CTO’s streamlined research ethics review program makes clinical trials more efficient and cost-effective by enabling a single ethics review for multi-site studies. CTO Stream, enables all research sites participating in a multi-site research study to undergo a single ethics review rather than separately applying to their local research ethics boards. This reduces the time and labour required to obtain research ethics approval.
High-quality ethical review is critical to protecting the rights and welfare of people participating in clinical research studies. Up until 2015, each hospital or research site in Ontario participating in a study typically acquired its own local review, spending significant time and public resources on an inefficient process duplicated across participating sites. Developed in partnership with Infonetica Ltd, CTO Stream is a web-based platform that has transformed how research ethics review is done, enabling a single ethics review for multiple research sites participating on the same study.
If you have a multi-site study, the ethics review will be done by one CTO Qualified REB.
Sites will use the same ethics application forms and standardized consent form templates.
Getting ethics approval for additional sites is quicker and more efficient.
All reviews are conducted by a CTO Qualified REB, ensuring the highest ethical standards are maintained.
CTO Stream users
research studies
applications for research ethics approval received
in estimated cost savings to Ontario
Working with REBs and institutions across Canada, CTO has built a system that allows one Research Ethics Board (REB) to oversee the ethical conduct of research occurring at multiple sites. All reviews are conducted by a CTO Qualified REB, ensuring the highest ethical standards are maintained.
Once the Provincial application is approved by the designated REB of Record, each site submits the Participating Site Initial Application to the REB of Record. These abbreviated Centre applications are submitted through CTO Stream and reviewed by the same REB which approved the initial study-wide application.
Once the study-wide initial application is approved, all non-consent participant materials (i.e. posters, wallet cards, diaries, etc.) are ready for use by all sites (allowing for administrative changes) minimizing the need for re-submission and re-review by the REB.
During the course of the research, study-wide changes, amendments, documents etc. are submitted study-wide, and approved/acknowledged simultaneously for all sites. Sites are responsible for site-specific submissions pertaining to changes or events occurring at their own research site.
With CTO Stream, all ethics reviews are conducted by a CTO Qualified REB, ensuring the highest ethical standards are maintained. Obtaining CTO REB Qualification allows institutions and REBs to feel confident delegating ethics review and oversight to one other.
