Review of procedures for approval of health studies in northern Canada.

Objectives. This article describes the review processes required for research being conducted in Canada's 3 northern territories. When conducting research involving human subjects in northern Canada, researchers must go through a 2-step process by submitting protocols to both their university or hospital ethics review boards as well as to northern research institutions. Canada's northern territorial governments have requirements for attaining licensure before any research can be conducted. Methods. A document review was the method used to gather data, and an Internet search of the literature and documents was conducted to gather information. Results. Generally, university and hospital-based ethics review boards have been concerned with the rights of individuals in research. Northern Canadian research protocols require review by territorial government institutions and communities with respect to community rights. Conclusions. The 3 territorial governments of northern Canada take the concept of community and individual participation in research seriously and have enacted processes so that opportunities for such approaches to research are ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]