Human and animal ethical review process

While the majority of your time will be focused on your ethics review application, the research ethics process does not end there. This page provides an overview of the process from application to the end of your project.

Learn when research ethics review is required

 

Applying

Please review the applicable instructions for student or non-AU researchers before beginning the application process:

• Student/Non-AU Applicant Instructions

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Board review

The Research Ethics Board meets once a month to review faculty applications and greater than minimal-risk student applications. You should receive a response no later than 1 week after the meeting. Faculty and staff applications that are minimal-risk may be reviewed by delegated review if timelines require it. Minimal-risk graduate student applications are reviewed through delegated review processes.

Applicants may find this guidancehelpful in determining the level of risk of their project and whether their projects may be reviewed by delegated or Full Board processes.

Please note there is no Research Ethics Board meeting in August. 

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Results

Research Ethics Board results are posted to the Research Portal; you will also be notified via email. You will receive 1 of 3 responses:

• Approved – you can begin your research once you receive the Ethics Certification memo (unless other permissions/approvals are required).
• Revisions required – you must submit revisions before you can begin your research.
• Unable to approve – you cannot begin your research. You must submit a complete, revised proposal to be considered at the next Research Ethics Board meeting.

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Revisions and resubmission

If your application requires revision, please review the instructions on how to do so.

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Appeals

If you disagree with a Research Ethics Board decision, you may ask for it to be reconsidered. The board is obligated to honour this request. If after further review the Research Ethics Board still chooses to deny the application, you can file an appeal.

Appeals must be made in writing and must be received within  30 days of receiving the final decision. The appeal must be sent to the Research Ethics Office at rebsec@athabascau.ca.

A Research Ethics Appeal Committee will then review the appeal on behalf of the university. Decisions of an Research Ethics Appeal Committee are final.

Read the Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans Policy

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After approval

You will receive an Ethics Certification memo by email. Once you have it, you can begin your research study (unless other permissions are required).

If something changes

Sometimes you’ll need to change a research protocol during your study. If this happens, you must submit an Ethics Modification Form. Further, if you encounter any unanticipated or adverse effects during your research project, you must report them to the Research Ethics Board through the Unanticipated Event Form.

• Ethics Modification Form
• Ethics Unanticipated/Adverse Event Form

If your project goes longer than a year

Ethical approval is granted for a period of 1 year. However, ethical approval must be maintained for the life of a research project involving human participants.

If your project is a multi-year project, or you are unable to complete your project within a year, you must submit a request to renew ethical approval to the Research Ethics Board. You can complete the Ethics Renewal Form by following the instructions. 

You will receive an email reminder as this milestone approaches.

• Ethics Renewal Request Form

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When your project is complete

Once your research project is finished, you must complete and submit an Ethics Final Report to close your ethics file.

• Ethics Final Report Form

 

Animal ethics

All animal-based research, teaching and testing conducted by Athabasca University researchers is subject to the Animal Ethics Policy and Procedures.

Animal users must further act in accordance with the standards set by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, federal, provincial or municipal statues that may apply, as well as related policies and procedures.

Under an agreement with the University of Alberta (U of A), the U of A provides all animal-related services for Athabasca University researchers. This includes:

• oversight of Athabasca University’s animal care and use program
• use of University of Alberta facilities
• animal care and husbandry

What does this mean?

If you’re doing research that involves animals, you must get ethics approval from the University of Alberta’s Biosciences Animal Care and Use Committee before your project starts. You do not apply for this approval through AU.

No animals shall be acquired, held or used for research at any Athabasca University facility.

How to apply

Animal Ethics applications are submitted through the University of Alberta’s Research Information Management Online system (ARISE), and researchers must follow its timelines, processes, and requirements.

• Learn about the University of Alberta’s Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) review process
• See submission deadlines on the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) Biosciences page

Animal users are responsible for following:

• the standards set by the Canadian Council on Animal Care
• federal, provincial, or municipal statutes that may apply
• all related policies and procedures