The human research enterprise functions as an ecosystem built on trust between invested parties, both within and outside the institution. These include institutional officials, Research Ethics Boards (REBs), Research Ethics Offices (REOs), researchers, Sponsors, and research participants. Communication is the cornerstone of this ecosystem. When the system functions properly, applications are well-written, reviewed in a timely manner, and ultimately approved; supporting research that is conducted ethically and compliantly. When the system breaks down, research ethics applications have unresolvable ethical issues leading to delays in faculty and student research, potential losses of funding, and participants having poor experiences. In turn, the broader public may miss out on the potential benefits of timely, high-quality research.

This module will focus on strategies and tools for building and maintaining a well-functioning REB system where everyone understands expectations, has the tools to meet them, and is able to provide and receive effective communication.