ver the next few months, many changes will be introduced that may affect REBs’ workloads and even procedures. The creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), as mentioned in the Editorial, is one of these. New regulations from the Federal Government, for example regulations for the development of new medicines, are also in the making and may bring along some significant changes. Please make sure that you stay in touch with us so that we can alert you to important changes. You may create or update your entry in our REB database by accessing our website (http://ncehr-cnerh.org). You may also subscribe to our list server through the website and be part of ongoing discussions and questioning about research ethics.

Another workshop was held in Ottawa on August 30–31 to discuss the issues around the review of regulations affecting Phase I Research undertaken in the Therapeutic Products Program, at the Health Protection Branch of Health Canada. Again, an agreement was reached that should influence the upcoming regulatory changes. We are waiting to see the exact wording of the new regulations in order tobe able to assess any impact on REB work and liability.

This issue of Communiqué features part of the proceedings of the regional meetings we have been holding over the last year to introduce the Tri-Council Policy Statement. A further selection will appear in the next issue. As usual, the opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of Council. We chose to foster an open debate where, as you will be in a position to judge, controversy was present. We also introduce a new regular feature that will discuss web resources on research ethics. Chantal Beauvais, Education and Site Visit Co-ordinator, will be responsible for this section. She starts with a history and description of NCEHR’s website.

This issue is the last one that will be prepared under Bernadette Misigaro’s capable and dedicated hands. Bernadette is undertaking new challenges at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. We will miss her joyful presence but wish her good luck in her undertakings. With this issue we welcome Dima Dupéré as our new Assistant Editor.

Richard Carpentier
Editor in Chief

Notice to REBs

To keep our mailing lists current, please inform the NCEHR office of any changes to your committee: i.e., change of chairperson, number of members, change of address, etc.

For REBs (particularly non-medical REBs), which were not contacted by us as part of our summer 1998 mailing list update, please forward to us your name, numbers of members, address, telephone and fax numbers, areas of research ethics review, etc.

REBs may also update their mailing address from our website: ncehr-cnerh.org.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ETHICS
IN HUMAN RESEARCH (NCEHR):

Janet Storch,
President of NCEHR
Victoria, BC

Henry B. Dinsdale,
Past President of NCEHR
Kingston, ON

John Foerster,
Vice President of NCEHR
Winnipeg, MB

Françoise Baylis,
Halifax, NS

Laura Commanda,
Ottawa, ON

Kenneth Davey,
Toronto, ON

John Eberlee,
Orléans, ON

Kathleen Cranley Glass,
Montréal, QC

Glenn G. Griener,
Edmonton, AB

Joseph Kaufert,
Winnipeg, MB

Thérèse Leroux,
Montréal, QC

Barney Masuzumi,
Yellowknife, NT

Daphne Maurer,
Hamilton, ON

Barbara McGillivray,
Vancouver, BC

Marcel J. Mélançon,
Chicoutimi, QC

Jeffrey A. Nisker,
London, ON

Fernand Roberge,
Montréal, QC

Evelyn Shapiro,
Winnipeg, MB

Charles Weijer,
Halifax, NS

Richard Carpentier,
Executive Director
Ottawa, ON

EDITORIAL BOARD:

Fernand Roberge,
Montreal, QC

John Eberlee,
Orléans, ON

David Kaufman,
Halifax, NS

John M. Last,
Ottawa, ON

Guy Marchessault,
Ottawa, ON

Jeffrey A. Nisker,
London, ON

Richard Carpentier,
Editor in Chief, NCEHR

Dima Dupéré,
Assistant Editor, NCEHR

Philosophy:

Philosophy: Communiqué serves both as a forum for debate at the core of research ethics and as an official vehicle for Council positions and activities. Views expressed are not always those of the Council. Communiqué aims to have a balance of views in contentious areas, and to provide enlightening reading by seeking several divergent opinions wherever possible. Since research ethics transcends national boundaries, international perspectives and materials are welcome.

Letters to the Editor: Communiqué will carry comments, criticisms or questions about articles published. The original authors will be asked to respond to such letters as appropriate. The editor reserves the right to edit or abridge such letters due to space limitations. To be considered for publication, letters must not exceed 300 words. Decisions as to whether to publish letters to the editor will remain the prerogative of the editor of Communiqué, but if the writer believes that the editor is seriously in error in refusing to publish correspondence, an appeal can be made by the writer to the Chair of the Communications & Education Committee.

Subscriptions: Communiqué is published twice a year by NCEHR. A one-year subscription is $20.00 and a two-year subscription is $35.00. Please make cheques payable to NCEHR Communiqué, National Council on Ethics in Human Research, 774 Echo Drive, Ottawa, Canada K1S 5N8. Tel: (613) 730–6225; Fax: (613) 730–8251;

email: office@ncehr-cnerh.org; website: http://ncehr-cnerh.org

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