Any research involving human participants that is conducted at UBC facilities (including UBC-affiliated hospitals) or by persons connected to the University must be reviewed and approved by one of UBC’s seven sanctioned Research Ethics Boards (REBs).

Research ethics applications must be submitted electronically through the RISe website. All amendments, renewals, and requests for acknowledgment to previously approved applications must also use RISe.

UBC researchers based at one of the affiliated hospital sites or research institutes must submit ethics applications to their local REB. At the discretion of the REB Chair or Manager, a submission may be re-directed to a more appropriate REB. Please consult your local REB administrators if you are not sure which Board you should apply to.

Clinical Research Ethics Board (CREB)

• Reviews research involving clinical interventions such as the testing of drugs, medical devices and rehabilitation exercise programs, and/or the analysis of clinical data obtained from medical records or studies of a clinical nature involving the linkage of data from existing databases.

• Reviews clinical research conducted at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority sites, including UBC Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital and GF Strong.

Behavioural Research Ethics Board (BREB)

• Consists of two panels (A and B) that review behavioural or social science/humanities research, and research which may involve the study of patients or health care providers. Behavioural studies are not clinical and do not involve invasive procedures. They do include research involving interviews, observations, and the administration of questionnaires or tests.

Okanagan REB

The Okanagan REB reviews behavioural research conducted by investigators on the Okanagan campus that would otherwise be reviewed by the Behavioural REB. Please check the board website for exact details regarding meeting dates and submission deadlines. Email breb.okanagan@ubc.ca for more information.

UBC-BC Cancer Agency REB

The BC Cancer Agency REB reviews research conducted at the BC Cancer Agency. Visit the Board webpage for details on meeting dates and submission deadlines.

UBC-BC Children's & Women’s Hospital REB

The Children's & Women’s REB reviews research conducted at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Visit the Board webpage for details on meeting dates and submission deadlines.

UBC-Providence Health Care REB

The Providence Health Care REB reviews research being conducted at Providence Health Care sites, including St Paul’s Hospital, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospitals, Holy Family Hospital, Youville Residence and Marion Hospice. Visit the Board webpage for details on meeting dates and submission deadlines.

Research at Multiple Sites

If you are a UBC researcher who wishes to conduct research at more than one UBC-affiliated site, you may submit your ethical review to any UBC-affiliated REB. We recommended that you submit to the REB most closely associated with the Institution where you hold your primary appointment.

Each REB has signed an agreement allowing approvals by one UBC-affiliated REB to be recognized by the others. Research conducted by the same researcher at multiple UBC sites needs ethical approval from one UBC sanctioned REB only. For the purpose of allocating resources, most sites wil require individual institutional approval.

*NOTE: UBC and Fraser Health REB have now created an affiliation agreement for minimal risk studies - click here for further details.

Research Off Site

If you are a UBC researcher who will be conducting research off site (e.g., at another institution, province, country) note that REB review by another institution does not satisfy UBC requirements for ethics review. All research conducted by members or associated members of the University must also get UBC REB approval before conducting research off site.