Human Research Ethics

Your SKHS Unit Research Ethics Secretary is Josie Birchall who is available at:

birchalj@queensu.ca.  Her office is located in the SKHS Admin Office KHS 206A.

The steps to prepare your human research ethics documentation are listed below.  There are separate processes for submissions depending on whether you are a faculty member or a student.  Please be sure to read the list of steps that are applicable to you.

All postdoctoral fellows, students (graduate and undergraduate) and staff MUST complete the CORE Ethics Online Tutorial prior to submitting any ethics documentation.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FACULTY MEMBERS ARE EXEMPT

CORE Ethics Online Tutorial

Faculty Members (including Postdoctoral Fellows) Application Procedures for human ethics submission and review:

1. Prepare your research proposal, methods, and questionnaire(s) as applicable.
2. TRAQ Registration.
3. You are now ready to upload your application and all attachments to TRAQ.
4. Log in to TRAQ using your Queen’s Net ID and password and complete the steps in sequence.
5. Hit SUBMIT to finalize submission and send it to the General Research Ethics Board (GREB) for review.

Student Members (Graduate and Undergraduate) and Staff Application Procedures for human ethics submission and review:

1. Prepare your research proposal, methods, and questionnaire(s) as applicable.
2. Meet with your supervisor to review your application and attach either an email or letter with their approval.
3. TRAQ Registration.
4. Upload your application and all attachments to TRAQ.
5. Log in to TRAQ using your Queen’s Net ID and password and complete the steps in sequence.
6. Hit SUBMIT to finalize submission and send it to the SKHS Unit REB.

SKHS has a Unit Research Ethics Board (Unit REB) that assists in processing all research related documentation.  Your documentation will be reviewed by the Unit REB for accuracy, completeness, and to ensure that it follows all required policies, procedures and guidelines established by the University. 

Steps to be completed for SKHS Unit REB review:

1. Review by the SKHS Unit REB will be completed within three weeks of your submission
2. You will receive notification through TRAQ from the Unit REB if your submission requires edits
3. All projects will then be forwarded to the General Research Ethics Board (GREB) for final review and approval
4. GREB will notify you directly if further edits are required and when your application is approved
5. SKHS Unit REB will receive an approval letter for SKHS files

Upon receipt of written approval from the Queen’s General Research Ethics Board (GREB) – you may proceed with your project.

Some ethics projects will require approval through the Health Sciences Research Board.