For up-to-date information and guidance on requirements for conducting human participant research at Brock during stages of pandemic and recovery, visit Brock’s Coronavirus information web-page.
Brock University is committed to the responsible and ethical conduct of research.
The fundamental imperative of research involving human participants is encapsulated in three core principles: respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice. To this end, Brock University endorses and adheres to the principles set out in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2018) as approved and amended by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
The Office of Research Ethics (ORE) is responsible for the ethical oversight of research involving human participants.
The Office provides centralized administrative and educational functions related to research ethics review. All human participant research conducted under the auspices and/or jurisdiction of Brock must receive ethics clearance from one of Brock University’s Research Ethics Boards (REB) prior to the start of the project.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE FUNCTIONING OF BROCK RESEARCH ETHICS BOARDS AND OFFICE OF RESEARCH ETHICS
The REB/ORE continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic situation. To keep up to date on the most recent guidance and requirements for research activities during stages of pandemic and recovery, please consult the research section of the coronavirus FAQ.
Principal Investigators (Faculty Supervisors) are responsible for keeping informed of, and complying with, all Brock University COVID-19 risk-mitigation strategies and requirements for human participant research. In light of the prospect that provincial orders and public health guidelines may call for greater restrictions in the future, researchers are expected to create the conditions to safely reduce or cease activities on short notice in case COVID-19 conditions change.
APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESSES FOR HUMAN PARTICIPANT RESEARCH
At present, the REB/ORE is functioning at full capacity.
Researchers can apply directly to the Office of Research Ethics by emailing submissions to reb@brocku.ca. Research Ethics applications must include an assessment of potential risks to participants, and where relevant, detail risk-mitigation strategies implemented with respect to current pandemic conditions. This includes in-person, human participant research that was previously suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions. Suspended projects cannot resume without new clearance from the REB.
Researchers wishing to start or relaunch research involving in-person interaction with human participants should consult the COVID-19 Guidelines and Considerations for Completing REB Applications for In-Person Research for guidance.
Note that as part of Brock’s COVID-19 risk mitigation strategy, all researchers, participants, and caregivers (where relevant) are recommended to self-screen for symptoms each day prior to in-person interaction on- or off-campus. Where individuals are feeling unwell, care should be taken to stay home to prevent transmission of any illness.
Research participants and caregivers (if present) must also complete the online COVID-19 risk acknowledgement form prior to their first research study visit, on- or off-campus. This information must be reconfirmed by the researcher, at each study visit.
In accordance with Canadian guidelines and Brock policy, the REB may require modifications to research or suspend research where participant or researcher welfare is at stake.
About Brock’s Research Ethics Boards (REBs)
Brock’s Research Ethics Boards (REBs) are empowered to ensure that all research involving humans conducted under the auspices or within the jurisdiction of Brock University is ethical, and is conducted in accordance with this policy. As such, a REB may accept, reject, or propose modifications to any proposed or ongoing research that is subject to REB review, pursuant to Brock standards. A REB also has the authority to suspend any ongoing research under its purview that is deemed to pose an unacceptable risk of harm to participants or in which the principal researcher has not complied with Brock University policies and procedures related to the ethical conduct of research involving humans. A decision of a REB to disallow research on ethical grounds, unless reversed on reconsideration by that REB, may only be reversed through the REB appeal process. Decisions shall be final and binding in all respects for any appeal of an REB decision.
The Brock University Office of Research Ethics (ORE) provides centralized administration associated with the REBs and the research ethics operation at Brock, and develops and delivers educational programs and materials to Brock students, staff, and faculty involved in human research.
Brock University has two Research Ethics Boards:
The Health Science Research Ethics Board (HREB) is responsible for ethics review and policy development related to research from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences including the following departments:
- Health Sciences
- Kinesiology
- Nursing
- Recreation & Leisure
- Sport Management
The Social Science Research Ethics Board (SREB) is responsible for ethics review and policy development related to research involving human participants from all other Faculties:
- Goodman School of Business
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Mathematics & Science
- Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts
Below is a list of the major forms and templates that may need to be completed before proceeding with research involving humans. For further information or if you have questions, contact reb@brocku.ca or call 905-688-5550, x3035.
- Application for Ethics Review
- Application for Human Tissue Research
- Application for Secondary Use of Data
- Application for Course-based Research (Faculty only)
- Annual Renewal/Final Report
- Guidelines for Conducting Research as a Course Assignment
- Guidelines for Multi-Jurisdictional Research
- Guidelines for Online/Internet Research
- Guidelines for Phlebotomy
- Guidelines for Protocols Involving Deception
- Guidelines for Research Participation of Individuals Under Age 18
- Guidelines for Secondary Use of Data
- Guidelines for Student Research Participation for Course Credit
- Informed Consent Letter Checklist
- Letter of Invitation Checklist
- REB Guideline – Definition of a Research Team
- REB Guideline – Functioning of REO and REB During Unforeseen Circumstances
- REB Guideline – Meetings, Quorum and Attendance
- REB Guideline – Minor and Substantive Changes to Research with REB Clearance
- REB Standard – Confidentiality
- REB Standard – Eligibility to Serve as a Principal Investigator
- REB Standard – Responsibilities of Faculty Supervisors and Student Researchers
- Revision or Modification to an Ongoing Application
- Standard for Maximum Number of Annual Renewals
- Standard for Minimum Risk Research Involving Alcohol Consumption
- SOP 01: Saliva Collection
- SOP 02: Finger Prick Blood Sampling
- SOP 03: Phlebotomy – Blood Sampling From the Arm by Venipuncture
- SOP 04: VO2 Max testing
- SOP 06: Colour Vision and Hearing Testing
- SOP 07: Surface EMG
- SOP 09: Rectal Temperature Measurements
- Template: General Statement of Confidentiality
- Template: Consent form
- Template: Letter of Invitation
- The TCPS 2 Tutorial: Course on Research Ethics (CORE)
- Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2018)
- Venipuncture Information Sheet
Health Science Research Ethics Board (SREB)
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2022 | July 2022 | July 2022 |
August 2022 | August 2022 | August 2022 |
September 2022 | September 2022 | September 2022 |
October 2022 | October 2022 | October 2022 |
November 2022 | November 2022 | November 2022 |
December 2022 (cancelled) | December 2022 (cancelled) | December 2022 |
January 2023 | January 2023 | January 2023 |
February 2023 | February 2023 | February 2023 |
March 2023 | March 2023 | March 2023 |
April 2023 (cancelled) | April 2023 (cancelled) | April 2023 |
May 2023 | May 2023 | May 2023 |
June 2023 | June 2023 | June 2023 |
Social Science Research Ethics Board (SREB)
SREB MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2023 (all meetings are taking place virtually on Teams)
- May 29
- June 26
- July 27
- August 28
*Applications for Full Board Review should be submitted 10 working days prior to a scheduled meeting
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2022 | July 2022 | July 2022 |
August 2022 | August 2022 | August 2022 |
September 2022 | September 2022 | September 2022 |
October 2022 | October 2022 | October 2022 |
November 2022 | November 2022 | November 2022 |
December 2022 | December 2022 | December 2022 |
January 2023 | January 2023 | January 2023 |
February 2023 | February 2023 | February 2023 |
March 2023 | March 2023 | March 2023 |
April 2023 | April 2023 | April 2023 |
May 2023 | May 2023 | May 2023 |
June 2023 | June 2023 | June 2023 |
Health Science Research Ethics Board (SREB)
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2021 (cancelled) | July 2021 (cancelled) | July 2021 |
August 2021 (cancelled) | August 2021 (cancelled) | August 2021 |
September 2021 | September 2021 | September 2021 |
October 2021 | October 2021 | October 2021 |
November 2021 | November 2021 (N/A) | November 2021 |
December 2021 (cancelled) | December 2021 (cancelled) | December 2021 |
January 2022 | January 2022 | January 2022 |
February 2022 | February 2022 | February 2022 |
March 2022 | March 2022 (N/A) | March 2022 |
April 2022 | April 2022 | April 2022 |
May 2022 | May 2022 | May 2022 |
June 2022 | June 2022 | June 2022 |
Social Science Research Ethics Board (SREB)
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2021 (cancelled) | July 2021 (cancelled) | July 2021 |
August 2021 (cancelled) | August 2021 (cancelled) | August 2021 |
September 2021 | September 2021 | September 2021 |
October 2021 | October 2021 | October 2021 |
November 2021 | November 2021 (N/A) | November 2021 |
December 2021 (cancelled) | December 2021 (cancelled) | December 2021 |
January 2022 | January 2022 | January 2022 |
February 2022 (cancelled) | February 2022 (cancelled) | February 2022 (cancelled) |
March 2022 (cancelled) | March 2022 (cancelled) | March 2022 |
April 2022 | April 2022 | April 2022 |
May 2022 | May 2022 | May 2022 |
June 2022 | June 2022 N/A | June 2022 |
Health Science Research Ethics Board
HREB MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2021 (all meetings are taking place virtually on Teams)
- May (cancelled)
- June 11
- July 23 (cancelled)
- August 26
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2020 | July 2020 | July 2020 |
August 2020 | August 2020 | August 2020 |
September 2020 | September 2020 | September 2020 |
October 2020 | October 2020 | October 2020 |
November 2020 | November 2020 | November 2020 |
December 2020 (cancelled) | December 2020 | December 2020 |
January 2021 | January 2021 | January 2021 |
February 2021 (cancelled) | February 2021 | February 2021 |
March 2021 | March 2021 | March 2021 |
April 2021 | April 2021 | April 2021 |
May 2021 | May 2021 | May 2021 |
June 2021 | June 2021 | June 2021 |
Social Science Research Ethics Board
SREB MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2021 (all meetings are taking place virtually on Teams)
- May (cancelled)
- June 23
- July 21 (cancelled)
- August 25
*Applications for Full Board Review should be submitted 10 working days prior to a scheduled meeting
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2020 | July 2020 | July 2020 |
August 2020 | August 2020 | August 2020 |
September 2020 | September 2020 | September 2020 |
October 2020 | October 2020 | October 2020 |
November 2020 | November 2020 | November 2020 |
December 2020 (Cancelled) | December 2020 (Cancelled) | December 2020 |
January 2021 (Cancelled) | January 2021 (Cancelled) | January 2021 |
February 2021 | February 2021 | February 2021 |
March 2021 | March 2021 | March 2021 |
April 2021 | April 2021 | April 2021 |
May 2021 | May 2021 | May 2021 |
June 2021 | June 2021 | June 2021 |
Health Science Research Ethics Board
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2019 | July 2019 | July 2019 |
August 2019 | August 2019 | August 2019 |
September 2019 | September 2019 | September 2019 |
October 2019 | October 2019 | October 2019 |
November 2019 | November 2019 | November 2019 |
December 2019 | December 2019 | December 2019 |
January 2020 | January 2020 | January 2020 |
February 2020 | February 2020 | February 2020 |
March 2020 | March 2020 | March 2020 |
April 2020 | April 2020 | April 2020 |
May 2020 | May 2020 | May 2020 |
June 2020 | June 2020 | June 2020 |
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2018 | July 2018 | July 2018 |
August 2018 | August 9, 2018 | August 2018 |
August 22, 2018 | ||
September 2018 | September 2018 | September 2018 |
October 2018 (cancelled) | October 2018 | October 2018 |
November 2018 | November 2018 | November 2018 |
December 2018 | December 2018 | December 2018 |
January 2019 | January 2019 | January 2019 |
February 2019 | February 2019 | February 2019 |
March 2019 | March 2019 | March 2019 |
April 2019 | April 2019 | April 2019 |
May 2019 | May 2019 | May 2019 |
June 2019 | June 2019 | June 2019 |
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2017 | July 2017 | July 2017 |
August 2017 (cancelled) | August 2017 | August 2017 |
September 2017 | September 2017 | September 2017 |
October 2017 | October 2017 | October 2017 |
November 2017 | November 2017 | November 2017 |
December 2017 | December 2017 | December 2017 |
January 2018 | January 2018 | January 2018 |
February 2018 (cancelled) | February 2018 | February 2018 |
March 2018 | March 2018 | March 2018 |
April 2018 (cancelled) | April 2018 | April 2018 |
May 2018 | May 2018 | May 2018 |
June 2018 | June 2018 | June 2018 |
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2016 (cancelled) | July 2016 | July 2016 |
August 2016 (cancelled) | August 2016 | August 2016 |
September 2016 | September 2016 | September 2016 |
October 2016 | October 2016 | October 2016 |
November 2016 | November 2016 | November 2016 |
December 2016 | December 2016 | December 2016 |
January 2017 | January 2017 | January 2017 |
February 2017 (cancelled) | February 2017 | February 2017 |
March 2017 | March 2017 | March 2017 |
April 2017 | April 2017 | April 2017 |
May 2017 | May 2017 | May 2017 |
June 2017 | June 2017 | June 2017 |
Social Science Research Ethics Board
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2019 | July 2019 | July 2019 |
August 2019 | August 2019 | August 2019 |
September 2019 | September 2019 | September 2019 |
October 2019 | October 2019 | October 2019 |
November 2019 | November 2019 | November 2019 |
December 2019 | December 2019 | December 2019 |
January 2020 | January 2020 | January 2020 |
February 2020 | February 2020 | February 2020 |
March 2020 | March 2020 | March 2020 |
April 2020 | April 2020 | April 2020 |
May 2020 | May 2020 | May 2020 |
June 2020 | June 2020 | June 2020 |
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2018 | July 2018 | July 2018 |
August 2018 (cancelled) | August 2018 | August 2018 |
September 2018 | September 2018 | September 2018 |
October 2018 (cancelled) | October 2018 | October 2018 |
November 2018 | November 2018 | November 2018 |
December 2018 | December 2018 | December 2018 |
January 2019 | January 2019 | January 2019 |
February 2019 | February 2019 | February 2019 |
March 2019 | March 2019 | March 2019 |
April 2019 | April 2019 | April 2019 |
May 2019 | May 2019 | May 2019 |
June 2019 | June 2019 | June 2019 |
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2017 | July 2017 | July 2017 |
August 2017 | August 2017 | August 2017 |
September 2017 | September 2017 | September 2017 |
October 2017 | October 2017 | October 2017 |
November 2017 | November 2017 | November 2017 |
December 2017 | December 2017 | December 2017 |
January 2018 | January 2018 | January 2018 |
February 2018 (cancelled) | February 2018 | February 2018 |
March 2018 | March 2018 | March 2018 |
April 2018 | April 2018 | April 2018 |
May 2018 | May 2018 | May 2018 |
June 2018 (cancelled) | June 2018 | June 2018 |
Agendas | Minutes | Decision Reports |
July 2016 | July 2016 | July 2016 |
August 2016 (cancelled) | August 2016 | August 2016 |
September 2016 | September 2016 | September 2016 |
October 2016 | October 2016 | October 2016 |
November 2016 (cancelled) | November 2016 | November 2016 |
December 2016 | December 2016 | December 2016 |
January 2017 | January 2017 | January 2017 |
February 2017 (cancelled) | February 2017 | February 2017 |
March 2017 | March 2017 | March 2017 |
April 2017 | April 2017 | April 2017 |
May 2017 | May 2, 2017 & May 23, 2017 | May 2017 |
June 2017 (cancelled) | June 2017 (cancelled) | June 2017 |
Contact us
Office of Research Ethics
Lori Walker
Manager, Research Ethics
lwalker@brocku.ca
General Enquiries
reb@brocku.ca
Health Science Research (HREB)
Carly MaGee
Research Ethics Officer, Health Sciences (HREB)
cmagee@brocku.ca
Social Science Research (SREB)
Alyssa Bax
Research Ethics Officer, Social Sciences (SREB)
abax@brocku.ca