The dynamics of how a new virus transmits through human populations are not well understood. One theory is that it is being transmitted from human to human through exposure to mosquitoes at workplaces. If this proves to be true, installing mosquito nets at workplaces would provide employees with sufficient protection against the new virus. The scientific evidence does not yet indicate whether this hypothesis is correct. During an epidemic in a foreign country, a Canadian researcher working under the auspices of an institution eligible for Agency funding proposes a research protocol that aims to test this hypothesis. The methodology essentially consists of recruiting employees working for different employers, randomly assigning them to Group A (using mosquito nets) or Group B (control group not using mosquito nets), and assessing the relative effectiveness of mosquito nets by observing the incidence of the virus in these two groups.

Consider the situation where, in the course of the research, definitive scientific evidence becomes available that the virus can be transmitted from human to human, but not through mosquitos. Do you believe that the researcher should continue the study as initially approved by the REB?

1)No

2) Yes