Content: Announcement List

As of April 15, 2019, two short forms are available in RISe for new behavioural ethics applications

When can the short forms be used?

• If only one research method is used - either surveys only or secondary use of data only
• If the study falls within the Minimal Risk category
• If the study is Behavioural; short forms for Clinical Ethics Applications will be available in future

• Both single and multi-jurisdictional (Harmonized) studies are eligible

NB. In-person administration of surveys (not interviews) may use the shortened form, as long as there is no likelihood of the survey questions deviating from the structured format. If the purpose for conducting the survey in person is to allow for more probing questions to supplement the survey questions, a full ethics application will be needed.

When can the short forms NOT be used?

• If you are conducting interviews, whether by phone, video conference, or in-person
• If you are using multiple methods of data collection (e.g. interviews and surveys) 
• If the application has already been submitted; existing applications may not be converted to the short application forms

Applications will follow the same submission, review, and approval steps as other ethics applications.

How to complete the short ethics form

1. Complete pages 1 through 4.B. BEHAVIOURAL STUDY REVIEW TYPE as usual
    
2. Proceed to 4.C BEHAVIOURAL STUDY REVIEW TYPE - HUMAN ETHICS APPLICATION
    
3. You will need to answer “no” to the first two parts:
   • 4.7.A. Creation of a Research Database or Registry
   • 4.7.B. Is the purpose of this application exclusively to obtain approval for the creation of a research database or registry?
      
4. For Surveys
   • Select “yes” for 4.8 ("Is this a minimal risk study exclusively using a survey for data collection?")'
   • Advance to the new page K. Survey - HUMAN ETHICS APPLICATION
   • Answer all the questions on page K
      
5.  For Secondary Use of Data
   • Select “no” for 4.8; a new question will appear
   • Select “yes” for 4.9 Secondary Use ("Is this a minimal risk study exclusively analyzing previously collected data?")
   • Advance to the new page L. Secondary Use of Data - HUMAN ETHICS APPLICATION
   • Answer all the questions on page L
      
6.  After you complete pages “K” or “L” you will be able to proceed directly to page 9.
    
7. Attach all relevant supporting documents to page 9 as you would for a full ethics application.

The table below briefly summarizes the content you will need to provide. See the application guidance notes for more detail.

Questions? Please contact your REB office for assistance.

Effective April 1st, 2019, all new applications for ethical review to the UBC Clinical Research Ethics Board, the Providence Health Care Research Ethics Board or the Children & Women’s Research Ethics Board will be charged an increased initial ethical review fee of $3,500.00 and subsequent annual renewals will be charged a fee of $750.00. Studies submitted to the BC Cancer REB will continue to be charged $4,000 for initial applications and $750.00 for annual renewals. All privately sponsored studies submitted prior to April 1st, 2019 will continue to be charged the current ethical review fees of $3,000 for initial approval and $500.00 for annual renewals. 

These fees reflect the increasing complexity of REB applications, which require additional REB time and resources for conducting initial and continuing reviews, including continuous monitoring and oversight of active studies. All revenues generated as a result of these charges will be retained in their entirety by the institution that is responsible for financially resourcing the board providing the review and oversight.

Certificates of Approval will not be released until the fee has been received by the research ethics board.

If you have any questions or concerns respecting this notice, or any suggestions for improving ethical reviews at UBC, please contact the Director of Research Ethics | laurel.evans@ors.ubc.ca | 604-827-5113.

A guidance package is available for researchers whose studies have the potential for involving participants who are at risk of suicidal ideation. The package includes guidance on training for research team members, developing a risk management plan, as well as sample language for consent forms and distress and suicide protocols. See Suicide Risk Guidance.

OHRP has launched a webpage with information on the revised Common Rule’s clinical trial informed consent form posting requirement (45 CFR 46.116(h)). Visit OHRP Regulations - Informed Consent. 

If you have questions or comments about the revised posting requirement, please submit to OHRP@hhs.gov.

UBC hosted a Research Ethics Conference in Vancouver on October 3, 2018 to present topics in clinical research ethics.

Attending were members of the UBC Research Ethics Boards as well as representatives from Simon Fraser University, the University of Northern BC and University of Victoria and BC health authorities (Fraser Health and Interior Health).

For conference presentations please go to CREB presentations.

Are you new to research ethics at UBC? Don’t know where to start? See our Ethics Orientation for a quick view of the research ethics process.

Check the new website for details.

(updated August 30, 2018)

As a member of UBC's research community, your input into the continuing development of province-wide, harmonized ethics review processes is valued. BCEHI is very excited by its recent accomplishments. The attached Update for Researchers illustrates its success and provides you with current information. By completing the Short Survey you will also help the BCEHI to continue working toward harmonized research ethics review in this province. 

Please contact E. Sarah Bennett at sarah_bennett_2@sfu.ca if you have any questions or feedback.

Message posted on behalf of UBC IT Communications:

We are pleased to announce that we have selected Qualtrics as the replacement solution for the UBC Survey tool. Qualtrics is an easy-to-use, top-tier survey tool platform that offers a wide range of features.  This enterprise platform is used at over 8,500 brands and at some of the top globally ranked post-secondary institutions.  The UBC Qualtrics instance will be available starting mid-December 2017.  Please look for notifications when training and support will be available.

The transition of any surveys between FluidSurveys and Qualtrics will require manually backing up your ongoing surveys and recreating them in the UBC Qualtrics instance.  Once our contract with FluidSurveys expires on February 26, 2018, there will be no access to the data in FluidSurveys.

For information on how to backup your surveys and about the new UBC Survey tool, please visit www.it.ubc.ca/surveys .  We will continue to update this service catalog site as more training information becomes available.

We want to thank you for your feedback and patience as we work through the completion of the RFP (Request for Proposals) process. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ubcit.communications@ubc.ca.

Sincerely,
John Chong
--
UBC IT Communications
Information Technology | Engage. Envision. Enable
The University of British Columbia

The UBC REBs released a statement on May 15, 2017 regarding US FDA 1572 Forms.  This policy statement is intended to outline the REB's perspective on Investigators signing US FDA Form 1572 and to set out alternatives that an investigator can propose to the sponsor so that neither the investigator nor the REB are obligated to comply with foreign (US) regulations.