects. All submissions and department approvals of ethics applications to any of the UBC-affiliated REBs must use RISe. All amendments, renewals, and requests for acknowledgment to previously approved applications must also use RISe.

To register with RISe as a first-time user, all researchers and study personnel must have a Campus Wide Login (CWL), Password and their ‘Researcher Number’. Applicants can use RISe Sandbox to test and familiarize themselves with the different roles, functions and features of this system.

Applicants must refer to the following instructions on submitting a New Human Ethics Clinical Application. The UBC-PHC REB also endorses the following sample form (clinical and behavioral) and guidance notes for application reference.

A fee for ethical review applies to research studies sponsored by the industry or any other for-profit organization. All ongoing research studies require an annual renewal of their ethics review.

Certain research studies are exempt from the initial ethics review fee if the following circumstances apply:

• The research study does not have funding
• The research study is funded by a grant from a non-profit organization
• The research study is funded by cooperative groups (i.e. COG)
• The research study is funded by CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC and NIH (including NIH Institutes)
• The research study has received internal grants from UBC, PHC or an affiliated institution.

Once the invoice is issued, all fee payments are due within 30 days. Providence Research sends fee invoices to the Principal Investigator (or researcher) who is then responsible for informing and forwarding the same to their sponsor for remittance.

Remitted payments should be addressed to “Providence Health Care Research Institute Trust” at the following address (along with a copy of the issued invoice):

Providence Research 
10th Floor Hornby site - 1081 Burrard St.
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6
Email: pr.revenue@providencehealth.bc.ca