The operational approval process allows for the review and approval of research projects conducted within Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) facilities or projects that utilize VCH resources. This includes, but is not limited to chart review, data access, patients, staff or the posting of research recruitment materials on its property and through its communication channels.
In addition to REB approval, a formal VCH certificate of approval must be obtained before you begin your research study at VCH.
Contact or submit application documents to the Coordinator, Research Approvals. The ethics application number must be included in the email subject line when submitting an application.
Apply for operational approval
The stages of operational approval include:
- Guidelines: All research study team members for projects seeking operational approval at VCHRI must first review the terms in the Confidentiality Undertaking. Investigators must also ensure they have membership status at VCHRI. Refer to the Guidance Notes for VCH Operational Approval for assistance with completing the application for VCHRI operational approval.
- Operational Application: Investigators must complete and sign the application form for operational approval and obtain signatures from managers of all the departments, units or clinics that are affected by the research by completing the Community of Care Signature Sheet. If a manager of a department, unit or clinic requires an impact analysis, investigators must provide a completed Research Impact Analysis with their application for operational approval.
CoC Signature Sheet
Operational Approval Application - Yearly Renewal: Operational approval is valid for one year. If the research study remains active after one year, investigators must complete a request for Renewal of Operational Approval.
- Study Closure: Once all data collection and analysis procedures have been completed, the study is considered closed and investigators must submit a Notification of Study Completion or Termination.
Study recruitment support
VCHRI provides resources to help researchers expand their reach and engage more potential study participants. To request recruitment support, investigators with operational approval must fill out and submit the Recruitment Support Form on the Study Recruitment Support page.
Unit-Specific Resources
Medical Devices used in Research:
- VCH Research Device Guidance
- Application for Market Device in Research
- Application for Non-Critical Research Device
- Application for Non-Market Research Device
- Application for Variance Market Device
Biomedical Engineering:
- Electrically-powered Medical Devices – Clinical Environment
- Electrically-powered Medical Devices – Non Clinical Environment
- Device Assessment and Device Exclusion List
Operating Room and Anatomical Pathology:
- Guidelines for VCH Operating Rooms and Tissue Collection
- Operating Room Research Form
- Specimen Collection for Research - Special Handling Instructions
- Processing of Research Specimens
- VCH Anatomical Pathology Research Policy
- Anatomic Pathology Laboratory Resource Utilization
- UBCH Surgical Suite Label for Shuttle
- AP 4028 Processing of Research (for reference only)
Radiology:
- Radiology – Research Application Intake Form
- Radiology – Integrated Medical Imaging Research
- Radiology – Screening Checklist
- Radiology – CT Study Template
- Radiology – IR Study Template
- Radiology – MRI Study Template
- Radiology – Nuclear Medicine Study Template
- Radiology – US Study Template
- Radiology – X-ray Study Template
Cardiology:
Laboratory: