CHREB

Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board

The Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB) reviews applications from Researchers affiliated with the Faculties of:

  • Kinesiology
  • Medicine
  • Nursing

New applications to the CHREB are created and submitted online using IRISS. There are no paper application forms.

Information About Abuse

The Research Ethics Boards and staff at the University of Calgary are service providers working hard to facilitate your research.

Consistent with the University of Calgary's Code of Conduct, it is expected that all communications between principal investigators, research teams, research ethics unit staff and research ethics board members is professional and respectful.

Abuse will not be tolerated.

Submission Timelines

The CHREB meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month. There are no submission deadlines.

Applications are reviewed continuously throughout the year and are reviewed in the order that they are submitted. 

2024 Meeting Schedule

Multi-site Research

Researchers conducting multi-site research in Alberta, can now submit using the streamlined REB Exchange (REBX) process within IRISS.

Resources and user guides are available on the REBX website.

Visit: rebexchange.ca

Administrative Fee

The Research Services Office (RSO) charges a $5,000.00 CAD fee for the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB) review of research studies funded by industry or for-profit organizations.

CHREB Administration Fee for Industry Sponsored Research

Cancer Research

The University of Calgary has delegated review of all cancer-related research to HREBA-CC. For access to that committee's ethics application please email iriss.support@ucalgary.ca. 

Cancer-related studies are those focused on the study of cancer, treatment of cancer patients, or using health information from a cancer registry or biorepository. This includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Clinical trials in patients with a cancer diagnosis;
  2. Studies evaluating, assessing or describing the clinical care (including palliative and psychosocial well-being) and management of patients with cancer;
  3. Studies where the participants are identified/recruited using cancer registries or bio-repositories in Alberta or elsewhere;
  4. Studies seeking to draw samples or data for secondary use from established cancer data or bio-repositories
  5. Studies accessing health information from a cancer registry (e.g., ARIA, ARC) 

Where to Apply - Human Health Research Ethics Approval in Alberta

CHREB Updates

Resources

It is the responsibility of the PI to ensure that all study team members have completed the applicable training courses (below). Principal Investigators are required to upload their training certificates into their Researcher Profile in IRISS. It is recommended that all other team members also upload their training certificate(s) to their profile in IRISS.

Please see the user guide for assistance in uploading certificates into Researcher Profiles.

  1. Mandatory Ethics Training

    As of September 1, 2018, human ethics training is mandatory for all Principal Investigators. Applications will be returned, and cannot be reviewed by the REB, until one of the following training certificates has been completed and uploaded into the PI's Researcher Profile in IRISS:

    • TCPS2 CORE Tutorial; or
    • CITI Human Subjects Research Course (Biomedical or Social Behavioural-Educational module, whichever is most relevant to your discipline). View the guidance document on how to access the CITI website.
  2. Training Specific to Clinical Research

    As of September 1, 2018, the following training is required for researchers and support staff involved in clinical research.  These training modules are in addition to the Mandatory Ethics Training:

    • Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Training - required for all researchers and support staff involved in an interventional clinical research study.
    • Health Canada Division 5 Training - required for all researchers and support staff involved in a clinical research study that uses a drug as an intervention.

    The University research community is able to access GCP and Health Canada Division 5 online courses free of charge through CITI Canada. View the guidance document on how to access the CITI website.

Reportable Events

Please follow the Reportable Events User Guide when reporting an event for an approved study.

Local SAEs are adverse events experienced by research participants at the site(s) under the jurisdiction of the REB. A local SAE is reportable if the Principal Investigator (PI) believes it is an unanticipated problem in accordance with, Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB) standards, that is, it is unexpected, related or possibly related to the research, and places research participants or others at a greater risk of harm.

  • Complete the Local SAE Report when the local SAE meets the definition of an unanticipated problem.
  • Local SAEs that are fatal or life-threatening must be reported within 7 calendar days of the PI becoming aware of them. All other local SAEs must be reported to the CHREB within 15 calendar days of the PI becoming aware of them.
  • Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged
  • PI will be contacted if more information/action is required

Non-local SAEs are adverse events experienced by research participants at centres/institutions outside the REB’s jurisdiction. A non-local SAE is reportable if the PI believes it is an unanticipated problem in accordance with Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB) standards, that is, any incidents, experiences, or outcomes that are unexpected, related or possibly related to the research, and places research participants or others at a greater risk of harm.

  • The FDA and OHRP advise (under HHS regulations at 45 CFR part 46) that it is neither useful nor necessary for reports of individual adverse events occurring in research participants enrolled in multi-centre studies to be distributed routinely to investigators at all centres conducting the research or to the REB overseeing those centres.  Individual adverse events should only be reported to investigators and REBs at all institutions when a determination has been made that the events meet the criteria for an unanticipated problem (i.e. related/possibly related and unexpected) and place research participants at greater risk of harm.
  • There is no Health Canada regulation for reporting non-local adverse events to the REB.
  • Complete the Non-Local SAE Report when the non-local SAE meets the definition of an unanticipated problem (related/possibly related and unexpected)
  • Non-Local SAEs must be reported within 15 calendar days of the sponsor becoming aware of them.
  • Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged
  • PI will be contacted if more information/action is required

Protocol Violation/Deviations are departures from the procedures set forth in the CHREB approved application.  These include departures that:

  • Compromise the scientific integrity of the study, and/or
  • Constitute or may constitute a potential safety risk to participants enrolled in the protocol or others affected by the research, and/or
  • Are non-compliant with applicable regulations governing human research, and/or
  • Are non-compliant with the requirements or determinations of the CHREB, or an allegation of such non-compliance, and/or
  • Consist of any unauthorized collection, use, or disclosure of participant personal information*
    • Complete the Protocol Violation/Deviation Report when the protocol violation/deviation meets one or more of the above criteria.
    • PI will be contacted if more information/action is required
    • Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged
    • Changes to eliminate immediate safety risks to the study participants  should be reported within 7 calendar days, all other violations should be reported within 15 calendar days of the PI becoming aware of the deviation/violation

*The University of Calgary also has specific procedures for responding to a privacy breach. This states that researchers are directed to report the breach to the Access and Privacy Coordinator. 

Follow-up reports are requested by the CHREB if/when more information becomes available, and/or if the issue remained unresolved in the initial report. PI will be contacted if more information/action is required

  • Follow up reports may be required after the initial submission of an SAE, Protocol Deviation/Violation, Audit, Suspension or Participant Complaint
  • Upload a new copy of the relevant form (i.e. SAE, Protocol Deviation/Violation, Audit, Suspension or Participant Complaint) containing the follow-up information
  • Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged
  • PI will be contacted if more information/action is required.

Report submissions may include, but are not limited to, written reports or memorandums from study monitors or sponsors, such as:

  • A safety report
  • Data Safety Monitoring Board reports (DSMB)
  • Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) reports
  • SUSARs
  • Quarterly Summary Reports (QSR)
  • Blind Line Listings (BLL)
  • Annual Progress Reports (APRs)
  • Safety alert notifications
  • Memorandums

Upload a copy of the report; there is no CHREB form to complete.

Reports should be submitted within 15 calendar days of the PI receiving the report.

Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged.

The PI will be contacted if more information/action is required.

Audit, inspection, or inquiry by a university, provincial or federal agency.  Only reports with information relevant to the CHREB should be submitted.

  • Upload a copy of the audit; there is no CHREB form to complete
  • Audits should be submitted within 15 calendar days of the PI receiving the audit or inspection report
  • Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged
  • The PI will be contacted if more information/action is required

Suspension of active and ongoing research by the sponsor, PI, REB or institution. This report is to capture suspended studies that have been approved by the CHREB.

  • Complete the Suspension Report
  • Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged
  • PI will be contacted if more information/action is required

Complaints made by participants or others affected by the research concerning their well-being (psychological or physical) and/or respectful and fair treatment from the researchers. Participant complaints should be submitted for review as soon as possible.

  • Complete the Participant Complaint Report
  • Submit via IRISS
  • Receipt by the CHREB will be acknowledged
  • PI will be contacted if more information/action is required

FAQs

Q: How do I know if my project requires human ethics review?

A: As per TCPS Article 2.1, the following requires ethics review and approval by an REB before the research commences:

  1. Research involving living human participants
  2. Research involving human biological materials, as well as human embryos, fetuses, fetal tissue, reproductive materials and stem cells. This applies to materials derived from living and deceased individuals.

Where "research" is defined as an undertaking intended to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry or systematic investigation. This includes pilot studies (Article 6.11). The term “disciplined inquiry” refers to an inquiry that is conducted with the expectation that the method, results, and conclusions will be able to withstand the scrutiny of the relevant research community.

What requires review depends on the exact context of your research. Distinguishing what requires review can sometimes appear difficult or confusing to researchers. When in doubt, please contact chreb@ucalgary.ca

Q: What are the deadlines for submissions to the CHREB?

A: You may submit your application to the CHREB at any time via IRISS. All applications undergo an administrative check prior to going in the queue to be sent out for review. Once your file has been received, feedback regarding any ethical issues of your application will be logged and sent to you via IRISS.

 

Q: How long does it take for an application to be reviewed and receive approval?

A: The level of review (delegated or full board) depends on the context of the study and the risk of the proposed research. Quality can make a difference. An application that is complete, accurate and concise may take less time, because there will be less back and forth between the Board and the researcher. Please contact chreb@ucalgary.ca for assistance with your application.

Q: Colleagues have suggested I needed CHREB review/approval for work I've already done. What now?

A: Ethics approval must be sought prior to the initiation of research involving human participants. The CHREB does not and cannot grant approval for work already undertaken. If you have any questions, please contact chreb@ucalgary.ca

Q: When is ethics approval required for the use of cell lines?

A: To be compliant with TCPS 2, research involving cell lines requires REB review (Article 12.1). If the cell line progenitor was at some point known, or is known by the company (i.e. the line is de-identified) REB review is required. If the cell line is anonymized (i.e. irrevocably stripped of direct identifiers and a code is not kept to allow for future re-linkage) REB review is required. Only the cell lines that have been generated from an anonymous donor are exempt from REB review.

 

Q: Does a cell line study require a full application in IRISS?

A: Yes, a full IRISS application is required for cell line studies. The application should include a description of the cell line, how it was derived (i.e., was it obtained from a company or otherwise derived?) and a statement regarding the identity of the original donor. Specifically, please state if the cell line is anonymous, or if it has been de-identified. Anonymous means there was NEVER a known identity (some commercial cell line companies retain this information and can confirm upon request), not whether or not the identity is known to the researchers. 

Q: Is research ethics review required for writing up a case report or case series?

A: Writing a report of a unique or interesting clinical case would not fall within the definition of research in the second edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2), to the extent that these reports are simply anecdotal accounts of individual cases, and not “an undertaking designed to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry or systematic Investigation”. They would therefore not require REB review. As indicated in the application of Article 2.1 of TCPS 2, it is the intent of the undertaking that distinguishes activities that require ethics review by an REB and those that do not.

The publication of individual case reports may however raise ethical issues, e.g. consent, privacy and confidentiality.  Please consult the REB if you have any questions or concerns in this regard.

Where however a physician is seeking to use data collected for non-research purposes (such as a collection of case reports) in order to answer a research question, this would fall within the definition of research and would require REB review. It would be considered secondary use of information not intended for research, and at that time will require REB review. TCPS 2 provides guidance regarding secondary use of identifiable information for research purposes at Articles 5.5 and 5.6.

Q: I do not deal with patients. I work in labs on human biologic samples. Do I need ethics approval?

A: REB review and approval is required for research involving human participants and research involving human biological materials, as well as human embryos, fetuses, fetal tissue, reproductive materials and stem cells. This applies to materials derived from living and deceased individuals (TCPS2 Article 2.1)

Q: I am a care provider for patients. Can I go through their charts whenever it might be useful?

A: The Health Information Act outlines conditions under which personal health information can be accessed. You can go through a patient’s chart without consent only if:

  1. it is to provide that patient with health care OR
  2. to undertake quality assurance work outside the context of research OR
  3. both the CHREB has granted a waiver of consent for actual or potential research and the custodian of the records gives you access.

In advance of a study application, researchers may need to review charts to see if their site would be eligible/if they have sufficient subject numbers. In these situations, please contact Alberta Health Services (AHS) Research Facilitation for more information. 

 

Q: On what grounds does the CHREB grant a waiver of consent to access personal health information?

A: The CHREB can grant waivers of consent on the grounds specified under the Health Information Act (section 50) that it is unreasonable, impractical or not feasible to obtain consent. Given the study will involve accessing/collecting health information from patients, the study team must provide a justification for the waiver of consent within the context of the proposed research. 

Some examples include (but are not exhaustive): 

  • large sample size or geographic range would make obtaining consent impractical
  • mortality/morbidity in the target population is likely which makes obtaining consent not feasible (please provide examples/rates of mortality)
  • contact details are no longer valid given passage of time making consent not feasible (please provide dates)

Q: CHREB granted a waiver of consent to review health information, but the custodian won't give access.

A: REB approval and Researcher/Custodian Agreements are distinct. While an REB might grant ethics approval for access of health records custodians are under no obligation to disclose those records Health Information Act, Section 53(1).   

Q: What is the difference between delegated and full board review?

A: Proportionate Approach to Research Ethics Review:

“The selection of the level of REB review shall be determined by the level of foreseeable risks to participants: the lower the level of risk, the lower the level of scrutiny (delegated review); the higher the level of risk, the higher the level of scrutiny (full board review) (TCPS 2010, Article 6.12).

Full Board and Delegated Review:

The default review process is full review where a protocol is brought to a monthly REB meeting and reviewed by the entire board. The committee may decide, based on its deliberations, to approve the research, disallow the research, request further information or clarification from the researcher, or request changes. The researcher’s response to clarifications and revisions may be reviewed either by the Chair, or the committee may request to see the changes at their next meeting.

A delegated review only applies to research that is determined minimal risk and involves the REB delegating research ethics review to an individual from the REB membership or a subcommittee of the Board. Determining the level of review (full board or delegated review) involves an evaluation of the risk of the project.

Minimal risk research is defined as “research in which the probability and magnitude of possible harms implied by participation in the research is no greater than those encountered by the participant in those aspects of her or her everyday life that relate to the research” (TCPS 2010, p 23). Research is considered greater than minimal risk when the risks from the research are greater than participants would experience in their everyday life. The context of everyday life the key consideration but is very context specific.

Q: Does my funding need to be approved before I apply for ethics approval?

A: Yes, all funding must be in place (when applicable), before researchers apply for ethics. If funding is pending, the ethics application will only move forward if the researchers assure that the study will take place regardless of whether or not funding is received. If the study is unfunded, but there are costs associated with the study, the PI must indicate how these costs will be covered (e.g. personal funds, department funds)

Q: I will be collecting data by electronic questionnaires and surveys. Do I need written consent?

A: The requirement under TCPS2 is that consent be documented. Deviations from the usual practice of signed consent are acceptable in certain contexts (Article 3.12). You should provide potential participants with an information screen that includes the key headings of the informed consent template (e.g., a description of what you are doing, why and what the survey/questionnaire will cover, and privacy and security provisions in place). Submission of the questionnaire by the participant is then construed as “implied consent.”

Q: The participant had signed the consent form without a witness being present.

A: The CHREB adheres to ICH-GCP guidelines, which state the following:

4.8.8 Prior to a subject’s participation in the trial, the written informed consent form should be signed and personally dated by the subject or by the subject’s legally acceptable representative, and by the person who conducted the informed consent discussion.

4.8.9 If a subject is unable to read or if a legally acceptable representative is unable to read, an impartial witness should be present during the entire informed consent discussion. After the written informed consent form and any other written information to be provided to subjects, is read and explained to the subject or the subject’s legally acceptable representative, and after the subject or the subject’s legally acceptable representative has orally consented to the subject’s participation in the trial and, if capable of doing so, has signed and personally dated the informed consent form, the witness should sign and personally date the consent form. By signing the consent form, the witness attests that the information in the consent form and any other written information was accurately explained to, and apparently understood by, the subject or the subject’s legally acceptable representative, and that informed consent was freely given by the subject or the subject’s legally acceptable representative.

 

Q: Who can act as an interpreter for a potential participant?

A: Besides the obvious requirements about language/sign language/communication capacity, any competent adult may act as interpreter. Most teaching hospitals have access to a wide range of qualified interpreter services and you may be able to access these if you have any concerns about whether the potential subject will be given full information.

Q: A participant was enrolled as a minor with paediatric consent. They are about to turn 18.

A: Consent is an ongoing, proactive, voluntary engagement (Article 3.3, TCPS2). So when the young person reaches the age of majority you do need their personal consent. All information gained under the paediatric consent will remain in the study, but gathering further information or continuing to store identifiable biosamples for future research does require the new adult’s consent.

 

Q. Do I "re-consent" participants if a sponsor changes protocol due to newly identified risks?

 

A. The participants do need to be told of new information about risks, even if they have finished the active intervention phase. It may be more appropriate to prepare an information update (consent addendum) rather than a full “re-consent”.

 

Q. What if a participant refuses to "re-consent" when asked to do so by the sponsor?

A. A sponsor may ask to “re-consent” participants in the study because of editorial and administrative changes in the consent form. If a local participant refuses to do so and wants to stay in the study, referencing their prior given consent, you can give the participant a copy of the revised consent form, confirm orally that they do understand and do wish to remain in the study, make a written note in your records and keep them in the study.

Q. Is my project Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement/Program Evaluation or research? 

A. All research involving human participants requires ethics review where research is understood to be an effort to produce new, generalizable knowledge. Activities exempt from ethics review include quality improvement or program evaluation initiatives, which are understood to be those things relating to the assessment, management or improvement of a local program (Article 2.5, TCPS2). Receiving a competitive research grant/award would be an indication that the project is research. Ethics approval cannot be granted for work already undertaken and there is no prohibition against publishing work that has been defined as QI.  

The guidance documents below are intended to help determine whether a project is best categorized as research or quality assurance, quality improvement, or program evaluation (QA/QI/PE). Please review the documents and then send an email to chreb@ucalgary.ca with a QA/QI/PE category and your ARECCI project categorization results.  An indication of support from the authorized clinic/department lead is also useful.

Q. When can my study be closed?

A. A study can only be closed when ALL data collection procedures have been completed. Studies that have completed subject recruitment [i.e. closed to accrual] are not considered closed if data related to the subjects are still being collected.

These types of data collection activities can include the following:  

  1. post-treatment contact with research subjects; for example, when data is collected via imaging reports, blood analysis reports, etc. and incorporated into the research study database. 
  2. indirect collection of data for follow up purposes after the study intervention is completed; for example, quality of life/late side effects/survival data. 

If the study is funded or supported by the US Federal Government (NIH, etc.) it cannot be considered closed until all follow up of subjects is final AND there is no further data analysis involving individually identifiable information.

Grant Funded Studies: Your study can still be closed, even if you still have an active grant. Closing your research study will not close your project account.  

Please note that a study closure should not be submitted to the CHREB until all participant-related expenses in the project have been submitted.

Q: Where can I find resources or get help with IRISS?

A. You can visit the IRISS webpage for resources and additional links: IRISS webpage

If you have an ethics-related question, please contact chreb@ucalgary.ca.