Are official agreements between institutions required for multi-jurisdictional minimal risk research?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. It depends on the funder
• D. Not specified

Answer: (B)

When research crosses jurisdictional lines, ethics oversight can be centralized or shared by relying on one institution’s REB. You don’t have to have official inter-institutional agreements in place just to conduct minimal risk, multi-site work. The key is that protections for participants are maintained across all sites—clear consent processes, privacy safeguards, and ongoing oversight—whether another institution’s REB review is relied upon, or a central REB provides the review. Mechanisms for reliance or recognition of another REB’s approval are acceptable ways to manage multi-site ethics review, and formal contracts aren’t an automatic requirement. Funders or institutions may have their own requirements, but the policy itself does not mandate inter-institutional agreements for minimal risk research.