Submission Process, Deadlines & Meeting Dates

There are monthly submission deadlines (see table below) for any documents requiring full Research Ethics Board review.

Submission Process

Initial Applications

Initial applications to be considered for a Research Ethics Board Review must be submitted to the BRI Operations office, via the eREB system, by the monthly BRI Submission Deadline (see table below) . Upon submission, the BRI Operations Office performs an institutional review. Only institutionally approved applications are forwarded to the Research Ethics Office (REO) for consideration for REB review. The BRI Operations Office will return incomplete or unapproved studies to the study team for comment or revision. The BRI Operations Office forwards approved applications to the REO no later than the REO Notification Date (see table below). The period of time between the BRI Submission Deadline and the REO Notification Date allows for BRI Operations Office institutional review and the possibility of communication with the study team should revisions be required prior to institutional approval. Once received, the REO staff review the application for completeness and basic compliance (e.g., use of current REB approved templates).  Only complete and compliant studies are referred for REB review. Applications that are incomplete or require revisions are  not eligible for REB review and will be returned to the study team by the REO staff.  

Amendments, Renewals (Continuing Review), Closures and Events Reporting 

All amendments, renewals (Continuing Review), closures and reporting of unanticipated problems/ protocol deviations to previous REB-approved applications will be submitted directly to the REO, using the eREB, for review. 

Deadlines for submissions to REB full board review are strictly observed. Please review the following information to ensure your application is submitted properly and on time.

Deadlines for Full Board Review

Submissions must be forwarded to REO by midnight on the day of the “REO Notification” deadline listed in the table below in order to be considered for review at the corresponding REB meeting date. Incomplete applications, or applications received after the deadline, will be deferred to the next meeting date. 

Research studies that require Full Board review of their renewal (Continuing review) include:
-Health Canada regulated clinical trials
-FDA regulated Clinical Trials
-Funded by the American federal government (DoD, NIIH)
-More than minimum risk research
Should your study require its renewal (continuing review) to be reviewed at a Full Board meeting, the same submission deadlines apply.

 Deadlines for Delegated review

If your study/application qualifies for delegated review, you may submit your application anytime. 

Notification of Approval

The Local Principal Investigator(s) and the primary contact person will receive the REB approval letter or notice by email from the eREB system.

2023 Submission Deadlines and REB Meeting Dates