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Research Ethics

We oversee ethical conduct and decision making in clinical and behavioural adult oncology research projects at BC Cancer that use human materials and information.

We aim to build capacity in ethics, integrity, and compliance through educating, advising, research, policy/guidance development, and administration.  We are one of UBC's six sanctioned Research Ethics Boards (REBs) and are responsible for administration relating to the REB.

All research at BC Cancer involving humans or material and information derived from humans must be reviewed and approved by the BC Cancer Research Ethics Board ('REB') before the project can be activated. 

Research Ethics Office
Contact us with any questions or to arrange a consultation at: reb@bccancer.bc.ca

Officers

Please contact a Research Ethics Officer (and reference the RISe H# if applicable -  e.g. Hxx-yyyyy) for all questions relating to:

  • pre-review of all full board and delegated/minimal risk studies

  • post-review documentation of all full board REB decisions (e.g., deferrals, provisos, amendments, and renewals)

Officers: 


Director

Jessica Bigland (Gagliardi)

Please contact the Director for questions relating to:
  • compliance with local, national, and international policies and legislation
  • activities, procedures and direction of Research Ethics administration
  • ethics or integrity queries or concerns
  • training 

Research Ethics Board

The Research Ethics Board (REB) is comprised of members who among them pool extensive experience and knowledge in scientific investigations, cancer research, patient experience, and the ethical/legal issues raised by research involving humans. 

REB chairs

  • Chair: Dr. Karen Gelmon
  • Vice-chair:  Dr. Vivien Bramwell

Membership lists 

Please contact reb@bccancer.bc.ca for previous lists.

Compliance assurances

The REB complies with the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Code of Federal Regulations (45 CFR 46.103). These regulations state that every institution engaged in human subject research supported or conducted by the DHHS must have assurance of compliance approved by the US Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP/FDA.)

Federalwide Assurance (FWA) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) assurances with OHRP/FDA have been obtained for both BC Cancer and the BC Cancer Research Ethics Board (REBs in Canada are referred to as IRBs in the US):

Institutional organization: BC Cancer (IORG #IORG0003172) 

Assurance

  • Type of Assurance: Federalwide Assurance for "BC Cancer"
  • Assurance Numbers: FWA00001149
  • Expiry Date: December 12, 2026

Assurance

  • Type of Assurance: IRB Assurance for "B.C. Cancer IRB #1"
  • Assurance Numbers: IRB00003797
  • Expiry Date: December 27, 2024
For details or confirmation of BC Cancer approved OHRP/FDA assurances, go to the Office for Human Research Protections database and search by entering the IORG, FWA or IRB number.


UBC assurance of compliance statement

The BC Cancer Research Ethics Board is a UBC-affiliated REB.  UBC Office of Research Services provides regulatory oversight for all UBC affiliated REBs. Read the Assurance of Compliance Statement.  

News & Events


Newsletters

 

Events

 

Information sessions:

  • Summer 2024 - Considering the Participant's Experience (Consent, Vulnerability, and Safety)
  • Spring 2024 - (Secondary use of data, chart reviews)
  • Spring 2023 - (TCPS2 updates, Survey results)
  • May 2023 - (Bioinformatics Students) (PDF)

Research Challenge:

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