Every year hundreds of persons seeking health care at the MUHC volunteer to be subjects of research. Our studies are designed to evaluate if a new drug, natural health product, vaccine or medical device will deliver the results anticipated to diagnose, alleviate or prevent disease or medical conditions. Other MUHC health care research investigate links between disease and the population, or evaluate important medical care issues.

MUHC delegates the responsibility to apply high ethical standards for its research to Committees known as Research Ethics Boards (REBs). The MUHC’s nine REBs include over 120 members combining biomedical and behavioral scientists, with ethics and legal professionals and community representatives to review adult and pediatric research. They deliberate to determine if our studies are scientifically and ethically sound, and acceptably safe. The REBs strive to deliver fair and impartial decisions to assure potential benefits of research participation will outweigh the associated risks.

Human subjects research is highly regulated and the Research Ethics Office (REO) was established in 1999 to coordinate consistent REB practices. The REO Director and experienced staff provide the REBs with administrative support and guidance by interpreting research rules and developing policies and procedures. Together the REBs and REO promote responsible conduct of research at the MUHC.