The UBC BCCA REB reviews human research for BC Cancer Agency and BC Cancer Research Center investigators. Its focus is, therefore, on research related to cancer. Because the BCCA REB has at least six senior cancer researchers on the Board it has the scientific expertise to judge the scientific validity and quality of proposals that it reviews. In addition, if asked to review a submission for which, in the judgment of the Board, it does not have sufficient scientific expertise, the BCCA REB requests scientific review by an outside expert or panel of experts to include in its deliberations. With this level of scientific expertise available the BCCA does not routinely require prior scientific review of proposals submitted to it.
The implications of this internal scientific expertise for submission of applications for review to the BCCA REB are as follows.
1. It is not necessary to include an independent scientific review with applications for review to the BCCA REB.
2. The BCCA REB reserves the prerogative to request copies of any internal or external reviews that were conducted but will specifically request these if desired. Examples of such reviews include those performed by Tumor Groups, Programs or Scientific Evaluation of Research Committees (SERCs).
3. The BCCA REB may request independent scientific review of an project for which it judges it does not have the requisite scientific expertise available within its own membership and may delay completing its review of a submission until this review has been made available to the Board.
Research requiring Health Canada approval:
Research involving the experimental use of therapeutic agents must be approved by Health Canada. Although it is not necessary for the evaluation by Health Canada to be available when a research project is submitted to the BCCA REB, a copy of the Health Canada Approval ("no objection letter") must be received by the REB before the certificate of approval is issued. This applies to subsequent amendments that require Health Canada approval and such amendments must be submitted to the REB for review by the full board.
The Health Canada appoval (no objection letter) must be submitted using the Researcher Information Services (RISe) system.
Before submitting the document, check to see if the letter includes a reference to identify the specific protocol to which it applies. If not, then write the protocol number or similar reference on the letter (REB # if known) so it is clearly linked to the specific protocol and initial the reference, then submit the document.
Questions? email reb@bccancer.bc.ca or see Contacts page.