Ethics
The University has developed and implemented its Policy on the Ethical Approval of Research as it is concerned with the protection of the rights, dignity, health, safety, well-being and privacy of research participants, the welfare of animals and the protection of the environment. It is expected that all staff and research students working within or on behalf of the University, whether or not they are University employees, to adhere to the Policy.
From the outset of a study, researchers must give consideration to potential conflicts of interest that may arise given the source of funding and the nature of the research project.
When considering your research, use the ethics checklist, to determine if your study requires consideration by an appropriate Research Ethics Committee.
The University is actively involved in world-leading research into areas such as the treatment and cure of cancer, cardiovascular disease and blindness. In doing so, our researchers work to the highest standards and use the most relevant research models available. This may involve work on animals which is only part of any appropriate research programme, and non-animal techniques such as cell culture, molecular biology, computer modelling and the study of samples from human participants are used extensively.
Do I go to the School Research Ethics Committee and ORECNI?
|
Category |
Definition |
Ethics / Regulatory Approval |
|
Category A |
Those being conducted by staff (or students under their supervision) involving human participants (their tissue or data (including commercially purchased human material)), but excluding NHS/HSC, patients, patient records and N.I. Prison Healthcare Service. Any clinical trials of medicinal products or devices are also excluded from this category. |
School Research Ethics Committee. Trust R&D approval for research involving HSC Trust staff. |
|
Category B |
Those being conducted by staff (or students under their supervision) involving NHS/HSC patients and patient records, N.I. Prison Healthcare Service, Independent Nursing and/or Residential Homes and excluding clinical trials of medicinal products or devices. |
Office of Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland. |
|
Category C |
Clinical trials of medicinal products or devices involving patients or healthy volunteers.
|
Office of Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland. Medicines Healthcare (products) Regulatory Authority.
|
Ethics will take too long, how do I get round it?
The important thing about approaching your research is to consider it in terms of the lay reader. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it simply explained?
- Is the identification of the research participants being undertaken by someone other than me?
- Have I included all my documentation for review, such as letters of invitation, information sheets, consent forms, interview schedules, questionnaires, follow-up letters?
- Did I adapt the model information sheet and consent forms appropriately, or use the guidance available on the NRES site?
- Have I addressed the peer reviewer(s) comments, if necessary?
- Does my IRAS form match my protocol?
- Have I really completed all parts of the IRAS form comprehensively?
- Have I identified collaborators within Trusts?
- Did I complete an SSI for each Trust that is involved?
The Health Research Authority Decision Tools
The Health Research Authority has been working on the development of some decision tools that are intended to support researchers in finding the answers to some regular questions that they are frequently asked.
The first two of these tools are available through the NRES area of the HRA website
