Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board

Introduction

The Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board is a shared Research Ethics Board serving Cambridge Memorial, Grand River, and/or St. Mary's General Hospital. All research involving human subjects at these hospitals is reviewed by the Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board (THREB). In order to facilitate this review, it is essential that all the necessary documentation be included in the application (see Forms below). THREB meets the first Wednesday of the month except during July and August. To provide sufficient time for research review, the completed application package must be received by the 2nd Wednesday of the month prior to the meeting date. A checklist outlining the required steps is included as the first part of the Application Form.

The primary responsibility of the Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board is to make decisions concerning the ethical acceptability of research proposed by the hospital(s), by researchers having an association with the hospital(s), or any research involving patients or staff at the hospital(s).

Research is defined as the "systematic investigation to establish facts, principles or generalizable knowledge".

The Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board is mandated to approve, reject, propose modifications to, or terminate any proposed or ongoing research involving human subjects that is conducted with the Hospital. THREB complies with guidelines from the Tri-Council Policy Statement Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, the Good Clinical Practice: Consolidated Guideline of the International Conference on Harmonization, Division 5 Health Canada Food and Drug Regulations and relevant Canadian health and privacy legislation. THREB also endeavours to facilitate compliance with the human subject requirements of two US federal agencies: The Food and Drug Administration and the Office for Human Research Protections, US Dept of Health and Human Services.

All research is reviewed by the Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board. In addition, all research shall be reviewed by Administration for financial, resource, and contractual implications (see Administrative Approval Form Application Part 3).

PLEASE NOTE; Each hospital has a unique process for administrative review and approval. This process must be completed before THREB review can be initiated. It is up to the Investigator to make contact with the relevant institutions to determine their requirements. Contact information for administrative review at the three hospitals can be found in the Administrative Approval Form (Application Part 3).

Both the administrative review and the research ethics board review must be completed and any outstanding issue resolved prior to the research being initiated.

For more information, or to send application and other forms, contact the THREB Administrator, Karen Goerz:

Karen Goerz , THREB Administrative Coordinator
Tri-Hospital Research Ethics Board
Kaufman Building K615,,
Grand River Hospital
835 King Street West
Kitchener, ON N2G 1G3

Phone: 519-749-4300, extension 5367
Fax: 519-749-4250
E-Mail: karen.goerz@grhosp.on.ca

The THREB Chairperson, Dr. Michael D. Coughlin can be reached at:
coughlin.michael@gmail.com

General Information and Guidelines for Investigators

THREB Meeting Dates

THREB Terms of Reference

THREB Membership 2010

THREB Procedures for Renewal and Continuing Review

Tr-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS)

Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (GCP)

National Council on Ethics in Human Research (NCEHR)

FORMS

In general, the THREB requires 15 copies of all documents that must be reviewed. To provide sufficient time for review, completed application packages and other items for review must be received by the 2nd Wednesday of the month prior to the THREB meeting date.

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