Ethics Review Processes
The application process overview below outlines the steps you must take before you apply for a research ethics review including which application you need to submit for your research, ongoing requirements and any review exemptions.
Determine the Review Process Required
Determine which research ethics applications you need to complete.
- The majority of research applications at Laurier are submitted to the Research Ethics Board (REB) for review; however, if your department has a Research Ethics Committee (REC), then it may be eligible for departmental REC review.
Determine if your research project is exempt from review.
If you are unsure whether your project requires REB review and approval, consult directly with the REB.
Plan Your REB Application Submission Timeline
Make sure you review the REB's timelines and review process to plan the submission of your REB application accordingly.
REB review is a multi-step and ongoing process that involves administrative review, initial ethics review, resubmissions and resubmission reviews.
It is the principal investigator's responsibility to ensure that the research team is able to meet any time sensitive deadlines and that projects are feasible to complete within restricted timeframes.
Average REB Review Timeline
These times are general guidelines that may be exceeded during busy periods.
| Type of Review and Submission Recommendations | Average Review Time |
|---|---|
|
Initial review for minimal risk projects. REB recommends submitting these projects at least one to one and a half months before any anticipated start dates. For example, courses beginning in September, submit no later than Aug. 1. |
15 business days |
|
Initial review for higher than minimal risk projects or projects requiring expert review. |
20 to 30 business days |
|
Initial review of modification requests. |
Five to 10 business days |
|
Review of resubmissions. |
Five to 10 business days |
Exceptional Circumstances for Expedited Review
If you are requesting an expedited review, you must clearly define the exceptional circumstance to the REB.
Exceptional circumstances are unforeseen circumstances that arise under a research protocol that require immediate consideration but do not include research deadlines or timelines known in advance (e.g., course timelines).
Due to the high volumes of projects submitted to the REB, it is not possible to guarantee review turnaround times or accommodate requests.
Register with Romeo
Romeo is Laurier's online application system for REB review for research projects involving human participants by all faculty, staff, graduate students or undergraduate students when supervisors will be using their data.
The system:
- Provides access to all of your approved projects for future reference.
- Is used for the submission of new projects, annual/final reports, modification requests and adverse event reports.
For instructions on registering with and using Romeo, see the Romeo Quick Reference Guide.
Complete the TCPS 2: Course on Research Ethics (CORE) Tutorial
All Laurier researchers must complete the TCPS 2 CORE Tutorial. You must submit the certificate(s) of completion with your ethics application.
Failing to follow the TCPS 2 and university policies or guidelines, applicable laws or regulations on research with human participants may be considered as research misconduct and a breach of the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research and Laurier policy 12.2 Student Code of Conduct: Academic Misconduct.