Requirement for Scientific / Peer Review for Clinical REB Full Board Studies

In July 2015, the CREB announced the requirement for a scientific / peer review for all studies above minimal risk.  Peer review (sometimes referred to as scholarly or scientific review) is generally understood by UBC's REBs as a review of the importance of the research question (value) and the validity of the methodology. Practices around scholarly review vary between disciplines, fields of research and groups. The primary goal of this requirement is to ensure that above minimal risk research protocols that are submitted for ethical review satisfy the relevant disciplinary standards in terms of both value and scientific validity. It is anticipated that this in turn will facilitate the ethics review process for the REB, reduce the number of provisos and deferrals issued to researchers, and improve the overall success of the research. 

The Scientific / Peer Review Form was updated in March 17, 2017.  

The peer review form must be completed and attached to an application when a protocol:

• Is above minimal risk; AND
• Has not undergone internal or external peer review (includes granting agency approval); AND
• Will be submitted to the UBC CREB.

Note that if your research proposal has received a scientific peer review form from an independent authority in your field of expertise, or from your trainee's supervisory committee, this should be attached to Box 9.8 of the RISe application form.  In these instances, you are not required to also have the CREB Scientific / Peer Review Form document completed.