Research Ethics Board (REB)
The independent committee that must approve a study before it can run.
Learning
What it means
In Canada, a Research Ethics Board reviews a study before it may begin and continues to oversee it. The equivalent body is called an Institutional Review Board (IRB) in the United States and an ethics committee elsewhere. Membership includes people outside the research team.
Why it matters if you take part
No study should be recruiting without this approval. The board reviews whether risks are justified and whether the consent materials are understandable.
Related terms
This explains how clinical research works. It is not medical advice and does not describe any specific condition or treatment. Only a trial site can determine whether someone can take part in a study.