Scope
Note: This Procedure is consistent with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (“TCPS 2 (2022)”), Chapter 7 – Conflicts of Interest.
This procedure forms part of JIBC’s Research Involving Human Participants Ethics Policy (the “Policy”) and should be followed and applied in relation to the free and informed consent of participants in research at JIBC under the Policy. Terms not otherwise defined in this procedure are as defined in the Policy.
Purpose
This procedure addresses ethical issues that can arise when research activities and other activities conflict. A conflict of interest may arise when activities or situations place an individual or institution in a real, potential or perceived conflict between the duties or responsibilities related to research, and personal, institutional or other interests.
Procedural Guiding Principles
JIBC’s Research Ethics Board (“REB”) will address conflicts of interest from all individuals engaged in conducting research at JIBC, as they may jeopardize the integrity of the research and the protection offered to participants.
Institutional Conflicts of Interest (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 7, Articles 7.1 and 7.2)
JIBC has developed procedures to identify, eliminate, minimize or otherwise manage conflicts of interest that may affect research. All parties (e.g., researchers, administrators, REB members) should act in a transparent manner in identifying and addressing conflicts of interest.
JIBC has established a conflicts of interest mechanism to ensure that real, potential or perceived institutional conflicts of interest that may affect research are reported to the REB. The REB shall consider whether the institutional conflict of interest should be disclosed to prospective participants as part of the consent process.
Research Ethics Board Members and Conflicts of Interest (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 7, Article 7.3)
REB members shall disclose real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest to the REB when reviewing research proposals. The REB may, when necessary, decide that some of its members must withdraw from REB deliberations and decisions.
Researchers and Conflicts of Interest (TCPS 2 (2022), Chapter 7, Article 7.4)
Researchers shall disclose in research proposals they submit to the REB any real, potential or perceived individual conflicts of interest, as well as any institutional conflicts of interest or community conflicts of interest of which they are aware that may have an impact on their research. Upon discussion with the researcher, the REB shall determine the appropriate steps to manage the conflict of interest.