Announcements 

Facilitator Change for 2025 

Dr. Dubrowski will be taking a sabbatical for the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 semesters, and I have agreed to facilitate the course for these terms. Please note that the course will effectively be delivered as it has been in the past, and while there may be some minor elements that may change, the fundamental nature and structure of the course will remain the same.  For those RTs (Research Tutors) who have supervised students in the past, the process will look very similar, and for those of you who are doing this is the first time, please reach out anytime with any questions you may have. 

Students will also be provided with the required course information within their Canvas Learning Management system.

I hope everyone has a wonderful term,

Greg

Greg Hardy, MLT (CMLTO, CSMLS), EdD
Assistant Teaching Professor | MLSc Program Co-Director

Medical Laboratory Science | Faculty of Health Sciences  

Ontario Tech University

2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5

www.ontariotechu.ca

Office: ERC2025

P: 905-721-8668 Ext: 5354

E: greg.hardy@ontariotechu.ca

Research Ethics Board (REB) Process

For many projects, REB approval will be required whenever students are collecting data from humans. Institutional REB approval is necessary and can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, depending heavily on the quality of the initial application. All relevant information, including submission dates, can be found here, and REB training modules are found here.

There is a slight misalignment in the timelines between our course and REB reviews. According to the course outline, students are expected to submit their REB application only after their research protocols have been written and assessed by the RTs, typically by the end of the Fall term in late November. If we assume the REB application goes to the first meeting in January (for example, to be reviewed on January 17, 2025, the application must be received by January 3), and allow for up to 8 weeks for approval, data collection would not begin until March. This leaves insufficient time to complete the projects within the term.

Here are a few proactive strategies to consider:

1. Submit REB Applications Earlier
   If a full application is needed, submit it before January. One option is for the RTs to use the REB application as a template for the research proposal and move the deadline to as early as the end of October. I highly recommend this approach for smoother timelines.

2. Use Studies with Existing REB Approval
   For existing studies with REB approval (e.g., an RT's project that is already approved), students can submit minor amendments to the study file. Major changes, such as altering the research question or adding a new arm to the study, will require a new submission. If you're unsure whether a change is minor or major, please consult with me or the REB office.

3. Non-Peak Submission Period
   The non-peak REB submission period starts at the beginning of December, which is an ideal time for students submitting new applications.

REB Submissions with Shortened Review Times:

• Secondary Use of Data Studies

• Multi-Jurisdictional Research (MJR): Studies with full ethical clearance from another REB.

Studies Exempt from REB Review:

• Studies relying on publicly available information (Article 2.2, TCPS2).

• Observational research in public spaces with no expectation of privacy (Article 2.3, TCPS2).

• Secondary use of anonymous data with no linkages, where results will not generate identifiable information (Article 2.4, TCPS2).

• Quality assurance and quality improvement studies (Article 2.5, TCPS2).

• Creative practice activities (Article 2.6, TCPS2).

Feel free to reach out if you need clarification on any of these points.