History of the VIU Research Ethics Board (VIU REB)

VIU's Research Ethics Board (VIU REB) is dedicated to ensuring all research undertaken by VIU faculty and students, whether on VIU campuses or elsewhere, is done within the ethical boundaries indicated in VIU REB's  policy and procedures. Today, the VIU REB is a voluntary board comprised mainly of VIU faculty members and including one student and one community representative. The VIU REB focuses on ethical compliance and the rights of research participants through an extensive ethical review process that is mandatory for all research projects involving human participants. Following is a brief history of the Research Ethics Board at VIU.

Chronology of Key Events

1991:

• VIU Policy on Research Involving Human Subjects was developed in 1991. This policy underwent several revisions, the latest of which was concluded in 2009. This has culminated in the current policy and procedure for the VIU Research Ethics Board.

1995:

• Degree-granting authority. VIU became eligible to confer degrees in 1995 and in 1998 (as Malaspina University-College) conferred the first of our own degrees. In the years since, research and scholarly activity became more of a concern as our graduates went on to advanced research in other institutions and graduate schools.

1998:

• Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans was developed in 1998. Faculty researchers generally applied to one of three university research granting councils in Canada: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). These three granting agencies are collectively known as the Tri-Council. The Tri-Council provides funding only to individuals and institutions which certify compliance with this policy regarding research involving humans. (Summary and Appendix 2)

2000:

• AUCC membership. VIU became a member of AUCC (Assoc. of Universities and Colleges of Canada) in 2000. AUCC is the informal, but singular, accreditation board for Canadian universities. As VIU began to confer degrees, accreditation for the institution and its degrees was required.

2001:

• Panel on Research Ethics (PRE) established. The Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics is a body of external experts established in November 2001 by Canada's three Federal Granting Agencies (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) to support the development and evolution of their joint research ethics policy, the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS).
• Research and Scholarly Activity Office began operations on a part-time basis.

2002:

• MBA program began. This increased the demand on the VIU REB and since the MBA was a one-year degree, the tight timelines were critical.
• Tri-Council Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was drafted. Canadian Universities and Colleges were required to accept MOU terms as a condition of eligibility for receiving Tri-Council research grant funding. The MOU outlines the respective roles and responsibilities of Granting Agencies and the University regarding the administration of research grants. The MOU covers eight Schedules:

• Financial Management
• Ethics Review of Research involving Humans
• Ethical Review Involving Animals
• Integrity in Research and Scholarship
• Environmental Assessment
• Peer Review
• Statement of Principles: Postdoctoral Fellows
• Investigation and Resolution of Breaches of Agency Policies.
• VIU Ethics Policy 31.03 and Procedure 31.03.001 were reviewed and approved by NSERC (the PRE) and VIU’s Board.

2003:

• A delegated review process was established.
• Research Ethics Officer position was created to help educate the VIU research community regarding Research Ethics and assist in the administration of Applications for Ethical Review.

2009:

• The Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects (CRIHS) was renamed the VIU Research Ethics Board (VIU REB).