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Research Ethics

Research Ethics Resources and Information

OVERVIEW

The first and foremost purpose of the Research Ethics Board is to ensure the Protection of Study Volunteers in Research.

The Research Ethics Board follows the guidelines set out in the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. These guidelines were released in 1998 by the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Before any research that involves living human subjects can take place at Windsor Regional Hospital, the proposal for research must undergo a review and approval process by the Research Ethics Board to ensure that the research complies with the highest of ethical standards. The REB will approve whether the scientific question or hypothesis is significant enough to warrant the use of human subjects and that the proposed study and conduct of their research demonstrates:

respect for human dignity
respect for voluntary and informed consent
respect for vulnerable persons
respect for privacy and confidentiality
respect for welfare and rights of research subjects by balancing harms and benefits through minimizing harm and by maximizing beneficence.

Guiding Principles for Research at Windsor Regional Hospital

Keeping with its mission and values, Windsor Regional Hospital is a public institution whose resources, staff and health care practitioners are dedicated to providing excellence in health care. Improving the quality of life through the advancement of human health care is an important component of excellence in health care.

Research is a fundamental activity for the generation of new knowledge and thereby the improvement of patient care. The research conducted in affiliation with Windsor Regional Hospital is of considerable benefit to the community, its health care practitioners, and the hospital. Research activities also enhance the education and awareness of the medical, nursing, and allied health care professionals in the institution.

Research Ethics program brochure.

FAQs for Research Participants

Who proposes the studies conducted at Windsor Regional Hospital?

Proposals for research come from various sources:

A number come from doctors who would like to investigate a new therapy for a drug company involved in multicentre, international trials,
Some come from related Health Care Study Agencies as well as Universities,
A number have been proposed by students in the process of completing educational requirements,
And some even come from our own staff members.

Can I participate in a research study?

Each study has a list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. If it looks like a patient meets the requirements for the study, (s)he will be approached by the researcher or a member of his/her research team and will be given information about the study and what the extent of their commitment will be.

Can I withdraw my consent, and "get out of a study" if I want to?

Yes - For your protection, the consent to participate is very complete and details all the information about the study. Every consent to research must include a statement that a patient may withdraw without it, in any way, prejudicing the care (s)he will receive.

What if I have a question about the study I'm enrolled in?

You receive a copy of the consent form you signed. Should any questions or concerns arise, your consent form contains the phone numbers of the Researcher and his/her coordinator, as well as the Research Ethics Board contact person.

Resources and Information for Researchers

Information for Researchers

All new research projects to be conducted at Windsor Regional Hospital require a feasibility review by the Office of Research via the submission of a Research Intake Form prior to submission of an ethics application to any Research Ethics Board, including WRH REB. You may also submit a draft of your REB application documents or study protocol in place of the Research Intake Form to initiate the review. This feasibility review embeds into the process the completion of the Departmental Impact review(s) which are required for your WRH REB application, if applicable. For the Research Intake Form and more information, visit the Office of Research, Research Start-Up Process/Apply to do Research at WRH.

Forms

All new research projects to be conducted at Windsor Regional Hospital require a feasibility review by the Office of Research via the submission of a Research Intake Form prior to the submission of an ethics application to any Research Ethics Board, including WRH REB. You may also submit your draft REB application forms or a copy of your study protocol in place of the Research Intake Form to initiate the review. This feasibility review embeds into the process the completion of the Departmental Impact review(s) which are required for your WRH REB application, if applicable. For the Research Intake Form and more information, visit the Office of Research, Research Start-Up Process/Apply to do Research at WRH.

Research Ethics Resources

Research Ethics Training

All researchers submitting applications to WRH REB must complete the following training:

1. TCPS 2: CORE-2022 - The Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Human Course on Research Ethics

Please submit your TCPS2: CORE 2022 certificate, and any other research training certificates (other than the WRH REB Privacy Tutorial), on the WRH Research Training Certificate Submission Form.

Note: Effective January 1, 2023, WRH REB will only accept submissions from researchers (and their teams) who have completed the 2022 version of the TCPS 2 training. Your TCPS 2 certificate must reflect the "TCPS2: CORE 2022" course title.

2. WRH REB Privacy Tutorial for Researchers

Completed Privacy Tutorial certificates should not be added to WRH REB submissions. The WRH REB Administrator will review completed tutorials and confirm with the research team if certificates are missing.

REB Meeting Schedule and Deadlines

REB Meeting Schedule and Deadlines July 2022 to June 2023

CONTACT US

If you have any questions or would like information about submitting a proposal to conduct research, you may contact:

Research Ethics Office
Lauren Miceli, REB Administrator
Windsor Regional Hospital
Met Campus, RM ME-1510
519-254-5577, ext. 52899
research.ethics@wrh.on.ca

Windsor Regional Hospital Research Ethics Board complete members list.