Submission Deadlines and Meeting Dates

Applications for ethical review are reviewed at a monthly meeting of the full board or on a delegated basis by a subcommittee of the REB. Applications suitable for delegated review are reviewed on an ongoing basis (i.e. no deadline). Applications suitable for full board review must be received by the REB two weeks prior to a monthly REB meeting, as indicated below.

Whether an Application will be reviewed at a monthly REB meeting or on a delegated basis is determined by a “Level of Review Assessment.” Applications that meet any of the following criteria are reviewed at a monthly meeting of the full board:

• The research poses greater than ‘minimal risk’, 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 participants in the aspects of their everyday life that relate to the research;
• The research involves deception or withholding of information from participants; or
• The research involves persons or groups in vulnerable circumstances, invasive methods, sensitive subject matter, potentially illegal activities, or may occur in a cultural context/s unfamiliar to the researcher/s.