The Office of Human Research Ethics, on behalf of Western’s Research Ethics Boards (REB), manages the approval and monitoring process for the use of humans in research at Western University and its affiliated hospitals and research institutes. All research with human participants conducted by faculty, staff and students must be approved by a Western University Research Ethics Board before the research begins.
Ethics Applications: All applications for ethics approval for research with human participants must be submitted online through the Western Research Ethics Management (WREM) system for consideration by a Research Ethics Board (REB).
Most research conducted at the faculties of Information & Media Studies (FIMS), Law and Music will fall under the jurisdiction of the Non-Medical Research Ethics Board (NMREB). As each new application is received by the NMREB, it will be assessed for level of risk and designated for delegated review (minimal risk) or for review by the Full Board. Many applications from the Faculties of Information and Media Studies, Law and Music are eligible for delegated review as they involve very low risk procedures and adult participants. Any application that is set for delegated review will be reviewed by one reviewer from the researcher’s faculty.
If your research is health-related you may need to submit to the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board (HSREB). Please consult this chart if you are unsure to which REB you should apply.
The Office of Human Research Ethics has resources to help with WREM submissions. If you require assistance with WREM please contact wrem@uwo.ca, or 519-661-3036. Also available on the Office of Human Research Ethics website are templates for Letters of Information & Consent, recruitment etc.
Amendments / Revisions to Approved Ethics Proposals: All revisions/ amendments to ongoing studies must be sent to the Office of Human Research Ethics through WREM.
Mandatory Training
Western Research has launched a mandatory human participant research training initiative that will support Western’s ongoing commitment to produce research that is high in quality and integrity, while maintaining the protection of research participants.
All study team members, including faculty, librarians, archivists, students, postdoctoral scholars, and staff listed on a human participant research project submitted to one of Western’s Research Ethics Boards (REBs), or up for annual renewal, must complete human participant research training.
For NEW submissions: No study-related activities can take place until all study team members have completed training, even if a Research Ethics Board approval notice has been issued for your study.
STEP 1
Complete ONE of the following training options:
- TCPS CORE Tutorial (Affiliation: “Western University” or “Lawson Health Research Institute”)
**NOTE: If your TCPS CORE training occurred prior to 2018 it is recommended that you complete the most updated training (TCPS2: CORE-2022). Please submit your training certificate via email to Karen Gopaul. - CITI – Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (Affiliation: “University of Western Ontario N2” or “Lawson Health Research Institute (N2)” Course: “The Biomedical Research Ethics Tutorial – Canada”)
STEP 2
- Once you have completed ONE of the training options above (or if you have previously completed one of these), submit your training certificate via email to Karen Gopaul.
Please ensure that you either have an Active account in the WREM system or have requested an account using the New User button on the WREM login page before sending your certificate. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Karen Gopaul, Manager, Quality & Research Compliance
Guidelines and Handbooks
- Western Research – Handbook – Ethics Review of Arts and Humanities Projects (July 2022)
- 2nd Edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS 2): Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans
- Interpretation of the TCPS-2
- New Guidance in applying TCPS 2: “Does Research Using Social Media Platforms Require Research Ethics Board Review?”
- Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP®) – The First Nations principles of OCAP® are a set of standards that establish how First Nations data should be collected, protected, used, or shared. They are the de facto standard for how to conduct research with First Nations.
Tutorials & Webinars
- Educational Webinars from the Panel on Research Ethics – Qualitative Research; Research Involving First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples of Canada; Scope of Research Ethics Review
See also related ethics postings on this blog.