Faculty of Health Sciences
Health Research Services
Hamilton Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Research Ethics Board

Which REB should review my application?

Research at HHS/FHS

    • If your research involves participants and/or resources at HHS/FHS, you must submit your application to the HHS/FHS REB.
    • Undergraduate and Masters students, please read on:
      • If you are an Undergrad or Masters student conducting research as part of an undergraduate or graduate course offered by a department in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at McMaster University and your research is minimal risk, you should submit your application directly to the FHS Student Research Committee (SRC), which is a subcommittee of the HHS/FHS REB
      • If you are an Undergrad or Masters student from outside of McMaster you should first obtain the REB approval of your home institution. If your research will involve participants and/or resources at HHS/FHS, you should then submit to the HHS/FHS REB.
      • Undergrad and Masters students participating in research that is part of a faculty member's research programme and unrelated to the requirements for the student's thesis or inquiry course, must submit their applications to the HHS/FHS REB for review rather than the SRC.
      • If you are an Undergrad or Masters student conducting research as part of a course in the FHS and your supervisor is appointed in another Faculty, you should submit your application to the FHS SREC, unless it is subject to review by the HHS/FHS REB (e.g. more than minimal risk) or by another Ethics Board in compliance with the Tri-Council Policy.
    • Please note...all applications for Chart Reviews, Human Tissue Research and Prospective databases should be submitted to the HHS/FHS REB.

Research at HHS/FHS and SJHH

    • HHS/FHS and SJHH have established a process to streamline the review of research that involves both of these institutions. This process is called Reciprocal review (RR). Under RR, the REB Chairs are authorized to review and approve research that has already been approved at the other institution.
    • If your research involves participants and/or resources at HHS/FHS and SJHH, you should submit your initial application to the REB where the majority of your research will take place.
    • When your research has been approved by the first REB, you can then apply for RR at the other institution.

Research outside of HHS/FHS

    • If you are affiliated with HHS/FHS and you will be conducting research outside of HHS/FHS, you should submit your application to the HHS/FHS REB first. When you have received HHS/FHS REB approval, you can submit your research to the REB where your research will take place (assuming an REB exists).