Review of procedures for approval of health studies in northern Canada

Abstract

Objectives. This article describes the review processes required for research being conducted in Canada's 3 northern territories. When conducting research involving human subjects in northern Canada, researchers must go through a 2-step process by submitting protocols to both their university or hospital ethics review boards as well as to northern research institutions. Canada's northern territorial governments have requirements for attaining licensure before any research can be conducted. Methods. A document review was the method used to gather data, and an Internet search of the literature and documents was conducted to gather information. Results. Generally, university and hospital-based ethics review boards have been concerned with the rights of individuals in research. Northern Canadian research protocols require review by territorial government institutions and communities with respect to community rights. Conclusions. The 3 territorial governments of northern Canada take the concept of community and individual participation in research seriously and have enacted processes so that opportunities for such approaches to research are ensured.

Ethical guidelines for Sami research: the issue that disappeared from the Norwegian Sami Parliament's agenda?

“…The task of the research ethics boards is still to examine whether the rights of individual research participants are upheld. This is in contrast to developments in, for example, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, where there is an understanding of the protection of Indigenous communities as well as individuals ( 25 ). Thus, in Norway it is up to the individual researcher or research institution 6 to decide whether and how to involve the indigenous community perspective in their research projects.…”

Access and benefits sharing of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in northern Canada: understanding the legal environment and creating effective research agreements

“…Aboriginal peoples in Canada have successfully advocated for greater control over what research is allowed in their communities, what happens with the data that are collected, and for equal respect of traditional/local knowledge systems alongside Western science (33). Formal structures for overseeing research with Aboriginal communities exist at the community level, in Territorial legislation, and through Federal granting agencies’ rules.…”

“…Territorial governments have passed legislation to govern research (35–37) through licensing and the establishment of institutes such as the Aurora Research Institute in the NWT and the Nunavut Research Institute in Nunavut (33). Research in the Yukon is reviewed under the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) (38).…”