The Panel "develops, interprets and implements the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans" (TCPS),[1] as updated in 2014,[2] and the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR Framework),[3] which was updated in 2016,[4] and again in 2021.
[5] The Panel "is composed of 12 members drawn from across [Canada] to represent a wide spectrum of expertise and experience in the ethics of human research."
(HSR)[6] The Panel's main function is to tend to the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS), originally conceived in 2001.
Because the individual Agencies represent the pinnacle of research success with the best pay in Canada, their statement on ethics is an embodiment of soft power:[7] The Agencies require that researchers and their institutions apply the ethical principles and the articles of this Policy and be guided by the Application sections of the articles.
[8] In September 2018, the McGill University REB was required to approve a study performed in the nation of India because some researchers who were employed at McGill desired to participate in a study of tuberculosis care in that nation, and due to the requirements of the TCPS a waiver of provider informed consent was sought from the McGill REB.