Web-Based Collaborative Review Program
Our goal is to help make Canadian child health research more streamlined, timely and efficient. Working collaboratively with the CHEER advisory committees and stakeholders, we are developing a web-based research ethics review platform that will include a Canada-wide ethics review system, tools to facilitate collaboration, and training and support services. The program will be bilingual, accessible from anywhere in Canada, and customized to support the needs of the child health research community, considering different states of readiness and legislative and structural differences. Most importantly, it will enable pediatric study submissions to be reviewed by a single REB, multiple REBs or new ethics board/committees comprised of members from various REBs across Canada, enabling more efficient multi-site clinical trials.
Progress Updates
The CHEER Web-Based Research Ethics Review Platform Launched December 8th, 2020!
The CHEER online ethics review forms— for clinical trials and observational studies—are now live and ready for the first CHEER research studies! These forms and requirements were informed by a review of ethics forms from across Canada and by input from REBs and investigators from across the country.
We are accepting pediatric studies with participating sites in Ontario and the IWK in Nova Scotia. We are also accepting studies with a lead in site in Newfoundland and participating sites in Nova Scotia and Ontario. If you would like to use the CHEER system and need help, please feel free to contact the CHEER project manager, Miranda Miller (miranda.miller@queensu.ca).
Currently Drafting CHEER Pediatric Assent/Consent Templates
The CHEER pediatric assent/consent working group collected and reviewed pediatric-specific assent/consent templates from REBs across Canada. After identifying key elements from this cross-Canada sample, the working group is now drafting the CHEER assent/consent templates.
Research Ethics Board (REB) Assessment Program
Consistency and quality across participating REBs are needed in order to enable a single REB review for multi-site studies. In collaboration with REBs, our advisory committees and others, we are developing standards and creating a REB Assessment Program to qualify REBs for participation in the CHEER web-based collaborative review program. Customized and robust, the Assessment Program ensures that REBs are following regulatory compliant review processes and are conducting high-quality reviews.
Progress Updates
The IWK Health Centre, Nova Scotia, CHEER qualified in May 2023 and the Health Research Ethics Authority (HREA), Newfoundland, CHEER qualified in February 2024. Nine REBs across three provinces are CHEER qualified. Other CHEER qualified REBs include:
- The Hospital for Sick Children Research Ethics Board
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Ethics Board
- Western University Health Sciences Research Ethics Board
- Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board (OCREB)
- Queen’s University Health Sciences and Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Research Ethics Board
- Mount Sinai Hospital Research Ethics Boards A and B.
The CHEER qualification program is available to REBs across Canada. The qualification program is independent of the CHEER system. The qualification program offers a collegial experience, with both qualification team and REB learning from each other. The program is a step towards building community across Canada and creating long lasting and meaningful connections with our colleagues from other jurisdictions. The CHEER qualification program offers services such as a pre-review for REBs to highlight areas for preparation prior to qualification as well as a $10,000 honorarium for REBs to ready themselves for qualification. CHEER can also provide consultative services such as advising/ drafting SOPs for regulatory compliance.
CHEER Research Ethics and Education Program
By sharing knowledge about ethics review across the child health research community, we can generate greater efficiencies and raise ethical standards. CHEER’s Research Ethics and Education Program provides educational opportunities for researchers, administrators, REBs, patients and families and others to support high-quality and efficient REB reviews. Examples of educational opportunities include:
- Child health research ethics educational modules and webinars
- Educational supports to improve the efficiency and quality of REB reviews, addressing common issues and challenges in research ethics review for child health research, including ethical implications associated with study design, and supports for patients and family members participating on REBs
The Queen’s University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Office for Professional Development and Educational Scholarship will play key role in supporting the educational programming.
Progress Updates
Research Ethics Educational Module Development
The CHEER education working group, led by CHEER Co-Investigator, Dr. Denise Stockley, is supported by the expertise of the Office for Professional Developments and Professional Scholarship at Queen’s University. All five of the CHEER modules have been completed and can be accessed on the education page of the website. These education modules are interactive and provide users with a great learning experience.
The Participant Recruitment module is now available in French! The remaining modules are in the process of being produced in French and will go live in the coming months.
Looking Ahead: Streamlined Ethics Review Beyond Child Health Research
We are pioneering a new, Canada-wide approach to streamlined ethics review for child health research, but that may just be the beginning – a ‘pilot’. Throughout the CHEER initiative, the CHEER Team and our many partners across Canada will assess our successes and challenges and identify future opportunities to consider the feasibility of implementing a streamlined research ethics process beyond child health research.
To learn more download a summary of the project activities.