NEED HELP WITH ETHICS?

Are you preparing an application for human ethics review and have questions about the process? Help is a phone call or email away.

For assistance with submissions to the McMaster Research Ethics Board (MREB) related to non-medical research contact Karen Szala-Meneok or Michael Wilson. The MREB monthly ethics drop-ins are back by popular demand starting in September. These sessions give you a chance to talk informally with the MREB Chair, Vice Chair and ethics staff who can answer questions before you submit your application. Sessions are open to all faculty, students and staff. Please feel free to announce these times to your students (See the “REB CONTACTS” column in this newsletter for their contact information).

Open Ethics Drop-In times are: Fri Sept. 7, 2007 MUSC- 224, Fri Oct 05, 2007 MUSC – 302, Fri Nov 02, 2007 MUSC – 214, Fri Dec 07, 2007 MUSC – 302. All times are from 12:00 – 1:00pm.

For assistance with submissions to the HHS/FHS REB and /or SJHH REB please contact the research ethics officer, Alison van Nie or the REB Coordinators, Deborah Mazzetti (HHS/FHS), or Leigh Mahan (SJHH), who will be happy to assist you with the process and answer your questions (See the “REB CONTACTS” column in this newsletter for their contact information).

HEALTH SCIENCE RESEARCH

All researchers including faculty members, staff and students, affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences must submit all applications for research ethics review to the HHS/SJHH/FHS Research Ethics Board using the HHS/FHS Research Ethics Application forms.

FHS faculty, staff and PhD students must submit their to the HHS/FHS REB office as per information found at:. Forms can be found at:
< http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/csd/ethics/reb/faculty_hhsreb.htm>.

FHS undergraduate and Masters students must submit their research ethics applications to the FHS Student Research Ethics Committee (a sub-committee of the joint HHS/FHS REB) c/o Committee on Scientific Development (CSD) office as per instructions found at: < http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/csd/ethics/reb/student_hhsreb.htm>.

All research conducted by faculty or students at St. Joseph Healthcare Hamilton should be submitted for review to the SJHH REB:
http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/csd/ethics/reb/faculty_sjhhreb.htm>.

Please note that the forms have undergone substantial revisions. Previous versions will no longer be accepted and will be returned to the investigator for resubmission, effective July 31, 2007.

Research ethics applications from disciplines and programs outside of the Faculty of Health Sciences (i.e. Social Sciences, Business, Science, Engineering, or the Humanities) which involve any resources of the Hamilton Health Sciences (e.g. research involving inpatients, outpatients, staff, clinicians, students etc. and / or use of HHS / FHS facilities including clinics, affiliated services, programmes and sites, etc.) must be submitted to either the HHS/FHS REB, or the SJHH REB, or to the FHS Student Ethics Review Committee as appropriate. Please contact the Research Ethics Officer, Allison van Nie (x22057) for further information.

COURSE APPLICATIONS FOR THE FALL TERM

Will you be teaching a course (non-health science) that requires students to conduct a research project with humans to develop their research skills? Projects may be carried out by individual students, small groups or as a single class project. If you are designing this type of research course, consult the following link to the MREB Website to find course application forms and guidelines. Course approvals are valid for three years before having to resubmit. http://www.mcmaster.ca/ors/ethics/students_forms.htm

Renewal of Course-based Applications: If you received ethics clearance more than three years ago, you are required to submit a new application and supporting materials. To avoid delays: Submit course-based applications before Monday September 10, 2007. Questions about submitting course applications to the MREB can be directed to Michael Wilson (X23142) or Karen Szala-Meneok (26117).

For Health Sciences courses, please contact Alison van Nie (X 22057) vanniea@mcmaster.ca for specific requirements.

GRADUATE STUDENT ETHICS WORKSHOP

The annual graduate student research ethics workshop hosted by McMaster’s REBs will be held Tuesday November 6, 2007 8:30 am – 1:00 pm. A continental breakfast and lunch are included. This seminar is designed to introduce graduate students to ethical issues related to research involving human participants. For more information contact Michael Wilson at ethicsoffice@mcmaster.ca Ext. 23142. Space is limited and registration is required < http://www.mcmaster.ca/ors/ethics/gradworkshop.htm>

NEW GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH RESEARCH INVOLVING ABORIGINAL PEOPLE APPROVED BY CIHR GOVERNING COUNCIL

The new guidelines, which underwent Canada-wide consultation before being unanimously approved by CIHR governing council on May 17th, are “designed to be a collaborative tool for researchers, Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal individuals”. The Guidelines are now becoming policy for CIHR-funded researchers. These new guidelines provide important insights for all researchers working with Aboriginal people. The draft guidelines can be obtained by going to: <http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/29134.html>.

NEW FACULTY ORIENTATION EVENT

The Office of Research Services (ORS) and the Committee for Scientific Development (CSD)are co-hosting new faculty research orientation on Tuesday September 11 9:30-11:30 am in the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) Room 311 & 313. This event will provide orientation for new faculty to research services and processes including those related to grant applications, intellectual property and human research ethics. Watch for announcements or contact Susan Gordon at gordosc@mcmaster.ca .

CONSULTATIONS ON QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN THE TCPS

McMaster researchers and representatives of the university’s research ethics boards participated in a local consultation organized by Canada’s Interagency Panel on Research Ethics (PRE) to provide input on a consultation document that will shape working recommendations for potential changes to the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS) relating to qualitative research. The next round of consultations slated for winter 2007, relate to possible changes to the TCPS that deal with the duty to share information in clinical trials. Further information about upcoming consultations can be obtained at: http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/consultations.cfm

AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIAL FOR TEACHING RESEARCH ETHICS

Documentary films for use in teaching about human research ethics are available to course instructors. The Lyons Instructional Media Centre is accessible by going to http://lyons.mcmaster.ca/interfilm.html and by clicking the link for the University of Waterloo Media (WATMEDIA) Catalogue, an online catalogue to search the holdings at McMaster and other Ontario Universities. Instructors can borrow most materials from the WATMEDIA catalogue for instructional purposes.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) series on research ethics contains 3 short videos on protocol review, the history of protecting human participants and the Belmont Report. Films can be reserved through the Lyons Instructional Media Centre but projection equipment must be reserved through Classroom Audio-visual Services (CAVS) at http://www.ltrc.mcmaster.ca/class/equipmentbookings.htm

NEW AT THE LIBRARY

Ethical Issues in International Biomedical Research: A Casebook, edited by James V. Lavery et al. Oxford University Press (2007). (Health Sciences Library - W20.55.H9.E837 2007). This collection provides 21 cases covering a variety of controversial topics in research ethics from around the world. Each case is followed by commentaries by 2 content experts in the field.

The handbook of Ethical Research with Ethnocultural populations and Communities, edited by Joseph E. Trimble and Celia B. Fisher. Thousand Oaks, Calif. (2006). (Mills Library - GN 495.4.T75 2006). Trimble and Fisher bring together a collection of 17 cases that address ethical issues associated conducting research utilizing a variety of methods with participants from a broad spectrum of cultural and age groups.

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER

The McMaster Ethics Newsletter published by the Office of Research Services in cooperation with the Faculty of Health Sciences, Committee on Scientific Development, the joint Hamilton Health Sciences/Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Board and the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Research Ethics Board and the McMaster Research Ethics Board. This communiqué exists to provide faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students and staff with news about ethics related to human participant research. We welcome your ideas, and feedback. Contact us at (905) 525-9140 Ext. 26117 or (szalak@mcmaster.ca).