When is continuing review of approved research required?

• A. Only at initial approval.
• B. When risks are present or when the research involves ongoing participation or modifications; REB oversight continues.
• C. For all studies annually regardless of risk.
• D. When the study ends.

Answer: (B)

Continuing review is triggered by the ongoing protection needs of participants. In TCPS 2, the Research Ethics Board keeps overseeing approved research as long as there are risks to participants, ongoing participation by people in the study, or changes to the study that could affect risk, benefit, or consent. When any of those conditions exist, the study must be re-evaluated to ensure it still meets ethical standards, that risks remain minimized, and that participants’ rights and welfare are protected.

This is why the best answer is that continuing review is required when risks are present or when the research involves ongoing participation or modifications; the REB’s oversight continues in those situations. If a study has no ongoing risk, no ongoing participant involvement, and no changes to the protocol or consent, continuing review would not be triggered in the same way, and it is not simply automatic every year for all studies. It also isn’t limited to ending the study, since that would occur after the research has concluded, not during its conduct.