Concept Proposal Ethics Review
All successful Concept Proposals reviewed by the SRC and approved for Full Applications are subject to review by the Policy and Ethics Committee (PEC). Applicants are notified of the request for a full application prior to the completion of the ethics review, in order to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare their Full Applications. The PEC will complete its review and forward a summary report to applicants within two weeks subsequent to notification.
The PEC will consider the overall ethical soundness of the proposals and address any potential conflicts of interest relating to the proposed research. In particular, the PEC will determine if the proposal raises new or troubling ethical questions , including whether potential patient safety issues exist, and examine possible solutions to these problem. In addition, the PEC will examine the extent of any conflicts of interest and recommend appropriate solutions where available.
In cases where the PEC identifies potential ethical issues within a proposed study, a report detailing the issues will be forwarded to the applicant, with a request to address the specific issues in an addendum to their Full Application. The PEC will provide assistance to the applicant in preparing this addendum and in developing alternative strategies to allay the ethical issues identified.