Research Archived

​About Us

We have positioned ourselves as a leader in the area of home care research. The organization has participated in projects and initiatives that span the boundaries of age, race, class, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and disability.

RESEARCH THEMES

We've identified four primary and four cross-cutting themes which will assist in providing a structure for guiding research initiated by us, as well as providing a lens through which externally initiated research projects can be viewed for consideration. 

These themes will not necessarily serve to limit or preclude other unique and innovative areas of enquiry that have the potential to assist in informing better home care delivery, but may, through collaborative discussion and planning, prove valuable in ensuring research questions are structured in such a way as to enhance their relevance and applicability to homecare delivery. To learn more about our themes, please refer to the Research Framework.

Partnerships

• VHA Home Health Care       
• St. Elizabeth
• Spectrum Health Care
• West Park Healthcare Centre
• St. Michael's Hospital
• Hospital for Sick Children
• Mount Sinai Hospital
• Other Toronto teaching hospitals
• Community Care Access Centres
• University of Toronto
• York University
• University of Waterloo
• Ryerson University

Policy and Guidelines for Conduct of Research 

Policy and Guidelines for Conduct of Research

Research Strategy Summary

Any research or study conducted at the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), including those with affiliated partners (e.g. hospitals, service providers, universities) or undertaken by persons connected to the Toronto Central CCAC, involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the Joint West Park Healthcare Centre-Toronto Central CCAC-Toronto Grace Health Centre Research Ethics Board (JREB) and the Toronto Central CCAC Research Advisory Council (RAC). 

In some cases, a research project may need to be reviewed by more than one Board or Committee. If you think this applies to your research, please contact the Research Department.

Joint Research Ethics board (JREB)

The Joint West Park Healthcare Centre – Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) – Toronto Grace Health Centre Research Ethics Board (hereafter referred to as the JREB) exists to ensure that all research involving human subjects (hereafter referred to as "Research") conducted under the auspices of the institutions West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto Central CCAC and Toronto Grace Health Centre (hereafter called the Partnering Institutions) meet the highest scientific and ethical standards.

Ethics are principles of right conduct guiding "what ought to be done." In the context of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Guidelines on Research Involving Human Subjects, the JREB subscribes to the following ethical principles that are commonly held and valued by diverse research disciplines:

• Respect for Persons;
• Concern for Welfare;
• Justice
   

Role of the JREB

The JREB is responsible for reviewing all Research protocols to ensure that Research proposals are reviewed in accordance with Tri-Council standards. Moreover, the JREB will operate in compliance with International (ICH Good Clinical Practices: Consolidated Guidelines), Canadian (Health Canada Division 5 of the Food and Drug Act Regulations and the Tri-Council Policy Statement), and Ontario (Personal Health Information Protection Act) standards which govern the composition and function of Canadian REBs. In addition, the JREB is established to be compliant with U.S. regulations (Food and Drug Act, TITLE 45 – Code of Federal Regulations Part 46: Protection of Human Subjects, and the regulations of the Office of Human Protections).
 

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS:

JREB Operating Procedures

JREB Research Policy

APPLICATION PROCESS

All application submitted to Toronto Central CCAC are processed by the Research Department.

Please refer to the Application Checklist to ensure you submit a complete application package

STEP 1.  OPERATIONAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

All research applications require operational impact assessment by a Toronto Central CCAC manager or director responsible for the department where the research will be conducted.

STEP 2.  PREPARING THE RESEARCH APPLIATION

The following documents must be included with your research application:

1)    Cover letter addressed to Dr. Ron Heslegrave, Chair, JREB

2)    JREB Application form

• JREB Research Application Form (see also JREB Application Form Guidelines); or
• JREB Application form for Access to Retrospective Data for Research

3)    Study protocol*

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Methods
• Clinical Relevance
• Operational Impact
• Budget information
• Project Time Line
• References
• Informed Consent Form (written in lay terms)
  *Please include Dr. Heslegrave's information:
  Dr. Ron Heslegrave, Chair, Joint Research Ethics Board
  West Park Healthcare Centre
  82 Buttonwood Avenue, Toronto, ON M6M 2E6
  (416) 243-3600 x4333
• Appendices

4)    Research Study Operational Impact Assessment form signed by a Toronto Central CCAC Director or Manager

5)    Abbreviated CVs (no longer than 7 pgs) for PI and co-applicants

6)    Previous REB ethics certificates, if available (External researchers must provide an REB ethics certificate from their institutional REB.  This requirement is waived only if their home institution does not operate an REB) 

* Note that for retrospective chart applications, a protocol/proposal is not required provided that the Form for Access to Retrospective Data for Research is sufficiently complete to justify the scientific purpose and the waiver of consent. Please err on the side of more information. Should the Chair deem it necessary, a protocol/proposal might be requested mainly for the purposes of supplementing the form.  The goal is to reduce the burden on investigators seeking chart review approval only though sufficient justification from a scientific, ethical and privacy perspective is still required.

STEP 3: SUBMITTING THE RESEARCH APPLICATION
Please send the following:

Full Review

1. The original and 2 extra copies (with signatures) of the complete application package to:
   Ruby Paner
   Research and Knowledge Mobilization
   Toronto Central CCAC
   250 Dundas Street West, Suite 305
2. An electronic copy of the complete application package (with signatures) to Ruby.Paner@toronto.ccac-ont.ca
   
   
   Expedited Review

1. The original and 1 extra copy (with signatures) of the complete application package to the above address.
2. An electronic copy of the complete application package (with signatures) to Ruby.Paner@toronto.ccac-ont.ca
   
   For assistance with application submissions and operational impact assessment please contact Ruby Paner at (416) 217-3820 x2120.
    
   

APPLICATION FORMS 

Application Checklist

Application forms (2)

Operational impact assessment form

Renewal/Termination Form

JREB Application Guidelines

MEETING SCHEDULES AND DEADLINES

The Joint Research Ethics Board (JREB) meeting every second Tuesday of each month and deadlines vary on the type of review.

Full BOARD Review

Application packages must be received in the research office, no later than three weeks prior to the meeting date (third Tuesday of the month). Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed at the following meeting in the next month. These meetings take place the second Tuesday of each month from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

2017 JREB Schedule

Expedited Review

No deadline.

A number of research projects have been completed, many new research initiatives are underway and more are in the planning stages. Ongoing research is an integral part of the overall operation of the Toronto Central CCAC, as managers, service providers, staff and clients participate in a broad range of initiatives, in cooperation with academic institutions, hospitals, other Community Care Access Centres and community-based organizations.

The following are lists of past and present projects Toronto Central CCAC either led, supported or participated in.

 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

• 2007 - 2008
• 2008 - 2009
• 2009 - 2010
• 2010 - 2011
• 2011 - 2012
• 2012 - 2013
• 2013 - 2014
• 2014 - 2015
• 2015 - 2016

Where research meets client experience: Toronto Central CCAC partners with York University

November 7^th 2013, Toronto – Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) and York University have entered into a formal partnership to collaborate on joint research and training opportunities in the home and community care sector.

See media release for more information 

2nd Edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS2)

Staff and graduate students of the Toronto Central CCAC can increase their knowledge and understanding of research ethics by reading the 2^nd edition of Tri-Council Policy Statement for the Ethical Conduct for Research involving Humans (TCPS2). 

This policy is available at:  http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/policystatement.cfm

Staff and graduate students can also enhance their understanding and appreciation of research and the ethical principles and ethical conduct that guides research, by taking the Tri-Council Policy Statement, 2^nd ed (TCPS2) tutorial. The TCPS tutorial is free and can be completed in about two hours.

The tutorial is available at: http://tcps2core.ca/welcome

Contact Us:

Tim Pauley

Manager, Research and Knowledge Mobiliation

(416)217-3820 ext. 2628

tim.pauley@toronto.ccac-ont.ca

Ruby Paner

Research Coordinator, Research and Knowledge Mobilization

(416) 217-3820 ext. 2120

ruby.paner@toronto.ccac-ont.ca