REB Fees

Initial human research ethics board fees for industry-sponsored research studies are $3,500. These fees cover costs of initial and ongoing reviews of all new applications, regardless of whether the proposed industry-sponsored research project is investigator-initiated or sponsor-initiated.

  • Initial REB Review: $3,500 CAD
  • Major Amendments:* $500 CAD
  • Renewals: $500 CAD

Initial Review Fee

An initial REB review fee of $3,500 CAD is required for each new application funded by a for-profit entity (e.g., pharmaceutical/medical device company) or other for-profit organization. This fee is charged regardless of the review's outcome.

Major Amendments

A $500 CAD fee will be charged for all major amendments, which include those that alter the risk-benefit assessment of the research. The REB may also classify an amendment as major based on the level of review required to approve the amendment. 

This amendment fee will be charged at the time of each amendment review and ONLY applies to those new submissions submitted on or after July 1, 2015.

*Examples of Major & Minor Amendments 

Annual Renewal Fee

A $500 CAD is charged for continuing ethics review ONLY for those new submissions submitted on or after July 1, 2015. This continuing review fee will be charged at the time of each annual renewal/continuing review. 

Reduced Fee Eligibility and Criteria

If the total budget of a project is under $25,000, the review fee will be reduced to $500 rather than $3,500. All other protocols are subject to the standard $3500 review fee. Major amendments (as needed) and review renewal fees (annual) are charged at $500 each

Invoicing and Payment

The principal investigator remains responsible for communicating REB fee requirements to sponsors and for providing the sponsor’s billing information.

To streamline the fee payment process, contract reviewers at Western and Lawson will make efforts to negotiate the $3,500 REB fee into the study startup fee when negotiating agreements with industry sponsors. Research accounts will be debited for the REB fee upon initial account opening for each agreement.

Each researcher, or their delegate, is responsible for invoicing the sponsor for startup costs (including the REB fee). When the contract reviewer is unable to negotiate the $3,500 REB fee into the start-up fee, Western Research will issue an invoice directly to the sponsor. 

The sponsor is expected to pay the REB fee within 30 days of receipt of the invoice. The REB retains the right to withhold an Approval Notice until the REB fee is paid.

Contact

For more information, please contact Erika Basile, Director, Research Ethics & Compliance