Procedures

Human Research Ethics - Procedure

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1.0 Purpose and Scope

The University of Queensland (UQ or the University) is committed to promoting a culture of responsible and ethical research. Where research involves or is about humans, their tissue or data, researchers have specific obligations to ensure that all ethics approvals are obtained prior to the work commencing. This procedure describes the processes for obtaining UQ ethics approval for human research.

This procedure should be read in conjunction with:

1. Responsible Research Management Framework Policy, and

2. National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Statement).

Staff and students at the University are required to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, the National Statement, and the standards set out in the relevant UQ code or charter:

a. Staff and Title Holders: Staff Code of Conduct.

b. Students: Student Code of Conduct.

c. Higher degree by research (HDR) candidates: Higher Degree by Research Candidate Charter.

This procedure applies to all staff, students and title holders who conduct, or assist with the conduct of, human research at, or on behalf of, UQ.

Researchers external to the University who wish to conduct research at UQ must contact the Research Ethics and Integrity for direction and assistance in obtaining gatekeeper approval.

2.0 Process and Key Controls

1. To be ethically acceptable, human research must comply with the National Statement and demonstrate the values of research merit and integrity, justice, beneficence and respect.

2. Research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples must also be conducted in accordance with:

Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities: Guidelines for Researchers and Stakeholders,
Keeping Research on Track II, and
Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research.

3. All research involving or about humans, their tissue or data must be subject to ethics review or qualify for an exemption from review. Applications must be made through MyResearch.

4. All human research must:

• commence only after approval or ratification has been granted, or conditions for exemption established,
• be conducted in accordance with the approval,
• cease if approval or ratification is suspended or withdrawn, and
• be subject to monitoring.

5. Complaints will be handled through the appropriate University process as outlined in section 3.3 of this procedure.

3.0 Key Requirements

3.1 Human research ethics review pathways

The University has established different pathways for human ethics review. The level of review required is primarily determined by the risks involved in the research. The greater the risks to participants the more certain those approving the research must be that the risks will be minimised and managed appropriately and that the participants clearly understand the risks they are assuming. In accordance with the National Statement, risk is defined as the potential for harm, discomfort or inconvenience and its evaluation involves an assessment of the likelihood and severity of the risk:

Negligible risk research: no foreseeable risk of harm or discomfort, and any foreseeable risk is no more than inconvenience. Where the risk, even if unlikely, is more than inconvenience, the research is not negligible risk.

Low risk research: no foreseeable risk of harm and the only foreseeable risk is one of discomfort. Where the risk, even if unlikely, is more serious than discomfort, the research is not low risk.

Greater than low risk research: a potential for risk of harm, including physical, psychological, social, economic and legal harm and devaluation of a person’s worth.

In accordance with the National Statement, certain types of research may require review by a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) regardless of the level of risk involved (unless conditions for exemption exist, see section 3.1.1 and 3.2). This includes research involving:

• genomics,
• animal-to-human xenotransplantation,
• access to a person’s personal information where a waiver of consent is required,
• women who are pregnant and the human fetus,
• people who are highly dependent on medical care who may be unable to give consent,
• people with a cognitive impairment, an intellectual disability or a mental illness,
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,
• people who may be involved in illegal activities,
• health interventions,
• active concealment or planned deception.

3.1.1 Exemption from review for negligible risk research using existing collections of data

Negligible risk research may be exempt from ethics review if it meets all the following criteria:

• The research meets the definition of negligible risk,
• The research involves the use of existing collections of data or records that contain only non-identifiable information about human beings. The majority of existing collections of data that would be eligible for exemption are publicly available sources of aggregate information, and
• The original data collection and the proposed use of the data are consistent with the ethical principles outlined in the National Statement. Researchers must confirm that conditions of consent were appropriate and that the original consent covers the proposed research.
• Permission from the data custodian is obtained prior to accessing the data and any conditions of access are observed.

An application for exemption must be registered through MyResearch.

3.1.2 Research involving no more than low risk

Research in which the only foreseeable risk is one of discomfort or inconvenience may be reviewed by a LNR panel. At UQ, applications will be directed to the researcher’s relevant LNR panel and must be submitted through MyResearch.

3.1.3 Research involving greater than low risk

All research that involves more than low risk requires review by an HREC. The University has established two NHMRC-registered HRECs, which operate in accordance with the National Statement. Applications for review must be submitted through MyResearch.

3.1.4 Ratification of research approved by an external ethics committee

The University seeks to minimise the duplication of ethics review. In most instances a UQ researcher who has obtained approval from an external ethics committee is required only to register the approval, or seek ratification of it, at UQ. The University will typically recognise approvals from NHMRC-registered HRECs, delegated review bodies or equivalent international bodies. The external body provides the review, approval and monitoring of the research. It should be noted that research conducted overseas by researchers from Australian institutions must comply with the National Statement.

Ratification

Projects involving any of the following require ratification of the external ethics approval:

• UQ is the lead institution (Principal Investigator),

• UQ is the sponsor,

• UQ students undertaking research for their degree at the other institution (e.g. a hospital), and/or

• UQ is a research site (e.g. testing and/or recruitment of participants at UQ),

All modifications to the original approval, incident reports and annual reports must also be submitted to UQ for review.

Applications for ratification must be made through MyResearch. The lead UQ investigator is responsible for ensuring the project is submitted for ratification.

Registration

All projects with external ethics approval that do not meet the conditions for ratification must be registered with UQ. The lead UQ investigator is responsible for ensuring the project is registered through MyResearch.

Ratifications and registrations may be referred to other areas of the University for governance purposes.

3.2 Exemption for quality assurance and evaluation activities

An activity of quality assurance is one where the primary purpose is to monitor or improve the quality of service delivered by an individual or an organisation. An evaluation activity includes the systematic collection and analysis of information to judge the effectiveness, efficiency and/or appropriateness of an activity. Quality assurance and evaluation activities must be conducted in a way that is ethical, but in many situations, human research ethics review is not required. In accordance with the NHMRC guideline Ethical Considerations in Quality Assurance and Evaluation Activities, triggers for human research ethics review include:

• where the activity potentially infringes the privacy or professional reputation of participants, providers or organisations,

• secondary use of data – where the data collected from the quality assurance or evaluation activity will be used for other purposes,

• where data collected about the participant are beyond those which are collected routinely;

• testing of innovative protocols or equipment,

• comparison of cohorts,

• randomisation, the use of control groups or placebos or targeted analysis of data involving minority/vulnerable groups, and

• publication (including presentation) of the outputs of the quality assurance or evaluation activity outside the University.

Where one or more of the above triggers apply, the activity may require review by an HREC or LNR panel. Research Ethics and Integrity may be contacted for assistance with determining the appropriate review pathway.

In some circumstances an individual undertaking a quality assurance or evaluation activity may require a notice that attests to the activity being exempt from research ethics review. An application may be registered through MyResearch.

3.3 Complaints

3.3.1 Complaints about the conduct of research

Complaints relating to the following activities must be reported immediately to the project lead or Research Ethics and Integrity, these include:

• activities that have the potential to adversely affect participants, beyond that approved by the relevant ethics committee.

• activities that are not compliant with the approved protocol.

• activities normally requiring ethics approval for which approval is not known to exist.

Complaints that raise the possibility of a breach of the University’s Responsible Research Management Framework Policy will be handled as follows:

• Staff and title holders: Managing Complaints about the Conduct of Research Procedure.

• HDR candidates: Research Misconduct – Higher Degree by Research Students Procedure.

• Students other than HDR candidates: Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.

Projects that involve more than one institution and/or HREC will be handled in accordance with the agreement with that institution or, if no agreement exists, in negotiation with the external party.

3.3.2 Complaints about the merit of an HREC or LNR process

Complaints concerning the HREC process should be progressed to the Director of Research Ethics and Integrity. The ultimate decision regarding the ethical acceptability of human research lies with the HREC or LNR committee.

4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities

4.1 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) or delegated officer is responsible for establishing and maintaining the operations, governance and resourcing of HRECs and LNR panel.

4.2 Review bodies (HRECs and LNR panels)

The primary responsibility of the University’s HRECs is to ensure that all human research is conducted in compliance with the National Statement. The University’s research ethics committees review and approve new applications and applications for amendments to existing approvals and provide advice to applicants on the ethical acceptability of the design and conduct of their research. The committees may also review concerns about activities related to an approved project and provide advice and recommendations to the University on issues related to human research ethics.

UQ review bodies must operate in accordance with their terms of reference and meet reporting requirements per section 6.0 of this procedure and the National Statement.

4.3 Review body members

In accordance with the National Statement, HREC and LNR panel members must:

• be responsible for deciding whether, in their own judgement, a proposal submitted to the review body meets the requirements of the National Statement and is ethically acceptable. To fulfil that responsibility, each member of a review body should:

– become familiar with the National Statement and consult other guidelines relevant to the review of specific research proposals,
– prepare for and attend scheduled meetings of the review body (HREC Committee) or, if unavailable, provide opinions on the ethical acceptability of research proposals before meetings, subject to institutional policies on absences, 
– attend continuing education or training programs in research ethics, and

- LNR panel members are expected to review applications in a timely manner, or indicate the unavailability when appropriate.

• disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest, including any financial or other interest or affiliation that bears on any research coming before the review body.

4.4 Director of Research Ethics and Integrity

The Director of Research Ethics and Integrity is responsible for receiving complaints concerning the processes of an HREC that are not able to be resolved informally between the HREC and the researcher. The Director will aim to resolve the complaint, resolution may require consultation with other relevant parties.

4.5 Research Ethics and Integrity

Research Ethics and Integrity is responsible for:

• the management of the University’s human research ethics review processes,

• supporting the work of the University’s human research ethics committees and provision of administrative support to HREC executives, and

• the provision of education, advice and support for researchers conducting human research.

4.6 Researchers

In accordance with the National Statement, researchers must:

• ensure and demonstrate that the proposed research has merit and reflects the ethical values of justice, beneficence and respect for humans,

• obtain written ethics approval before commencing a project that involves human research, in accordance with this procedure,

• conduct a project in accordance with the conditions and requirements of the ethics approval, and cease the project if approval is suspended or withdrawn,

• (for relevant health research) show that the research meets the requirements of the CPMP/ICH Note for Guidance on Good Clinical Practice (CPMP/ICH-135/95), ISO 14155 Clinical Investigation of Medical Devices, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the TGA,

• disclose all relevant interests and associations that may give rise to an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest; this includes financial and non-financial interests and affiliations that bear on the research,

• comply with relevant laws, regulations, disciplinary standards, ethics guidelines and University policies and procedures, including when conducting activities overseas,

• maintain records of the research in accordance with the approved protocol and the University’s Information Management Policy and Procedures, and

• report to the human research ethics committee in accordance with section 6.0 of this procedure.

5.0 Monitoring, Review and Assurance

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) is responsible for the development, compliance monitoring and review of this procedure.

The University will conduct reviews of the operation of its review bodies to ensure they are effective and consistent with the National Statement and University policies.

6.0 Recording and Reporting

All meetings of review bodies are minuted, and records of all decisions maintained.

UQ review bodies will:

• maintain a record of all research proposals received and reviewed,

• retain a copy of each research proposal and application for ethics approval, including any associated information and correspondence, that was approved, and

• record decisions about approval, amendment or rejection of proposals in written or electronic form with reasons for those decisions linked to requirements of the National Statement.

All researchers associated with the University must fulfil all reporting requirements, including submission of documents to MyResearch, Research Ethics and Integrity or HREC as required.

7.0 Appendix

7.1 Resources

Research Ethics and Integrity, Human Ethics website.

Research Ethics and Integrity, Human Ethics – forms and resources web page.

7.2 Definitions

MyResearch - the enterprise platform for the management and administration of research projects.

Participants – any person who is the subject of the research.

Research – the concept of research is broad and includes the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative.

Researcher – any University staff member, student or title holder who conducts, or assists with the conduct of, research at, or on behalf of the University.

Review body – UQ HREC or LNR panel.

Staff – continuing, fixed-term, research (contingent funded) and casual staff members

Student – a person enrolled as a student at the University or undertaking courses or programs at the University.

Title Holders - visiting academics, academic title holders, industry fellow, emeritus professors, adjunct honorary title holders, and conjoint appointments.

 

Custodians
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

Forms

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Request for Exemption from Human Research Ethics Review - Form

Request for Exemption from Human Research Ethics Review - Form

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Description: 

Request for Exemption from Human Research Review 

 

Custodians
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
Custodians
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
Custodians
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)