UPDATE (June 28th, 2022) Face to Face Research with Human Participants
In line with the President’s recent message to the York University Community regarding health and safety requirements, please see the following update regarding compliance requirements for face-to-face human participant research.
Effective June 28, 2022, York University will no longer require masks to be worn in indoor spaces. While face masks will no longer be required on campus, we strongly encourage the York community to continue wearing them to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Effective May 1, 2022 the following apply:
- Health and safety plans for human participant research for all risk levels will no longer be required.
- COVID information consent letters for human participant research will no longer be required.
- Off-campus research (local, domestic, and international) must adhere to public health requirements in effect at the venue/country where research is being conducted.
The following Guidance Documents and related protocols/processes will no longer be required; links to these resources will be removed from the Better Together website and the ORE website:
- Return to Campus Checklist for Labs, Research and Machine Shops
- Health and Safety Plan for Human Participant Research
- COVID-19 consent language - face to face research
- Human participants review committee protocol instructions
- How To Restart In-Person Research
- Research Restart for Step 3 of the Provincial Roadmap to Reopen
- Standardized HS plan for Low and Moderate Risk F2F research
- Health and Safety Plan for Greater than low-moderate risk and Research outside of Canada
- Covid-19 Consent language for face-to-face research
Effective May 1, York will pause its COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate and required symptom screening on YU Screen (May 4 for Osgoode students, faculty and staff). At this time, Proof of Vaccination for researchers and study participants, including vulnerable populations, will no longer be required.
However, researchers conducting human participant research at an off-campus location will be required to follow the Proof of Vaccination and/or public health requirements of the organization/hospital/group/country where the research is being conducted, if applicable.
York continues to work with public health authorities in the event that it becomes necessary to reinstate proof of vaccination on very short notice after May 1.
York community members should continue to self-monitor for symptoms and must not come to campus if they are feeling unwell. Should there be any further changes to public health restrictions on York’s campuses, the community will be notified promptly. Please continue to check Better Together for the most current information and ongoing updates.
The Office of Research Ethics (ORE) is here to help academics seeking to undertake research that involves human, animals or biological agents.
We provide the research community at York University with support, guidance and oversight throughout the process. We provide the resources and expertise necessary for faculty to complete the appropriate ethics review process in an efficient and timely manner.
More specifically, we offer the following:
- A wide variety of consultative and advisory services, including one-on-one assistance to researchers – both Faculty and student - with regards to policy and its applications, the completion of protocols, forms and the design of consent documents;
- Pre-review of ethics documents to ensure timely review by ethics committee(s);
- Resources and information regarding research ethics guidelines and requirements; and
- Workshops and seminars on research ethics
Does your research need ethics approval?
Just a reminder that all research involving human, animals or biological agents must be reviewed by the relevant ethics review committee prior to the start of any research – this includes research led by students but with whom Faculty members collaborate. Access to research funds will not be granted until the appropriate approvals are in place.
For more information on whether your research requires ethics review or not, please please see Tip Sheet 3 and Ethics Roadmap Flowchart (© Cross Campus Campstone Classroom).
Didn’t find what you need? Feel free to contact us.
Name | Title | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Alison Collins-Mrakas | Director, Research Ethics | acollins@yorku.ca | 416-736-5914 |
Pelin Asci (on leave) | Manager, Research Ethics | pelin87@yorku.ca | 416-736-5201 |
Wendy Jokhoo | Acting Manager, Research Ethics | wjokhoo@yorku.ca | 416-736-5201 |
Michael Xavier | ACC Coordinator | accinfo@yorku.ca | x44040 |
Nadia D'Angelo | Research Ethics Review Coordinator | naddan@yorku.ca | x40363 |
Review Process
Overview
York University is committed to the highest standards of integrity in research. All projects involving the use of Human Participants, Animals and Biological Agents are subject to review by the appropriate University committee. York has formulated policies for the conduct of research involving all three of these areas.
All research involving humans, animals and/or biological agents/biohazardous materials conducted by faculty, staff or students, regardless of where the research is conducted, is subject to review and approval by the relevant ethics committee and /or its delegate ethics review committee in accordance with relevant guidelines, policies and regulations. It is the policy of the University that researchers conducting research involving human subjects, animals and/or biohazardous agents must obtain approval of their research from the relevant ethics committee prior to commencing research activities.
NOTE: Ethics approval is required regardless of whether the research is funded or not (this includes pilot and/or preliminary research)
The following links will provide you with an in-depth explanation of the research ethics review processes for research with:
FAQs
For general research news and events, awards, funding and new developments pertaining to Research & Innovation, please check the news and events links as well as the @YUResearch Twitter feed.
For all COVID-19-related news, visit the page YU Better Together.