Preamble

The Sponsors' Table is a group of organizations that shares a common interest in promoting research involving humans that meets the highest standards in excellence and ethics. This interest includes exploring new ways to encourage ethical practice. One such approach, often suggested in this context, is a system of accreditation or alternative system for human research participant protection.

In large part, research organizations in Canada operate to high ethical standards and involve the dedication of many people. The current system of human research participant protection faces increasing pressures related to issues such as governance, transparency and public accountability. To address these pressures, the research community needs a shared vision that will define and build a process that further develops a system to protect research participants while facilitating research that is important to society. Given the national and international implications, it is time for all players to work together toward common solutions based on an open and transparent process.

In response, the Sponsors' Table has come together to facilitate a process to develop and assess an accreditation or alternative system for human research participant protection taking into consideration all relevant sectors and players in Canada. The Sponsors' Table aims to support a thoughtful consideration of accreditation or alternative system without prejudice to the final outcome of such a discussion. It will focus on accreditation or alternative systems in such a way that questions and issues are raised in an open and transparent context.

The Sponsors' Table consists of:

• Alberta Ministry of Health and Wellness,
  
• The Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations,
  
• The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada,
  
• The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada,
  
• The Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards,
  
• Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies,
  
• The Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences,
  
• The Canadian Institutes of Health Research,
  
• Fond de la recherche en santé du Québec,
  
• Health Canada,
  
• Health Charities Coalition of Canada
  
• The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
  
• Research Canada
  
• The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council,
  
• The National Council on Ethics in Human Research,
  
• The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and
  
• The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Terms

• All members of the Sponsors' Table will facilitate the work of the Experts Committee for Human Research Participant Protection in Canada to ensure it completes its work with integrity and efficiency.
  
• The Sponsors' Table will be chaired by Dr. Michel Brazeau former CEO of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
  
• The Sponsors' Table will meet at the request of the Chair.

The Sponsors' Table will:

• Establish an Experts Committee to provide expert advice on the development of a system for human research participant protection in Canada, considering accreditation and alternative models, and taking into account different levels and types of risk in research. This process will include an assessment of existing means of ensuring human research participant protection for various types of research and of the gaps that such a system would address.
  
• Reach out to other organizations that share a common interest in promoting high ethical standards in the conduct of research involving humans. The Table's membership may change over time, and may allow for ex officio or observer status for some organizations.
  
• Provide the terms of reference for the Experts Committee.
  
• Facilitate the work of the Experts Committee through funding and in-kind support as appropriate and within the financial capacity of each member.
  
• At its request, provide advice and support to the Experts Committee. The Experts Committee has full authority with regard to the substantive elements of its work.
  
• Monitor the progress of the Experts Committee and require that it meets its time lines as set within its work plan.
  
• Establish a virtual Secretariat from among organizations forming the Sponsors' Table. The Secretariat will work with all member organizations of the Sponsors' Table.
  
• Develop a common communications strategy for the Sponsors' Table that will ensure broad awareness of the initiative among all Canadian stakeholders and effective exchange with the Experts Committee. This will involve, among other elements, each Sponsor's regular communication channels.
  
• Members of the Sponsors' Table will, both individually and collectively and along with others involved in human research participant protection, utilize the Experts Committee's findings and recommendations to consider next steps, in accordance with each respective organization's mandate and responsibilities.