Research Ethics & Approvals

Approval to Conduct Research

In order to conduct research at Island Health, Principal Investigators must obtain:

A Research Ethics Board Certificate of Approval issued by Island Health or including Island Health in the Harmonized Ethical Approval and
Island Health Operational Review & Approvals, as applicable

QI/QA and Program Evaluation Projects

Although Quality Improvement (QI) and Quality Assurance (QA) projects do not undergo a formal review by a research ethics board, they still require appropriate organizational oversight. If you are unsure if your project would be considered QI or Research, please consider completing the ARECCI tool created by Island Health.

Please note: You must be logged into the Island Health network to access this tool.

If you are considering conducting a QI project within Island Health, please complete the QI Registry.

Students, Faculty, and BC Ethics Harmonization

Researchers who must obtain multiple ethical approvals from separate BC research ethics Boards (such as UVic, UBC, BC Cancer, or another BC health authority) must now do so using the Provincial Research Ethics Platform (PREP). All new research projects that involves both UVic and Island Health must be completed in PREP. Please visit here for instructions on how to get started.

All new research ethics projects involving University of Victoria and Island Health need to start with the completion of the Harmonized Ethics Checklist (.doc)

Additional approvals for regulated sponsored clinical trials:

1. Clinical Trial Agreement between Island Health, Principal Investigator, and Sponsor

2. Health Canada Letter of No Objection (NOL)

3. Clinical Trial Registration number with a non-profit clinical trials registry, e.g. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/

Additional approvals for grant-funded studies:

1. Grant Contribution Agreement

Additional approvals for external affiliated researchers:

1. Research Affiliation/Collaboration Agreement (inter-institutional)

2. Study Specific Researcher Affiliation Agreement

UBC Family Practice Resident Research, Dietetic Interns, Pharmacy Residents and Summer Medical Students Research Projects

UBC Family Practice Resident Research, UBC Dietetic Interns, UBC Pharmacy Residents and UBC Summer Medical Students Research Projects need to apply ONLY to Island Health for their projects.

Refer to this UBC Guidance Note (PDF) for more information.

Please submit your application to Island Health Research Ethics using the Research Portal and ensure you notify UBC in accordance with the UBC guidance document.

Contacts

Research Ethics and Compliance Office
Queen Alexandra Centre
Main Building, Room 205
2400 Arbutus Rd
Victoria, B.C.
V8N 1V7

250-519-6726
researchethics@viha.ca

ManagerS

Terri Fleming and Sarah Bennett
250-519-6706 (internal 36706)
researchethicsmgr@viha.ca

Health Research

Dawn Pollon, Research Ethics Coodinator
250-519-5300 ext. 36212
dawn.pollon@viha.ca

Kimberly Horie, Research Administrative Coordinator
250-519-6726 (internal 36726)
Kimberly.Horie@viha.ca

Clinical Research

Karen Medler, Research Ethics Coordinator
250-519-5300 ext. 36207
karen.medler@viha.ca

Joy (Joey) Pearson, Research Ethics Administrator
250-519-5300 ext. 36210
joy.pearson@viha.ca

Operational or Institutional Approval