Terms of Use

1. About NER

Nova Ethical Review provides research ethics review, Board of Record services, human research oversight and compliance services, education, resources, consulting, and related services to researchers, institutions, organizations, sponsors, and other members of the research community.

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Information available through this website is intended to provide general information about NER and its services.

2. Website Information Is General Information Only

Information, resources, guidance, templates, educational materials, articles, and other content available on this website are provided for general informational and educational purposes.

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Website content does not constitute:

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• a Research Ethics Board decision or determination;

• research ethics approval;

• legal advice;

• regulatory advice;

• medical or clinical advice;

• institutional authorization;

• compliance certification; or

• professional advice applicable to any particular research project or circumstance.

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Research ethics, privacy, regulatory, institutional, legal, and compliance requirements may vary depending on the nature of a project, the institution involved, the jurisdiction, applicable legislation, funding requirements, and other circumstances.

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Users are responsible for obtaining appropriate professional, institutional, regulatory, or legal advice where required.

3. No Ethics Approval Created Through Website Use

Accessing the NER website, downloading materials, contacting NER, submitting an inquiry, or communicating with NER does not constitute research ethics approval or create a formal Research Ethics Board determination.

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A research project should not be considered approved, conditionally approved, acknowledged, exempt, or otherwise authorized by NER unless NER has issued an official written determination through its established review process.

4. Submission of Research Materials

Where NER permits research applications, documents, or other materials to be submitted electronically, users are responsible for ensuring that:

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• submissions are complete and accurate;

• information submitted is authorized for disclosure to NER;

• unnecessary identifiable or sensitive information is not included;

• all required supporting materials are provided; and

• the appropriate NER submission process is followed.

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Sending information to a general NER email address or through a general website contact form does not necessarily constitute a formal submission to an NER Research Ethics Board.

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A submission should not be considered received for formal review until receipt has been confirmed by NER or the submission appears within NER's designated review system, as applicable.

5. No Guarantee of Review Outcome or Timeline

NER cannot guarantee that a particular research application will be approved.

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Research ethics determinations are based on the information provided, applicable ethical principles, policies, laws, regulations, institutional requirements, and the independent judgment of the Research Ethics Board.

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Any review timelines identified on the website are estimates unless expressly stated otherwise.

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Review timelines may be affected by factors including the complexity of the research, completeness of the application, required revisions, availability of reviewers, need for additional expertise, or other circumstances.

6. Accuracy of Information

NER makes reasonable efforts to provide accurate and current information.

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However, research ethics requirements, legislation, regulations, guidance, policies, institutional requirements, and professional standards may change.

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NER does not warrant that all information available on the website will at all times be complete, accurate, current, or applicable to every circumstance.

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Where website information differs from an official written NER determination or agreement, the official written determination or agreement will govern.

7. User Responsibilities

You agree to use the website lawfully and responsibly.

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You must not:

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• use the website for unlawful, fraudulent, misleading, or abusive purposes;

• attempt to gain unauthorized access to NER systems, servers, accounts, databases, or information;

• interfere with the operation, security, or availability of the website;

• introduce malware, viruses, malicious code, or other harmful technology;

• attempt to circumvent security measures;

• impersonate another individual or organization;

• provide information that you are not authorized to provide;

• scrape, harvest, copy, or systematically extract website information through automated means without authorization; or

• use NER's name, materials, or website in a manner that falsely suggests NER approval, endorsement, accreditation, or affiliation.

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NER may restrict or terminate access to the website where misuse is suspected.

8. Accounts and Login Credentials

If NER provides users with accounts, portals, or secure login functionality, users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials.

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Users must promptly notify NER if they believe:

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• their account has been compromised;

• their password has been disclosed;

• unauthorized access has occurred; or

• information available through their account has been improperly accessed.

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Users are responsible for activity conducted through their accounts unless otherwise required by law.

9. Confidential and Sensitive Information

Research ethics applications may contain confidential, proprietary, sensitive, or personal information.

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Users must exercise appropriate care when submitting information to NER.

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Unless required for the applicable review or service, users should avoid submitting unnecessary:

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• personal information;

• personal health information;

• direct participant identifiers;

• passwords or authentication credentials;

• financial account information; or

• other highly sensitive information.

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NER's collection and handling of personal information is further described in the NER Privacy Policy.

10. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, the content of the NER website, including text, graphics, branding, logos, forms, resources, educational materials, templates, website design, and original content, is owned by or licensed to Nova Ethical Review and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

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Users may view and download publicly available materials for their own legitimate personal, professional, educational, institutional, or research-related use.

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Unless NER provides written permission, users may not:

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• sell or commercially redistribute NER materials;

• reproduce substantial portions of the website for publication;

• remove copyright or proprietary notices;

• modify NER materials and represent them as official NER materials;

• use the NER name or branding in a manner suggesting endorsement or affiliation; or

• reproduce proprietary NER forms, policies, procedures, training programs, or other materials for commercial purposes.

11. Third-Party Content and Links

The NER website may contain links to websites, publications, legislation, regulatory bodies, institutions, organizations, or other resources operated by third parties.

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Links are provided for convenience and informational purposes.

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NER does not control and is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, security, privacy practices, content, or services of third-party websites.

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A link from NER does not necessarily constitute endorsement of the third party or its views, products, or services.

12. Website Availability

NER may modify, update, suspend, restrict, or discontinue any portion of the website at any time.

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NER does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free access to the website.

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Temporary interruptions may occur because of maintenance, security concerns, technical problems, equipment failures, internet disruptions, or circumstances beyond NER's control.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the website and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.

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NER makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding:

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• uninterrupted availability of the website;

• absence of errors or technical problems;

• completeness or accuracy of website content;

• suitability of information for a particular research project or purpose; or

• outcomes resulting from reliance on website information.

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Nothing in this section limits obligations that cannot legally be excluded.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, NER and its directors, officers, employees, Research Ethics Board members, contractors, advisors, and representatives will not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or similar damages arising from or relating to:

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• use of or inability to use the website;

• reliance on general website information;

• errors or omissions in website content;

• interruptions or technical failures;

• third-party websites or services; or

• unauthorized access resulting from circumstances outside NER's reasonable control.

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Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

15. Agreements for NER Services

These Terms apply to use of the NER website.

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Research ethics review, Board of Record, oversight, consulting, monitoring, or other professional services provided by NER may also be governed by separate agreements, policies, procedures, submission requirements, or terms.

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If there is a conflict between these website Terms and a specific written agreement between NER and a client, institution, researcher, sponsor, or other organization, the specific written agreement will govern in relation to the services covered by that agreement.

16. Privacy

NER respects the privacy of individuals who use the website and engage with our services.

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The collection, use, disclosure, retention, and protection of personal information is described in the NER Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

17. Changes to These Terms

NER may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to its website, services, technology, practices, or legal requirements.

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The current version will be posted on the website together with its effective date.

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Continued use of the website after updated Terms are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms to the extent permitted by law.

18. Governing Law

These Terms and use of the NER website are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the applicable federal laws of Canada, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

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Subject to applicable law, disputes relating to these Terms or use of the website will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

20. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms of Use may be directed to:

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Nova Ethical Review (NER)
Email: info@novaethicsreview.ca

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Privacy-related questions or concerns may be directed to:

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Privacy Officer
Nova Ethical Review (NER)
Email: info@novaethicsreview.ca