Are official agreements between institutions required for multi-jurisdictional minimal risk research?

Are official agreements between institutions required for multi-jurisdictional minimal risk research?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. It depends on the funder
• D. Not specified

Answer: (B)

When research crosses jurisdictional lines, ethics oversight can be centralized or shared by relying on one institution’s REB. You don’t have to have official inter-institutional agreements in place just to conduct minimal risk, multi-site work. The key is that protections for participants are maintained across all sites—clear consent processes, privacy safeguards, and ongoing oversight—whether another institution’s REB review is relied upon, or a central REB provides the review. Mechanisms for reliance or recognition of another REB’s approval are acceptable ways to manage multi-site ethics review, and formal contracts aren’t an automatic requirement. Funders or institutions may have their own requirements, but the policy itself does not mandate inter-institutional agreements for minimal risk research.

When research crosses jurisdictional lines, ethics oversight can be centralized or shared by relying on one institution’s REB. You don’t have to have official inter-institutional agreements in place just to conduct minimal risk, multi-site work. The key is that protections for participants are maintained across all sites—clear consent processes, privacy safeguards, and ongoing oversight—whether another institution’s REB review is relied upon, or a central REB provides the review. Mechanisms for reliance or recognition of another REB’s approval are acceptable ways to manage multi-site ethics review, and formal contracts aren’t an automatic requirement. Funders or institutions may have their own requirements, but the policy itself does not mandate inter-institutional agreements for minimal risk research.