Research Ethics Board

Osler's Research Ethics Board (REB) exists to ensure all research meets current scientific, regulatory and ethical standards. All research involving patients, physicians, staff, students (i.e., research within the institution or using institutional resources), volunteers or visitors must obtain ethical approval from the REB before research can begin.

The REB operates in compliance with the following:

  • the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 (TCPS2): Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (2022);
  • the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines;
  • Part C, Division 5 of the Food and Drug Regulations of Health Canada; and
  • the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA-Ontario 1998, updated through November 2005).

All applications to conduct research at Osler must be submitted to the REB for review and approval. View a list of current REB members.

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

All initial REB applications can be submitted using the eREB system. 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.

To be considered at an upcoming REB meeting, you must submit your application package to WOHSREB@williamoslerhs.ca by the deadline noted below.

2026 REB submission deadline (by noon)2026 REB meeting date

December 3 (2025)

January 14

January 28

February 11

February 25

March 11

March 25

April 8

April 29

May 13

May 27

June 10

June 24

July 8

August 26

September 9

September 30

October 14

October 28

November 11

November 25

December 9

Please note: Dates are subject to change. As the REB will not be meeting in August, please submit your documents to the July or September board meeting.

To learn more, please review our frequently asked questions about the REB.

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.

Contact Us

Brampton Civic Hospital
2100 Bovaird Drive East,
Brampton, ON L6R 3J7
Phone: 905-494-2120

Etobicoke General Hospital
101 Humber College Boulevard,
Etobicoke, ON M9V 1R8
Phone: 416-747-3400

Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness
20 Lynch Street,
Brampton, ON L6W 2Z8
Phone: 905-494-2120

Reactivation Care Centre
200 Church Street,
Etobicoke, ON M9N 1N8
Phone: 416-243-4390

Withdrawal Management Centre
135 McLaughlin Road South,
Brampton, ON L6Y 2C8
Phone: 905-456-3500

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