Acquire ethics approval

Learn about the requirements for ethics compliance for research involving human subjects or animals. This section will also provide you with links to helpful guides, forms, tools and policies.

Latest updates as of February 16, 2023

Summary Protocol Form (SPF)

Please be reminded that you are required to use the latest version of the SPF when submitting a new protocol, a 5-year resubmission or an amendment request.

Secondary Use of Data Form (SUDF)

Please note that a form, for Secondary Use of Data requests, is now available.  

Informed consent documentation

Please note that we have implemented important changes to the process for Participant Consent Documentation.

TCPS CORE Certification

All student and faculty researchers conducting research involving human participants or human derived data must complete this certification. A copy of your certification is required in order to finalize all new protocols, amendment requests, renewals, etc.

You may complete your TCPS CORE Certification by visiting: https://tcps2core.ca/welcome.

As always, all faculty ethics submissions must routed through Concordia’s electronic ConRAD system. Complete the ConRAD Ethics Submission Checklist.

All student ethics submissions must be sent to oor.ethics@concordia.ca.

The role of the Research Ethics Unit (Office of Research) is to:

• Ensure the compliance and ethical integrity of all research done under the auspice of Concordia.
• Ensure that all research is conducted in accordance with applicable regulations including international, federal and provincial law, as well as granting agency and Concordia policies.

Forms for research involving human participants

• Summary Protocol Form (SPF - updated August 2023)
• Information and Consent Form Template
• Biomedical Information and Consent Form Template
• Sample Consent Form Template French
• Instructions for Writing A Consent Form
• Human Ethics Submission Checklist 
• Annual Report Form
  
• Secondary Use of Data Form (SUDF)
• Scholarly Review Form
• Abbreviated Summary Protocol Form for Pedagogical Purposes Only - Minimal Risk Student-Course-Related Research for Departmental Review. This DOES NOT include thesis research. 

Forms for research involving animals

• Animal Use Summary Protocol Form
• Appendix 1a – Experimental Procedures
• Appendix 1b - Specific Teaching Activities
• Appendix 1c – Specific Wildlife Experiments
• Appendix 2 - Genetically Modified Animals
• AREC-F2 - Animal Use Protocol Renewal Request

For information about the Animal Care Facility, visit Carrefour. Learn more about Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC).

Concordia policies

• Policy for the Ethical Review of Research Involving Human Participants
• Procedures for the Ethical Review of Research Involving Human Participants
• Policy on the Ethical Use of Animals in Research and Teaching
• Procedures for the Ethical Use of Animals in Research and Teaching
• Procédure sur l’utilisation éthique des animaux en recherche et en enseignement

Other policies

• TCPS 2—2nd edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans
• EPTC 2 — 2e édition de l'Énoncé de politique des trois Conseils : Éthique de la recherche avec des êtres humains