Ethical Reviews

All research involving human participants conducted by faculty members and graduate students under the auspices of the University of Toronto must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate U of T Research Ethics Board (REB) prior to its commencement.

Before you begin research for your thesis or Major Research Project, it's important that you and your supervisor determine whether your research requires ethics approval.

1. Review the University of Toronto’s Ethics in Human Research webpage to see if your research qualifies.
2. Discuss your research with your supervisor to determine whether it requires a protocol, and at what stage.
3. Once you have determined that your research requires a protocol, create a New Application in the My Research Human Protocols (MRHP) online system.
4. Begin by reviewing the section titled My Research Human Protocols (MRHP). The "I am a Student PI" subsection contains information about how your thesis supervisor can initiate the creation of your protocol. Please review this information with your supervisor. 
5. Once submitted, it can take between 4-6 weeks for a delegated review (i.e., if there is no or minimal risk to participants) by the REB, or longer if a full review is required.
6. The REB will e-mail you and your supervisor with comments or revisions if required.
7. Once the protocol is approved, the REB will notify you and your supervisor.