The REB West 2022 conference, held virtually over one and a half days, is an opportunity for research ethics boards from all over BC and other provinces to learn from researchers about their studies as well as experiences specific to their research ethics journey. 

This is our first dedicated event since 2019 for behavioural research ethics and we are very excited to invite you to join our 3-panel session.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers for this event:

Session 1: 9:30am - 12pm

Indigenous Research Ethics:

• Dr. Michelle Pidgeon: Director, Centre for the Study of Educational Leadership & Policy • Simon Fraser University
• Tara Erb, Network Coordinator at BC Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR)
• Sarah Littlechild, Research Associate • BC Network Environment For Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR)

Moderator: Asma-na-hi Antoine, Director, Indigenous Engagement, Royal Roads University

Session 2: 1pm - 3:30pm

Asking the Right Questions: Community Respect and Safety:

• Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, and Social Policy • University of Victoria
• Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, Professor & Distinguished University Scholar, Director, School of Nursing • University of British Columbia
• Dr. Caroline Sanders, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Programs, School of Nursing • University of Northern British Columbia
• Dr. Katrina Plamondon, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health and Social Development, School Of Nursing • UBC Okanagan
• Dr. Dzifa Dordunoo, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing • University of Victoria

Moderator: Dr. Malcolm Steinberg, Director of Public Health Programs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Session 3: 9:30am - 12pm

National Harmonization: Where Are We Now? :

• Hanan Abdel-Akher , Senior Policy Analyst, Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research • Government of Canada
• Stacey Beck, Senior Consultant, Systems Development, Office of Research Services • University of Calgary
• Susan Babcock, Director, Research Ethics Office • University of Alberta
• Richard Carpentier, Principal Investigator and Strategic Policy Advisor • Canadian Collaboration for Child Health: Efficiency and Excellence in the Ethics Review of Research
• Terri Fleming, Unit Director, Research Ethics BC • Health Research BC

Moderator: Laurel Evans, Director of Research Ethics at The University of British Columbia

With more speakers to be announced!

Make sure to register early as this is an event you will not want to miss.

Special thanks to the organizing committee for planning:

• Simon Fraser University Research Ethics: Kim Lajoie
• UBC Research Ethics: Laurel Evans and Maria Valente
• UNBC Research Ethics: Isobel Hartley
• University of Victoria Research Ethics: Kenna Miskelly
• UBC Okanagan Research Ethics: Lisa Shearer
• Research Ethics BC: Terri Fleming, Rachel Chan and Jessica Phillips

• Dr. Michelle Pidgeon: Director, Centre for the Study of Educational Leadership & Policy • Simon Fraser University: Dr. Michelle Pidgeon, (Mi’kmaq ancestry) is the inaugural Associate Dean, Indigeneity ʔək̓ʷstənəq ts'up'new̓ásentas and an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Pidgeon is passionate about higher education, student services, and Indigeneity. Theoretically and methodologically, her work is guided by an Indigenous wholistic framework with the intentional goals of: 1) transforming the educational system for Indigenous peoples and 2) empowering their cultural integrity. One of her ongoing projects is Understanding Indigenous ethics and wholism within academic and Aboriginal community research (SSHRC Insight Grant), which a comparative study exploring Indigenous scholars in the social sciences in Canadian and New Zealand universities navigation of their Indigenous ethics and research ethics boards.
• Sarah Littlechild, Research Associate • BC Network Environment For Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR): Sarah is a Nehiyaw and Ukrainian iskwew (woman) originally from Treaty 6 territory (Alberta). Her community is the Ermineskin Cree Nation in Maskwacis (formally Hobbema), but she grew up largely in Edmonton and has resided as an uninvited guest on Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt Nations) and W̱SÁNEĆ lands (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, and Tseycum Nations) since 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria and is currently a student in UVIC’s Master of Social Work – Indigenous Specialization program. Using Indigenous methodologies, her beginning thesis research focuses on culturally centered, decolonial substance use and harm reduction knowledge of the urban Indigenous community. Besides coordinating this thesis, Sarah is working as both a Specialized Tutor with UVIC’s Center for Accessible Learning and on contract as a Research Assistant with the BC-NEIHR, where she is conducting an environmental scan of BC Research Ethics Boards' (REBs’) ethical review processes surrounding research alongside Indigenous peoples and communities.
• Tara Erb, Network Coordinator • BC Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR): Tara is of mixed Moose Cree First Nation from Moose Factory and French European ancestry and grew up in Toronto, Ontario. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at the University of Victoria (UVic) and recently finished her Master of Arts in Sociology from UVic, with a research focus on facilitating Indigenous cultural safety and anti-racism training. Her research interests include: Indigenous health and wellness, Indigenous cultural safety, anti-racism facilitation, Indigenous research ethics and social theory. Currently, Tara is the Network Coordinator of the BC NEIHR (British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research) residing as a guest on the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEC peoples territory.​
• Asma-na-hi Antoine, Director, Indigenous Engagement • Royal Roads University: Asma-na-hi Antoine is from Toquaht Nation of the Nuu-chah-nulth lands (west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada). She resides in Lekwungen (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) traditional lands (Victoria, B.C.). She is the Director for Indigenous Engagement at Royal Roads University (RRU) and is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Doctor of Philosophy Educational Theory and Practice program at Simon Fraser University. She believes her life and work are connected to a strong foundation of Indigenous ways of knowing and being used in the way she communicates, trains, and facilitates teachings about reconciliation, decolonization, and the history, present and future of Indigenous people. She continues to walk between two worlds: Indigenous and non-Indigenous and is committed to building and sustaining a culturally safe place for all.
• Dr. Caroline Sanders, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Programs, School of Nursing • University of Northern British Columbia : Dr. Caroline Sanders, MBE is an Associate Professor and Registered Nurse in the School of Nursing at UNBC where she has been a faculty member since 2016. Her research interests stem from her longstanding nursing career in the UK and lie in applied methods focused on rare conditions across the lifespan, specifically intersex, as well as research focused on early childhood (0-8yrs) with vulnerable populations. Caroline has served in a range of roles within the University and is presently Acting Chair. Her connections with the wider community continue to grow and she values her work in Primary Care where she can maintain clinical skills in practice and focus on building partnerships with families and providers.
• Dr. Dzifa Dordunoo, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing • University of Victoria: Dzifa Dordunoo PhD, RN, a native of Dzodze, Ghana, is assistant professor at the University of Victoria, school of nursing. Her recent research focuses on metal hypersensitivity and racism as predictors of patient outcomes. Dzifa has co-authored book chapter, published several articles in peer-reviewed journals as well as in turn, serving as a reviewer for several journals. She earned her bachelor's degree (with distinction) from University of Victoria (Canada) and holds a master’s degree from Duke University (USA) with post-master's certificate in clinical research management and teaching. She completed her doctoral education at the University of Maryland Baltimore (USA). She is currently the president of the Coalition of African, Caribbean and Black Nurses in British Columbia.​
• Dr. Dzifa Dordunoo, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing • University of Victoria: Dzifa Dordunoo PhD, RN, a native of Dzodze, Ghana, is assistant professor at the University of Victoria, school of nursing. Her recent research focuses on metal hypersensitivity and racism as predictors of patient outcomes. Dzifa has co-authored book chapter, published several articles in peer-reviewed journals as well as in turn, serving as a reviewer for several journals. She earned her bachelor's degree (with distinction) from University of Victoria (Canada) and holds a master’s degree from Duke University (USA) with post-master's certificate in clinical research management and teaching. She completed her doctoral education at the University of Maryland Baltimore (USA). She is currently the president of the Coalition of African, Caribbean and Black Nurses in British Columbia.​
• Dr. Katrina Plamondon, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health and Social Development, School Of Nursing • UBC Okanagan : Dr. Katrina Plamondon is an Assistant Professor and Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. An Indigenous woman scholar of Cree and settler ancestry and a Registered Nurse, her work as an equity scholar is grounded in critical anti-oppressive pedagogy and relational theory and practices. Her research focuses on critical questions about how to facilitate integration of equity-centred principles and practices across sectors and settings, equipping people to engage in practices, partnerships, policy and society in ways that contribute to more equitable futures. She plays a national leadership role in advancing health equity.
• Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, and Social Policy • University of Victoria: Nathan Lachowsky is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Social Policy, and Special Advisor Health Research, at the University of Victoria. He also serves as Research Director for the Community Based Research Centre, a non-profit organization that promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development. Nathan champions interdisciplinary community-based population health research with 2SLGBTQQIA+ people using a social justice framework in order to achieve health equity.​
• Dr. Malcolm Steinberg, Director of Public Health Programs, Faculty of Health Sciences • Simon Fraser University: Malcolm Steinberg is the Director of Public Health and Accreditation in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. He serves as the medical expert on the SFU REB. Dr Steinberg is an MD with postgraduate training in epidemiology and occupational health. His research interests are focused on early detection of preventable diseases, Indigenous health and wellness, and primary health care.
• Hanan Abdel-Adkher, Senior Policy Analyst, Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research • Government of Canada: Hanan Abdel-Akher is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research. Her role includes interpreting the second edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, developing new ethics guidance in response to emerging issues, and familiarizing the research community with the Policy through outreach and education. Prior to joining the Secretariat, Hanan was Program Officer at NSERC delivering various grants and scholarships programs at the Scholarships and Fellowships as well as Strategic Grants directorates of NSERC.  Hanan holds a Master in Public Ethics, a joint program of the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University. She completed several graduate courses towards a Master of Business Administration, and earned a graduate certificate in Program Evaluation at the University of Ottawa.
• Richard Carpentier is currently Principal Investigator on the CIHR funded project: Canadian Collaboration for Child Health: Efficiency and Excellence in the Ethics Review of Research (CHEER). He is Chair of the Research ethics board at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa and associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health science at the University of Sherbrooke. He has served as Chair of the REB at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, manager of the Research Ethics Office at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. He has also served as the Executive Director for the National Council on Ethics in Human Research (NCEHR).
• Susan Babcock - Director, Research Ethics Office • University of Alberta: A career academic administrator, Susan has worked at the University of Alberta for more than 30 years. Her past incarnations include: University governance, Faculty management, research grants administration and sessional teaching, as well as management of two externally funded centres. As Director of the Research Ethics Office, she is accountable for the strategic and operational framework for effective administration of ethics requirements for research involving humans and research, teaching and testing involving animals. She brings that expertise to institutional initiatives related to research with Indigenous communities, research data management and research integrity. As well she is responsible for management of research ethics complaints and non-compliance. A past member of the CAREB Board of Director, Susan has been a member of the CIHR Stem Cell Oversight Committee since 2018. Her toolkit includes business skills (MBA), the ability to take a long view (MA Chinese History), an unhealthy fondness for policy work, very high tolerance for ambiguity and a good sense of humour. Susan combines irreverence and industriousness whenever possible.
• Terri Fleming, Unit Director, Research Ethics BC • Health Research BC: Terri Fleming joined BC AHSN as the Director for Research Ethics BC after successfully leading the BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative as the Chair of the Advisory Committee. While working with Island Health as the Manager of Research Ethics and Compliance, Terri used her skills in project management to guide the successful implementation of harmonized research ethics review processes within BC. Terri holds an MBA in business change management and two qualifications in Project Management, as well as being a qualified Good Clinical Practice (GCP) auditor.
• Laurel Evans, Director of the Office of Research Ethics • University of British Columbia: Laurel oversees the operations of the human research protections program of the University and its affiliated hospitals. (Currently six REBs.) Her prior experience includes three years at McMaster University in a combined role of Sr. Ethics Advisor and Legal Counsel – Clinical Trials, and almost two years with St. Michael’s Hospital where she had responsibility for contract review and special projects. Laurel was the legal representative on the Ontario Cancer Research Ethics Board and an adjunct professor at McMaster where she taught health law, policy and ethics in the Health Studies and Health Sciences programs. She is a past President of the Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards. Laurel was the initial lead contact for the BC Ethics Harmonization Initiative when the grant was first funded by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. Her office lead the development of the Provincial Research Ethics Board Platform, creating a separate work-space for multi-jurisdictional reviews in British Columbia, leveraging off of UBC’s online system.