Ethics and Governance
Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our participants is of the utmost importance.
The BC Generations Project has stringent procedures to ensure the security of the information and samples provided to us. The project collects, uses, discloses, and retains personal information in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), and is subject to the independent oversight of the Office of the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner.
The BC Generations Project follows all national and provincial guidelines regarding research ethics and confidentiality, and all our systems and procedures maintain the highest confidentiality and security standards. Above all, we respect the privacy of our participants.
A number of independent bodies oversee the BC Generations Project and its activities.
Protecting Participant information
De-identification
After participants provide their information and any biological samples to the BC Generations Project, their data and samples are de-identified. This means that any information that could identify them (name, address, etc.) is removed from the data and replaced with a unique study identification number.
De-identified data and samples are stored at secure facilities in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec. The data and samples stored at these facilities remain under the jurisdiction of the BC Cancer Agency at all times.
