compassThe Research Ethics Board reminds researchers of changes that affect the ethical treatment of research projects involving humans.

Tri-Council agencies update policy on ethical conduct of research

To be ethically compliant with respect to research involving humans or their biological materials, researchers must be conversant with the new Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2022), advise the University of Windsor Research Ethics Board (REB) and the Office of Research Ethics.

A companion document that highlights the changes made in the newest policy edition has been provided by the Panel on Research Ethics. While the companion document should help to direct researchers to sections in the TCPS 2 (2022) that may be related to their work, the REB strongly advises reviewing the identified chapters and sections in their entirety to ensure compliance with the updated policy.

Research which must be reviewed by the REB prior to its commencement includes living human participants and biological materials, as well as embryos, fetuses, fetal tissue, reproductive materials, and stem cells. This applies to materials derived from living and deceased individuals.

Article 2.1 defines research as an undertaking intended to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry and/or systematic investigation. 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.

The REB has also been working towards updating its forms and policies to align with the changes in the TCPS 2 (2022) and researchers should refer to its website for the most up-to-date information and accessing the most current forms for submissions.

Direct questions or concerns to the Office of Research Ethics at ethics@uwindsor.ca.

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