UBC recognizes that involving animals in teaching and research is a privilege, not a right. A series of procedures and policies are strictly enforced, internally and externally, to ensure that animal care is a primary consideration in meeting the goals of teaching and research. Any research or teaching conducted at UBC or by persons affiliated with the UBC that involve the use of animals (including fish) must conform to UBC Policies #87 (Research) and #91 (Purchase of Animals for Research and Teaching) and must have the approval of the UBC Animal Care Committee.

If you are a researcher seeking assistance or further information, please contact: Suzanne Richardson, Manager, Animal Care, Biosafety and Radiation Safety Committees  (604-827-5111) or Fred Woo, Assistant Manager, Animal Care, Biosafety and Radiation Safety Committees (604-827-5115). Further information is available on the UBC Animal Care Services website. If you are a member of the community seeking general information about animal research at UBC, please visit www.animalresearch.ubc.ca.

Any activities conducted at UBC facilities or affiliated institutions that involve biohazardous materials must be reviewed and approved by the UBC Biosafety Committee prior to the start of the research project. This includes research and teaching with: cultured animal cells, cell lines, recombinant DNA, plasmids, parasites, toxins, microorganisms (including viruses and bacteria), and primate body fluids (including blood), and PRIONS.

All research activities are subject to this review regardless of funding source. Applications for review and certification by the Biosafety Committee must be submitted electronically on RISe.

The Office of Research Services provides administrative support in applying for a Biosafety Certificate. UBC Risk Management Services (formerly the Department of Health, Safety and Environment) provides technical expertise to researchers working with biohazardous materials, provides biosafety training, and reviews all procedures and facilities involving biohazardous materials.

If you are a researcher seeking assistance with obtaining a Biosafety Certificate, please contact: Suzanne Richardson, Manager, Animal Care , Biosafety and Radiation Safety Committees (604-827-5111) or Fred Woo, Assistant Manager, Animal Care, Biosafety and Radiation Safety Committees (604-827-5115).

If you are a researcher seeking biosafety training or technical support for a biosafety issue, please contact, the Biological & Radiation Safety Advisor at research.safety@ubc.ca or 604-822-9527.

Everyone who works under the auspices of UBC is required to transparently disclose both actual and perceived conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment whenever they occur. Conflicts that go unreported or are improperly managed can create serious risks to the reputation and integrity of the persons involved, and potentially lead to diminished public confidence and trust in UBC as a whole.

UBC has adopted the COI Policy (Policy SC3, previously known as Policy #97) to regulate the disclosure and management of conflicts of interest and commitment. The policy recognizes that conflicts can naturally arise from being active in research, industry, and community, and the mere existence of a conflict is not necessarily improper. But it is imperative that conflicts be recognized, disclosed, assessed, and managed.

All faculty members and anyone who has signing authority over an active research account must file a Conflict of Interest/Conflict of Commitment Declaration in the RISe system.

All declarations are subject to audit by the UBC Conflict of Interest Committee. For more information about UBC Conflict of Interest policies or compliance please contact the Conflict of Interest Administrator at 604-822-8623 or conflict.of.interest@ubc.ca or visit https://universitycounsel.ubc.ca/subject-areas/coi/ 

RISe Extended Reporting was developed to serve the data request needs of the research community. After extensive consultation with UBC & Affiliated Hospitals we built a self-service tool that allows users to run their own funded data reports.

RISe ExR currently has four query modules available for users. Each of query module is composed of query tabs to help build a query. The query filters contained within each tab aid in narrowing the the search parameters to define a data set.

Award Query Module

The Award Query Module is the most comprehensive and largest of the query modules of RISe ExR. The award query is based on the Funding Application Summary table, and can be used to build a result set listing a group of funding applications. The following groups of filtering parameters can be used to develop datasets from the Award Query: Project ID’s, Date information, Project State, Dollars Requested/Funded, Institution/Faculty/Department, Investigator, Sector, Funding Agency details & Award Type.

Keyword Search Query Module

The Keyword Query Module is based on the Funding Application Summary table, and can be used to build a result dataset listing a group of funding applications. It is essentially the same as the Award Query, but allows for text searches within the Project Title and Abstract.
The following groups of filtering parameters can be used: Project ID’s, Date information, Project State, Dollars Requested/Funded, Institution/Faculty/Department, Investigator, Sector, Funding Agency details & Award Type.

PI Info Query Module

The PI Info Query is based on the Investigator and Appointment tables, and can be used to build a result set listing the appointments stored in the system for each Investigator. The following groups of filtering parameters can be used: Institution/Faculty/Department, Investigator.

Admin Stats Query Module

The Admin Stats Query Module is based on the ORS and FMS worker data stored against the Funding Summary. The following groups of filtering parameters can be used:ORS/FMS worker, Date information, Project State, Dollars Requested/Funded, Institution/Faculty/Department, Sector, Funding Agency details & Award Type.

For More Information:

If you are seeking assistance or further information about the Extended Reporting tool, please contact risesupport@ors.ubc.ca

RISe Grants administration is reserved for Office of Research Services and UBC-affiliated hospital authorized Officers. For more information about grants administration at UBC please contact Dean Kuusela, Associate Director of ORS at dean.kuusela@ors.ubc.ca or visit the Office of Research Services website.

Research ethics review is a process of initial and ongoing review and monitoring of research involving human participants.The process requires the evaluation of all proposed research by an independent committee of experts who examine the research study from the perspective of prospective participants. Their assessment of a proposed study’s ethical acceptability is guided by the core principles of research ethics (i.e., respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice).

The underlying value of research ethics review is respect for human dignity. The review process ensures that research involving humans is sensitive to the inherent worth of all human beings and the respect and consideration they are due.

Research Ethics Boards

Research Ethics Boards (REBs) are independent committees established by the University and in partnership with its affiliated hospitals and research institutes. Acting on behalf of these institutions, REBs are authorized to review the ethical acceptability of research and to approve, reject, propose modifications to, or terminate any proposed or ongoing research involving human participants.

UBC’s REBs are independent of the parent institution(s) in their decision-making, and they are required to operate free of inappropriate influence, including situations of real, potential or perceived conflict of interest. The parent institution(s) may not override REB decisions concerning the ethical acceptability of a study.

UBC’s REBs meet all requisite criteria for an authorized research ethics board, pursuant to the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2, 2014), the International Conference on Harmonization Good Clinical Practice Guidelines (ICH-GCP) and the requirements of the US Department of Health and Human Services, as set out in the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, 45CFR Part 46, sub-part A.

The mandate of the REBs at UBC is:

“To assist the University and its affiliated hospitals and agencies to create a research environment in which human subjects are protected and to ensure responsibilities are discharged according to the relevant ethical standards, by promoting awareness of research ethics amongst faculty, staff and students, by independently reviewing research studies in accordance with the guiding ethical principles of the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2, 2014), and to put into place mechanisms for the protection of human participants in ongoing research conducted under the auspices of the University of British Columbia.”

For More Information:

If you are a researcher seeking assistance or further information, please visit the Office of Research Ethics.

The primary objective of the UBC Radiation Safety Program is to facilitate and ensure the safe and knowledgeable use of radiation sources and devices in research, teaching and the environment.

For more information:  http://rms.ubc.ca/health-safety/research-safety/radiation-safety/