The Research Ethics & Compliance team comprises the support teams for the research ethics boards, the animal care committee, and risk compliance support.

Team contacts

• Human Ethics: ethics@uwo.ca
• Internal Grants: acc@uwo.ca

Team Members

Erika Basile

Director, Research Ethics & Compliance

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 86764
Email: ebasile@uwo.ca

• Ensures research conducted at Western and its affiliates is accomplished at the highest level of compliance with all applicable institutional, local, provincial and federal regulations
• Provides senior expertise, guidance and leadership for human and animal ethics, research compliance and the safety program associated with the Animal Ethics and Care Program
• Ensures key institutional stakeholders are informed of research compliance matters as appropriate
• Ensures sufficient training and educational activities for staff, committee members and researchers regarding research compliance and ethical research conduct in both human and animal participants

Karen Gopaul

Manager, Quality and Research Compliance

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 87437
Email: karen.gopaul@uwo.ca

• Conducts continuous risk assessments of compliance-related programs and provides guidance, support, and education to ensure research is conducted in compliance with regulatory processes/requirements
• Manages Western’s cannabis research program; inventory and security of controlled substances used in research; the controlled goods program; and Western’s quality management system for clinical and non-clinical research
• Manages the quality assurance and research compliance oversight programs for human participant research to ensure adherence with applicable laws, regulations, policies and funding guidelines governing research
• Provides guidance and recommendations regarding financial conflicts of interest as it relates to NIH funding

Office of Human Research Ethics

Nicola Geoghegan-Morphet

Ethics Officer

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 84793
Email: ngeoghe@uwo.ca

• Primarily conducts reviews for the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, including multi-jurisdictional applications and submissions to Clinical Trials Ontario
• Provides advice and guidance on local REB requirements, study design, interpretation of applicable policies and regulations, development and implementation of the REBs’ guidance documents, the review process and ethics application content
• Provides outreach to the research community through REB application consultations and presentations
• Compiles and analyses metrics on REB reviews

Katelyn Harris

Ethics Officer

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 84793
Email: ngeoghe@uwo.ca

• Conducts reviews for the Non-Medical Research Ethics Board, including multi-jurisdictional applications and pedagogical applications, and Indigenous research
• Provides advice and guidance on local REB requirements, study design, interpretation of applicable policies and regulations, development and implementation of the REBs’ guidance documents, the review process and ethics application content
• Provides outreach to the research community through REB application consultations and presentations

Joshua Hatherley

Ethics Coordinator

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 82777
Email: jhatherl@uwo.ca

• Supports the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board and the Non-Medical Research Ethics Board

Nicole Holme

Administrative Assistant

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 84691
Email: nicole.holme@uwo.ca

• First point of contact for researchers seeking human ethics-related support
• Triages all initial applications and assigns them to the appropriate individual to begin the review process
• Assists with organizing tasks and meetings
• Provides outreach to the research community through WREM training
• Meets with study teams to resolve WREM system issues

Grace Millett

Ethics Officer

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 85501
Email: gmillet@uwo.ca

• Primarily conducts reviews for the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, including multi-jurisdictional applications and pedagogical applications
• Provides advice and guidance on local REB requirements, study design, interpretation of applicable policies and regulations, development and implementation of the REBs’ guidance documents, the review process and ethics application content
• Provides outreach to the research community through REB application consultations and presentations
• Offers office hours to the research community

Kelly Patterson

Ethics Officer

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 82256
Email: kpatte32@uwo.ca

• Conducts reviews for the Non-Medical Research Ethics Board, including multi-jurisdictional applications and pedagogical applications, and Indigenous research
• Provides advice and guidance on local REB requirements, study design, interpretation of applicable policies and regulations, development and implementation of the REBs’ guidance documents, the review process and ethics application content
• Provides outreach to the research community through REB application consultations and presentations
• Facilitates clinicaltrials.gov registration

Jhananiee Subendran

Ethics Officer

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 86811
Email: jsubendr@uwo.ca

• Primarily conducts reviews for the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, including Delegated level 1 studies, multi-jurisdictional applications, quality assurance/quality improvement projects and, submissions to Clinical Trials Ontario
• Provides advice and guidance on local REB requirements, study design, interpretation of applicable policies and regulations, development and implementation of the REBs’ guidance documents, the review process and ethics application content
• Provides outreach to the research community through REB application consultations and presentations

Trevor Bieber

Ethics Officer

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 84301
Email: tbieber2@uwo.ca

• Primarily conducts reviews for the Non-Medical Research Ethics Board, including multi-jurisdictional applications and pedagogical applications
• Provides advice and guidance on local REB requirements, study design, interpretation of applicable policies and regulations, development and implementation of the REBs’ guidance documents, the review process and ethics application content
• Provides outreach to the research community through REB application consultations and presentations
• Offers office hours to the research community

Animal Care Committee

Manager, Animal Care Committee

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 81201
Email: acc@uwo.ca

• Provides project leadership/administrative support for major animal ethics and care program initiatives, including ACC policy/procedure development/reviews
• Coordinates and leads ACC site visits to all animal holding & procedure spaces
• Maintains the rooms inventory of all animal holding & procedure spaces, assesses new/ renovated extra-vivarial spaces
• Coordinates the concerns response process and maintains associated records

ACC Coordinator

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 81201
Email: acc@uwo.ca

• Reviews and administrates Animal Use Protocol (AUP) modifications/amendments
• Provides AUP facilitation to the research community (PIs and research staff)
• Provides system support and database maintenance for AUP software
• Assists with administration/creation of city-wide standard operating procedures

Coordinator, ACC

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 81201
Email: acc@uwo.ca

• Point of contact for researchers beginning an Animal Use Protocol at Western or Lawson
• Manages the review and approval of all new, full renewal and pilot animal use protocols
• Compiles Animal Care Committee-related data as required for external regulators and as needed for internal requests

Animal Research Safety Consultant

Telephone: 519-661-2111, ext. 81201
Email: acc@uwo.ca

• Develops, implements and coordinates the safety program associated with Western’s animal research program
• Ensures appropriate safety standards are maintained in all areas
• ACC and biosafety representative for animal research
• Exposure response and consultation