Research Ethics Review for in-person research during the COVID-19 pandemic only requires a Safe Research Plan (SRP) accompany the completed New Application form or Amendment/Renewal Application form when the participant population faces increased risk of COVID-19, or the community to be engaged has local policies and protocols in place regarding COVID-19. Please see the Safe Research Plan Guidelines for In-Person Research at UNBC during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and fillable Safe Research Plan Template. The approval process for the SRP is described in the Guidelines document, Appendix B, and will be followed when the participant population requires.

Remote research activities continue to be recommended where possible for researchers seeking to conduct in-person research, and to be developed in readiness of a change in the Provincial Health Office Guidelines.

Researchers MUST pay attention to the Public Health Officer's ongoing orders and updates for province-wide restrictions, and alter their research activities immediately to be in compliance with any new health orders.

Registry of COVID-19 related research in BC

In order to have an accurate listing of COVID-19 related research in BC, UNBC has joined with other research institutions and agencies in compiling these studies in a publicly available registry. The collaborators include BC Academic Health Sciences Network (including Clinical Trials BC and Research Ethics BC), the Ministry of Health, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and BC Centre for Disease Control. In support of this initiative, the the REB will be providing information about your study for publication in the inventory, including: Principal Investigator, study title and description.