REBA Harmonization and Education Event 2025

Please note that this is a closed, invite-only event for Research Ethics Board Administrators (REBAs) in BC.

This annual event is dedicated to REBAs in BC and supports the research ethics community to come together in-person. Held this year at the Granville Island Hotel, the REBA Harmonization and Education Event will focus on bringing REBAs together to educate, inspire, advance harmonization efforts and discuss important topics on research ethics in BC.

Event highlights include:

• Learning sessions on important research ethics topics, like emerging trends, advancing EDI, and Indigenous cultural safety
• Dedicated time for REBAs of different experience levels and backgrounds to mingle, network and learn from each other
• Opportunity to discuss case studies, ask questions and share knowledge

Full agenda to follow closer to the date. This year, the event is co-organized by Research Ethics BC, UBC, UBCO and Interior Health. Funding was provided by Michael Smith Health Research BC and the BC SUPPORT Unit.

Speakers

Lawrence (Larry) Mróz

Larry has researched how people experience various health conditions, including cancer, and how this might impact their health behaviour. Larry is the Patient and Community Engagement Lead with the BC SUPPORT Unit, Michael Smith Health Research BC.

In this role he supports health organizations and researchers to work with other interest-holders including non-researchers, patients, family members, caretakers, clinicians, and health-system decision-makers, to help build their capacity to contribute to the research process. Engaging these interest-holders in research supports learning communities that result in research outcomes that can improve health care practice. This work involves educating and training researchers, patient/family/public partners, health care providers and policy decision makers in patient-oriented research practices that enhance learning health system approaches.

Munaza Jamil

Munaza has 25 years of experience in the world of clinical trials. She is passionate about EDI principles, integrating them into all her work, with a special focus on the inclusion of immigrants in clinical trials. She is on Faculty at McMaster University, where she teaches in the Applied Clinical Research Program. She is the EDIA champion at N2 Canada and also chairs the N2 Public Engagement Committee. She is on the executive board of ACRP Canada. She also sits on the Joint Task Force for Clinical Trials Competency at the MRCT Center at Harvard, which has defined the core competency framework for clinical research professionals globally.

Members of the REBA Harmonization and Education Event Planning Committee:

• Alison Orth, Research Programs, Health Research BC
• Dorothy Herbert, Research Ethics Board, Interior Health
• Gillian Corless, Reconciliation and Development, Health Research BC
• Jessica Chu, Research Ethics BC, Health Research BC
• Kristine Ho, Communications, Health Research BC
• Lisa Shearer, Office of Research Services, University of British Columbia Okanagan
• Maria Valente, Office of Research Ethics, University of British Columbia
• Pia Ganz, Office of Research Ethics, University of British Columbia
• Rachel Chan, Research Ethics BC, Health Research BC