St. Clair College is committed to ensuring that all research involving human participants is conducted ethically, responsibly, and in alignment with national standards. Our approach to research ethics review reflects a strong commitment to quality, accountability, and continuous improvement in support of our researchers and community partners.
Reliance-Based REB Model
St. Clair College is advancing a reliance-based Research Ethics Board (REB) model, working in partnership with established external REBs to support high-quality, timely, and compliant ethics review.
Under this model, an external REB serves as the REB of record, responsible for the ethical review and oversight of research studies involving human participants. This approach ensures that research is reviewed by experienced and qualified ethics boards while maintaining strong institutional accountability at St. Clair College.
Institutional Accountability and Oversight
While ethics review is conducted by external REBs, St. Clair College retains full institutional responsibility for the research conducted under its auspices. This includes:
- Ensuring that all research receives appropriate REB approval prior to initiation
- Maintaining oversight of research activities throughout the full lifecycle of a study
- Supporting compliance with ethical, regulatory, and institutional requirements
- Facilitating reporting, monitoring, and accountability processes
Access and Governance
St. Clair College works closely with partner REBs to ensure appropriate access to research ethics information required for institutional oversight, reporting, and audit purposes. This includes visibility into approvals, renewals, amendments, and study status.
Our approach is designed to ensure that research ethics processes are not only compliant, but also transparent, traceable, and responsive to institutional and external requirements.
Alignment with National Standards
St. Clair College’s research ethics framework aligns with:
- Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2)
- Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR Framework)
This model also supports evolving expectations related to research governance, accountability, and the secure management of research activities.
Supporting Researchers
Our reliance-based model is designed to:
- Streamline ethics review processes
- Provide access to established REB expertise
- Reduce administrative burden
- Support timely project initiation
Researchers will be guided through the appropriate REB processes and supported by the Research & Innovation team throughout the application and approval process.
Learn More
For information on submitting an REB application or working with our partner REBs, please contact the Research & Innovation Office.