Featuring the Joint GHC/SAH Research Ethics Board

Health care research is essential because it leads to medical advances, improves patient care, and ensures treatments are safe and effective. Research transforms lab discoveries into new treatments, diagnostic tools, and vaccines that help people live healthier, longer lives. It also supports evidence-based care, helps reduce health care costs, and addresses important health challenges.

The Joint Group Health Centre (GHC) and Sault Area Hospital (SAH) Research Ethics Board (REB) is an independent, volunteer board that supports and oversees clinical research at both organizations. The REB office acts as the central point for ethics review at SAH and ensures the protection of privacy, rights and well-being of research participants.

GHC and SAH are committed to the highest ethical standards for all research involving people. The REB reviews all proposed and ongoing research involving GHC and/or SAH patients, staff, physicians, students, residents, and organizational information. The Board may approve studies, request changes, reject proposals, or stop research if needed. Its top priority is protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of patients, researchers, the organizations, and the community. The REB also provides education, guidance, and support to researchers throughout the ethics review process.

In addition to ethical oversight, the REB office tracks research activity to help GHC and SAH understand what research is happening, where it is taking place, and who is leading it. In 2025, the REB approved 17 new studies and closed 15 studies. It also oversaw approximately 83 ongoing studies and reviewed more than 180 submissions related to these projects.

The REB is made up of a cross section of health professionals, the majority of which have volunteered for a minimum of 10 years. Administrative support is provided by SAH through a Coordinator and an Administrative Assistant, who also serve as ex officio members.

The work of the REB is vital—without it, research could not move forward. We sincerely thank our dedicated REB volunteers for their time, expertise, and commitment to upholding the highest standards of health care research ethics.

 

Shown Above:

L to R (Top): Dr. Steven Bondar, Natalie Walde and Mary Davies

L to R (Bottom): Dr. Brian Mitchell (Chair), Connie Tassone

Missing from photo: Lucas Febbraro, Reverend Bruce McLeish, Mark Febbraro and Enzo Turchet