Ethics approval for PURE research projects

All research involving human participants, animal use and the handling and storage of bio-hazard materials must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate University Board or Committee before research commences.

Applications judged to be of minimal risk or no risk take at least six weeks for ethics approval, so please take this into account when submitting.

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Is ethics approval required?

All research involving human participants, animal use and the handling and storage of bio-hazard materials must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate University Board or Committee before research commences.

The University of Calgary has two human research ethics boards, three animal care committees and one biosafety committee.

The Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB) reviews and approves research with human participants for researchers in medical faculties (Cumming School of Medicine, Nursing and Kinesiology) and for research with subjects recruited wholly or substantially through Alberta Health Services.

The Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board (CFREB) reviews and approves research with human participants for researchers in all other (non-medicine) faculties.

How do I obtain ethics approval for my PURE project? 

If an undergraduate student with a PURE award is conducting research under the supervision of a faculty member and the research is directly related to the faculty member’s research program, then the faculty member should either:

  • Submit a new application to the CFREB for ethics review and identify the student’s role in the application; or 
  • Submit a modification to an existing CFREB-approved application to add the student to the research team. A student can submit a modification to an existing supervisor application if the two projects are pursuing the same research objectives.

If you have any questions about what type of application to submit, please contact the CFREB (cfreb@ucalgary.ca) or CHREB (chreb@ucalgary.ca).

Applications judged to be of minimal risk or no risk take at least 6 weeks for approval, so please take this into account when submitting.

Graduate and undergraduate students must complete the Tri-Councils' Course on Research Ethics (CORE) tutorial in order to be co-applicants on ethics applications. Students must upload their CORE certifications into the IRISS application before the CFREB can approve.

Please refer to the Compliance and Ethics website or contact the Manager, Research Ethics & Compliance at 403.220.7938 for assistance.

Human research ethics applications are submitted electronically via the Institutional Research Information Services Solution website. Please contact the proper REB Administrators listed below for more information.

  • The Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (CHREB) reviews and approves research projects conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of Calgary’s Faculties of Medicine, Kinesiology and Nursing (e.g., use of facilities/resources, patients, staff and/or conducted by faculty, staff or students). The CHREB is also required to review projects that use personal health information undertaken by affiliates of the University of Calgary, regardless of Faculty affiliation. Contact information: chreb@ucalgary.ca
  • The Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board (CFREB) primarily reviews and approves research projects conducted by researchers in all other faculties. Research carried out by undergraduate students for course projects is normally reviewed by Faculty or Department ethics committees where they exist (e.g., the Faculty of Arts Research Ethics Committee) and not by the CFREB. However, if an undergraduate student is conducting research under the supervision of a faculty member (e.g., an honours thesis or directed study; a student with a PURE award or Markin award) and the research is directly related to the faculty member’s research program, then the faculty member should either 1) submit a regular application to the CFREB for ethics review and identify the student’s role in the application, or 2) submit a modification to an existing CFREB-approved application to add the student to the research team. Contact information: cfreb@ucalgary.ca

Please Note: Graduate and undergraduate students must complete the Tri-Councils' Course on Research Ethics (CORE) tutorial in order to be co-applicants on ethics applications (as members of research teams or as masters/doctoral thesis students pursuing supervised research).

Students must upload their CORE certifications into the IRISS application before the REBs can approve. Applications can take at least 6 weeks from submission for approval.

An approved animal use protocol is required for the use of vertebrate animals and cephalopod invertebrates in research, teaching and testing. Students cannot submit proposals to an Animal Care Committee; only faculty members can hold Animal Care Committee certifications. It is highly recommended that students look for supervisors who have already obtained approved animal use protocol. If this is not possible, appropriate ethics approval must be granted by an ACC through the regular approval processes (1-3 months).

Animal use protocols are submitted electronically via the Institutional Research Information Services Solution website. Please contact the proper ACC Protocol Administrators listed below for more information.

  • Life and Environmental Sciences Animal Care Committee (LESACC) reviews animal care and use applications for all research, teaching and testing conducted on the main campus. The LESACC also reviews any animal-based research, teaching or testing undertaken off- campus by faculty from main campus, or by faculty from other institutions using University of Calgary field facilities (excluding activities related to UCVM). Contact information: lesacc@ucalgary.ca
  • Health Sciences Animal Care Committee (HSACC) reviews animal care and use applications for all research, teaching and testing conducted in the Health Sciences Complex. The HSACC also reviews any animal-based research, teaching or testing undertaken off-campus by members of the Faculty of Medicine. Contact information: hsacc@ucalgary.ca
  • Vet Sciences Animal Care Committee (VSACC) reviews animal care and use applications for all teaching involving UCVM students or facilities, plus all research and testing conducted by anyone at the Spy Hill campus. The VSACC also reviews any animal-based research or testing undertaken off-campus by UCVM faculty or students. Members of the larger Veterinary community of UCVM should also choose this committee. Contact information: vsacc@ucalgary.ca

Biohazards are pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi), potentially infections materials (blood, cell lines and prions) as well as microbial toxins (pertussis and botulinum toxin). A Biosafety Permit is required before use and storage of biohazards. For more information please contact biosafety.officer@ucalgary.ca