Research Ethics
This page contains information to assist faculty and students in obtaining approvals to conduct research that involves humans, animals, and biohazards. All Ethics Application Forms (Human, Animal, and Biohazard) are accessible through the Romeo software system. Please click here for more information on Romeo.
Wondering where to start?
See our Ethics FAQ
2024-2025 Research Ethics Information Sessions and Workshops
Research Ethics & REB Processes for First-time Researchers
Fall 2024
November 25, 2024
From 2 - 4 p.m.
OLARA Research Hub
Winter 2025
April 7, 2025
From 2 - 4 p.m.
OLARA Research Hub
Community-based, Anti-Colonial Research Methods & Ethics
Winter 2025
January 30, 2025
From 2 - 3:30 p.m.
OLARA Research Hub
The Review Process and Approximate Timelines for Minimal Risk Research
The REB’s goal is to provide a review to researchers within four weeks. This feedback will be sent to you through ROMEO. It will include instructions on how to revise and resubmit your application form based on the review/feedback. After you have re-submitted your application, if items are still outstanding, then the REB will request further revisions and clarifications. If no further clarification or revisions are required, then the REB will send you a Letter of Approval, and you can begin contacting human participants for data collection.
The time to obtain certification depends on several factors including volume of REB applications under review at the time. Reviews tend to take a little longer during peak periods such as September/October, and during vacation seasons such as August and over Christmas. Please keep this in mind as you plan your research project.
How do I submit an REB application in ROMEO?
Checklist of materials to include with your application
- Informed consent form. Please use this checklist to ensure that your consent form includes all the necessary information. Incomplete consent forms will be returned to you for completion.
- TCPS 2 Certificate of Completion
- Recruitment scripts such as: email script, poster, social media post, telephone script … word-for-word what you will say when you initiate contact with potential participants.
- Data collection tools such as: survey, questionnaire, interview questions, focus group discussion guide.
- Official letters of support to work with communities and organizations such as Indigenous communities and school districts. Please note that official letters of support come on letters with the organization’s letterhead. Email would not suffice.
- It may be appropriate for you to obtain a confidentiality agreement such as from your research assistants or from participants of focus groups, transcriptionists, and other circumstances. Please revise the following as needed for your study:
- Supervisor declaration. All student research must be supervised by a TRU faculty member. Supervisors must sign a declaration that states they have read and approve the submission of their student's application for review by the REB. REB review of student research will begin only after this declaration is attached to the romeo file.
Step-by-step instructions for submitting an application in Romeo
If you have any further questions, then please do not hesitate to contact the REB: TRU-REB@tru.ca.
Animal Care Committee
Submission Deadline: Continuous Intake
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) regards the use of animals in research, teaching, testing and production as a privilege and not a right. All individuals involved in the use of animals for research, teaching, testing and production must care for their animals in compliance with the TRU Animal Care Committee (TRU-ACC) protocols, the Canadian Council for Animal Care (CCAC) Guidelines and in accordance with Sections 444-447 of the Criminal Code of Canada and Section 24 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Thompson Rivers University treats all animals used in teaching and research with the highest standards of ethical care and treatment, and has been recognized with a Certificate of Good Animal Practice issued by the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
Animal Care Committee Resources
- Annual Animal Use Data Reporting Form
- CCAC Categories of Invasiveness in Animal Experiments
- CCAC Categories of Invasiveness in Wildlife Studies
Please contact TRUacc@tru.ca if you have any questions.
Biosafety Committee
All Biosafety resources are now found in the TRU Romeo system. This includes Biosafety Application and Standard Operating Procedure forms.
Please refer to our Biosafety website for additional information. https://www.tru.ca/hsafety/biosafety.html
This office is supported by the federal Research Support Fund. The Fund assists Canadian post-secondary institutions to maintain a world-class research environment, which includes human ethics, animal care and biosafety.
