January 15, 2026
The full launch of RITHIM involved changes for researchers in determining the appropriate research ethics board (REB) for review of their research projects. For University of Manitoba researchers, this means the appropriate REB review is no longer solely determined by faculty, as all health research involving human participants or data will be reviewed by RITHIM instead.
The definition of ‘health research’ in regards to RITHIM aligns with ethical, regulatory, and practical considerations. Projects that fall within any of the following categories are considered health research and would use RITHIM’s new, streamlined approval process:
- Access to Personal Health Information: Studies requiring access to clinical or administrative databases held by trustees in Manitoba, including government agencies.
- Data from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP): Research utilizing MCHP data resources.
- Recruitment within the Public Health System: Studies involving active or passive recruitment of patients, clients, health care staff, students, or the use of health care resources such as MRI facilities or clinical space.
- Biomedical or Invasive Interventions: Research incorporating biomedical or invasive measures.
- Human Biological Materials Collection & Use: Studies collecting, using, or retaining human biological materials, including tissue, organs, blood, plasma, serum, DNA, RNA, proteins, cells, and other bodily substances.
- Research Registries & Biobanks: Projects aimed at creating or expanding health-related research registries or biobanks for future research purposes.
- Human Participants & Health-Focused Research: Investigations involving human participants, personal health information, or human biological materials where the primary purpose is to advance human health, health care, and health systems (excluding research primarily designed to enhance medical education.)
Researchers can also use the following online form to answer questions that will determine which REB they should submit their projects to: www.rithim.ca/do-i-need-rithim-approval.
Information on non-health University of Manitoba REBs can be found at Human Research Ethics at the University of Manitoba | Research | University of Manitoba. Other institutions may have their own REBs for non-health research ethics reviews.
After reviewing the routing questions, if researchers are still unsure if their project should be reviewed by CHIPER or a different REB, they can start a project within the Harmony system and select: “I require assistance determining if this project requires research ethics board approval or is within RITHIM jurisdiction“. A consultation request will then be created.