Governance

Governance Dialogue Initiatives

Consistent with trends in other countries, questions concerning an overall governance system for the ethical conduct of research involving humans have emerged in recent years in Canada. What is good research ethics “governance?” Should research ethics boards be accredited or certified? Should the ethics of human research be governed by specific federal legislation?

Such questions provoke debate and deliberation. They also directly concern the users of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS), as one of the largest communities of researchers, institutions, and Research Ethics Boards across Canada. To contribute to this reflection, PRE is mandated to participate in ongoing discussion on the development of a national oversight system for the ethics of research involving humans.

To advance policy initiatives on such governance matters, PRE participates in the projects noted below. Staff from the Secretariat on Research Ethics support this initiative.

Projects

• Participate in the evolving national dialogue on governance issues in the ethics of research involving humans
• Building on the Report of the Experts Committee for Human Research Participant Protection in Canada, the Sponsors’ Table Identifies Four Priorities (July 18, 2008)
  • Moving Ahead: Final Report (June 15, 2008)
• Response to the Draft Report of the Experts Committee for Human Research Participant Protection in Canada (November 2007, pdf)
• Governance for a Culture of Research Ethics , (pdf) PRE presentation to the Experts Committee for the Protection of Human Research in Canada, January 2007
• Participate as an observer to the Task Force for the Development of an Accreditation System for Human Research Protection Programs, established by the National Council on Ethics in Human Research (NCEHR) (2004–)
• NCEHR Call for Comments on Accreditation Options Paper (April 2005 letter);
• PRE Comments on NCEHR’s Accreditation Options Paper (May 2005 letter, pdf)
• Participate in Health Canada’s regional governance consultations
• Develop papers on selected research ethics governance issues, e.g., Process and Principles for Developing a Canadian Governance System for the Ethical Conduct of Research involving Humans (2002, updated with a 2006–2007 Preface)
• Participate in the Health Canada Advisory Committee on the Development of a Governance System for Research Involving Humans
• Technical exchanges with those involved in research ethics governance

The Panel participates actively in the Sponsors’ Table for Human Research Participant Protection in Canada.

View additional information and regular updates from the Sponsors’ Table website.