Ethics Context

International consensus requires that a duly constituted and functioning independent committee review and approve all research projects involving human subjects before the first potential research subject is invited to participate. Independent review reinforces the ethical standards that the researcher and institution strive to meet.

In Canada, Research Ethics Boards (REBs) ensure that principles of ethics are applied to research involving human subjects. If an institution receives funds from one or more of the three federal research agencies, its REB must apply the TCPS. Under certain circumstances, international guidelines that have been ratified in Canada, federal and provincial legislation, and the policies and regulations of other countries that fund research in Canada (in particular, the U.S.) must also be referred to in the ethics review process.