University Research Ethics - Policy and Procedure

The University has developed a Policy and Procedure [MS Word (98 kB)], approved by Council, to govern the ethics of research across the University, and to comply with the legitimate requirements of outside research funders and collaborators. The Procedure applies to everyone carrying out research under the auspices of the University. The key points are outlined below.

The University is concerned with protecting the rights, dignity, health, safety and privacy of research subjects, the welfare of animals and the integrity of the environment. It is also concerned with protecting the health, safety, rights and academic freedom of researchers and the reputation of the University as a centre for high-quality research.

Virtually all research will have ethical implications but there are some instances when these will be particularly important, for example:

• where the research involves human subjects (particularly children and vulnerable adults)
• where the research uses human data or human material
• where there are serious health and safety implications
• where animal experiments are involved
• where there is a risk of damage to the environment
• where the impact of the research may be emotionally damaging
• where the research is politically or socially sensitive
• where the source of funding for the research has the potential to compromise the University's position as a publicly funded charitable body

Any health-related research project which involves humans, their tissue and/or data, and/or NHS premises must be reviewed by a NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) prior to it commencing. The National Research Ethics Service (NRES) (formerly COREC) has developed a training pack (PDF*, 141Kb) to guide researchers through the NHS ethics process.

The Procedure sets out what each Faculty is required to do, including:

• Appoint a named member of staff to act as the Faculty Ethics Officer (FEO). (FEO Terms of reference are available as a Word document 25K.)
• Refer cases to the University Ethics of Research Committee where necessary.
• Ensure that at least one properly constituted ethics committee is in place either at faculty or departmental level.

Ethics review by a properly constituted ethics committee set up in accordance with Home Office requirements or within the NHS is normally acceptable for University purposes. Faculties are advised not to repeat any such ethics review, but they may wish to consider additional ethical issues that are specific to the University, as appropriate. The Procedure provides details of when NHS ethics review is required.

Each Faculty has appointed an FEO. These are:

Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader

(Back to top)