Every study that is approved by CUREB A or B receives an ethics clearance certificate that includes a set time period during which the study may be conducted. Before the expiry date, researchers must submit an Annual Status Report request to either renew their project or close it. Failure to do so will halt your project and affect your research funding.

You must submit an Annual Status Report request to close your study. This form must also be submitted once the study is complete. (You do not need to wait until your ethics clearance expires.) Find the Annual Renewal or Closure Form in our list of Forms and Templates.

According to the Tri-Council Policy: Incidental findings is a term that describes unanticipated discoveries made in the course of research but that are outside the scope of the research. Material incidental findings are findings that have been interpreted as having significant welfare implications for the participant, whether health-related, psychological or social. (p. 34)

Researchers are obligated to disclose any material incidental findings to participants. In some cases, incidental findings may be such that they prompt legal reporting obligations (e.g., law enforcement or child welfare agency). If you are unsure how to disclose incidental information to participants, or do not know if your findings need to be reported to the relevant authorities, please contact ethics@carleton.ca immediately.

Yes, you must contact the ethics@carleton.ca immediately if any unforeseen event occurs.

Any changes to an approval protocol must be reported to the Research Ethics Board. Changes vary, but may include:

• Title change
• Adding or changing research team members
• Recruiting participants from an additional source
• Moving in-person data collection online by using ZOOM or MS Teams
• Any other changes to your protocol

In all cases, you must submit a change to protocol/amendment request outlining the proposed changes, specifically:

• Outline the changes and include any attachments (e.g., revised versions of the research instrument, recruitment materials, or consent forms).
• Update the CUREB protocol form with all changes to the study methods.
• Submit the Change to Protocol form and all attachments in cuResearch.