The TIER REB Pre-Review Committee does not review Quality Improvement (QI). Email QI@uhn.ca for the QI application form or for more information on how to get Institutional Authorization for your project.

Quality Improvement Review Process at UHN

UHN’s QI Review Process is intended to confirm the following:

1. Projects are appropriately classified as QI projects and do not need to be directed to the Research Ethics Board (REB) for research review and approval;
2. Projects meet ethical and legal responsibilities; and
3. Projects minimize or eliminate risks to the project team, participants and UHN

Requesting an REB Exemption for a Project

Please Note: UHN intranet access is required for the following links. Email QI@uhn.ca to receive the form otherwise.

To request a review, please submit a completed QI intake form , all data collection tools, and protocol/project outline (if you have one) to QI@uhn.ca. Before the submission, it is best for the project team to review relevant UHN policies, standards and guidelines to inform the project’s adherence to ethical and legal requirements and risk mitigation strategies as part of the REB exemption request.

Review Procedure & Timelines

During project reviews, applicants may receive email correspondence from QI@uhn.ca with clarifying questions and risk mitigation recommendations. The process may also involve consultations with other UHN departments such as UHN Privacy Office, UHN legal and UHN Digital Security for additional ethical and legal requirements.

Decision notifications are generally administered within four weeks (COVID-19 related projects are prioritized). As the Quality Improvement Review Committee (QIRC) issues QIRC approval/REB exemption letters for project activities described in submissions, communication with QIRC (QI@uhn.ca) is required as soon as possible for project activity changes that may affect requirements and QIRC’s determination of the project.

The TIER REB Pre-Review Committee does not review QI. Email QI@uhn.ca for the QI application form or for more information on how to get Institutional Authorization for your project.

Research Study Submission Requirements

Principal investigators should submit a Pre-REB Review Application for review prior to submitting through CAPCR. There are no specific requirements for the format of the proposal, however it should be suitable for the particular research question and methodological approach being used in one’s study and address the following details:

1. Purpose and rationale for the research
2. Location of research
3. Methodology, methods, theory
4. Recruitment (selection strategy, approximate number of participants)
5. Consent process
6. Data collection and analysis
7. Data collection tools: e.g. survey, interview/focus group guide
8. Data storage, retention, destruction
9. Privacy and confidentiality
10. Ethical issues of concern, risks and benefits to participants (individuals or communities), conflicts of interest or conflicts of commitment, etc.

The pre-review committee will aim to provide principal investigators with a decision and feedback within 3 weeks of a submission.  The decision will include one of the following recommendations:

1. Committee recommends submission to the REB
2. Committee identifies minor issues that the investigators should address prior to submitting the application to REB.
3. Committee identifies major issues that the investigators need to address prior to submitting the application to REB.
4. Committee recommends that the principal investigators be connected with research support services (e.g. research, regulatory, legal, ethics consultation) to develop proposal further before returning to the REB Pre-Review Committee.