Research Ethics Board

Applying for REB approval

If you are planning to conduct research activities at Osler you will need to apply for Research Ethics Board (REB) review and approval prior to conducting your research study.

Beginning May 31, 2023, all new initial REB applications can be submitted using the eREB system. It will become mandatory to submit all new initial REB applications through this system starting July 1, 2023.

To apply for REB review, you must obtain all of the following:

1. Identify a principal investigator (PI). A PI is someone is who taking overall responsibility for the research study at Osler. You must have a staff appointment at Osler in order to act as a PI (residents, volunteers and students at Osler cannot act as a PI).
2. Ensure all individuals conducting research activities have completed the necessary training (TCPS2, GCP, Health Canada Division 5) based on the study type.
3. Obtain approval from the head/lead of the department the research study will impact.
4. Provide an REB approval letter from the lead REB site, if the research study is initiated elsewhere
5. Complete research contract prior to conducting any research activities if the study requires one. For example, non-disclosure agreements/confidentiality agreements; clinical trial agreements; site agreements; material transfer agreements; data transfer agreements. Osler’s Research administration office facilitates the review and negotiations of all research contracts and will also ensure the contract undergoes legal review to ensure that the interests of the Institution are protected. The final agreement must be signed by an authorized signatory from Osler. A fully executed copy of the contract will be maintained by Osler. If you have any questions or require a research contract, please contact the Research contracts specialist.
6. Submit your study in the eREB system.

For those using paper submissions, when you are ready to submit your study for review, please provide:

• a completed REB initial application checklist
• a completed REB initial application form
• your study protocol and all supporting documents (i.e., consent form, surveys, data collection forms, master linking logs, scripts, etc.)
• copies of research training certificates

Email your submission to WOHSREB@williamoslerhs.ca.

eREB system training

We will be hosting training sessions in June for our new eREB system:

• June 1: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• June 2: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• June 5: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• June 6: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
• June 12: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• June 14: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• June 16: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• June 20: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
• June 22: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• June 26: 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• June 28: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

If you wish to attend one of our training sessions or would like copies of our training guides, please send an email to WOHSREB@williamoslerhs.ca.

REB consultation services

The REB offers one-on-one or group ethics consultations for staff, investigators, coordinators and students prior to and throughout the ethics review process. In a consultation, the REB can provide advice on:

• developing an ethically sound human research protocol during the design phase of a study (including multisite or complex projects);
• resolving ethical dilemmas that may arise through study planning and execution;
• navigating the REB review process, including guidance for researchers new to the REB review process who would like additional information before submitting their first application;
• making changes to REB-approved studies; and
• other human research ethics questions.

Please contact the REB to arrange a consultation.