UBC Research Policies

The Office of Research Services is responsible for ensuring researchers adhere to UBC's various research policies.

These policies are designed to protect both the university and the researcher from any contraventions of the use of facilities, budget preparations, legal authority, use of ethical review committees, studies involving human subjects, animals and biological hazards, application signing, award administration, publication, patents and licensing, travel and entertainment, and conflict of interest.

These policies apply to UBC researchers at all campuses and locations, including affiliated hospitals and research institutes. Researchers are expected to understand and comply with all policies.

Visit the University Counsel website to view all UBC policies and signing resolutions. The following policies and signing resolutions apply specifically to research.

UBC Research Policies & Signing Resolutions

Technology Commercialization

Technology Commercialization Process (University-Industry Liasion Office)

Insurance and Protecting Your Research Data

UBC's Risk Management Services has their Insurance section, which oversees UBC's insurance programs covering major property and liability insurance, fleet insurance, student accident and volunteer insurance, and business travel insurance. For detailed information, please consult with Ron Holton, Chief Risk Officer, Blossom Sobrinho–Analyst, Insurance & Enterprise Risk Management (604-822-4218) or Gina Wong, Senior Analyst, Insurance & Loss Prevention (604-822-5623).

UBC's insurance policy does not cover the costs associated with the regeneration of research data subsequent to a catastrophic event, such as an earthquake. The loss of research equipment is covered by the University's property insurance policy, but the insurers assume no liability for the cost of reproducing experiments or for the cost of gathering or assembling information or data for such reproduction.

Researchers are strongly advised to manage risk by frequently and fully duplicating all research records and storing them at different locations. Where research specimens are stored in freezers, the freezers should be alarmed for failures and equipped with back-up power supplies.