For up-to-date information please visit the COVID-19 Updates to Research Ethics page.
March 20, 2020 The environment related to COVID-19 is fluid and forever changing. Following extensive consultation, we are implementing the following policy for human participant research:
Indigenous Based Research
Given the public health concerns of COVID-19 we are requesting that researchers working with Indigenous peoples and/or communities stop research/data gathering and determine when such work may continue only after you have consulted with the community in question. It is best practice to consult with the communities to determine whether they wish for you to continue with the research collaboration.
Non-Hospital Based Research
All non-hospital based research (GREB & HSREB) that requires person-to-person interaction with participants should be suspended. If the research study is providing an essential treatment option that is absolutely necessary for the welfare of the participant(s) a request for exemptions will be required. Exemption requests need to be vetted by Jennifer Couture to bring forward to the appropriate REB Chair for consideration. New ethics applications that require person-to-person interactions with participants will be reviewed and as applicable, Conditional Clearance will be provided with the stipulation that permission will need to be provided by Queen’s University as well as the community partner prior to work commencing . If existing ethics clearance is in place with person-to-person interactions, modifications should be made to eliminate person-to-person interactions without loss of scientific validity (i.e., virtually or through other means). Modifications to New Ethics applications that are able to eliminate these interactions will be considered for review. As greater clarification on risks of COVID-19 spread and risk of infection is provided by Queen’s University and our Public Health partners, these restrictions will be re-assessed. Please visit https://www.queensu.ca/vpr/covid-19 for the most up to date information on the COVID-19 Outbreak and its Impact on Queen's University Research.