Research Ethics

Information and forms about all matters concerning research ethics can be found on Carleton’s Research Ethics page. Any research or study (involving human participants) conducted at Carleton facilities or undertaken by persons connected to the University that involves one of the following three scenarios must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Research Ethics Board. Effective May 15, these boards are:

• CUREB A which deals with research where the lead researcher is in the Faculty of Public Affairs, the Sprott School of Business, or the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, exclusive of the Department of Psychology
• CUREB B which deals with:
  
  (1) research where the lead researcher is in the Faculty of Engineering and Design, the Faculty of Science, or in the Department of Psychology, and
  
  (2) all research involving any of the following, regardless of the researcher’s Faculty:
  
  i. collection of biological specimens or bodily fluids (e.g., blood, saliva, tissue samples)
  
  ii. use of a bio-instrument (e.g., electrodes, MRI/X-ray imaging, sensors for blood pressure or temperature)
  
  iii. use of a bio-intervention (e.g., administration of a drug by mouth or injection, drug testing, medical devices, rehabilitative exercise programs, mental health programs, inducing moderate or severe physical or biological or pharmacological stress).

Applications must be submitted to the Carleton Ethics Board prior to the commencement of the research or study.

Research involving biohazards materials or animals must also receive ethics approval prior to the start of the research. There are different committees to review these applications and different forms. Research that relies exclusively on publicly available information does not require REB review when the information is legally accessible to the public and appropriately protected by law; or the information is publicly accessible and there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.

Any inquiries can be sent to ethics@carleton.ca.