Research involving humans

If your research involves human participants, their data or samples, then ethical review and approval is mandatory and must be obtained before starting your research.

The University Teaching and Research Ethics Committee (UTREC) is the overarching committee which delegates to each School Ethics Committee the responsibility for the ethical review and approval of the University's research activities involving human participants or human tissues and samples.

Ethical review is a peer-review process to help researchers fulfil their personal responsibility to act in accordance with the University’s Principles of Good Research Conduct (Policy) (PDF) and fully account for ethical issues related to research involving humans; and in doing so, minimise risk to the project, the researcher, the participants and the University.

Failure to obtain and adhere to ethical approvals is defined as research misconduct.

Coronavirus and research involving humans

There are currently no additional ethics processes or restrictions on ethics applications in place around Coronavirus. For general information see the University's remaining Coronavirus guidance.

Definition of 'research'

In all documentation, guidance and web pages relating to research involving humans, the term 'research' refers to a process of investigation leading to new insights.

For more information on this definition and the exemption of service evaluations and audits, please refer to the information on what projects require ethical review and approval.

For research involving the NHS:
If you are planning research involving the NHS, visit the guidance on research involving the NHS, MOD or health and social care

Applications

Forms required for applications and guidance on how to fill them out.

Training and induction

Information on training and induction sessions for those involved in the completing and reviewing of ethical applications.

Guidance on ethical issues in research involving humans

Guidance on specific ethical issues in research involving human participants, their data or samples.

University Teaching and Research Ethics Committee (UTREC)

Information on the remit, membership and meetings of UTREC.

School Ethics Committees (SECs)

Information on the remit, membership and meetings of the SECs.

Projects involving the NHS, MOD or health and social care services

Information regarding obtaining ethics and governance approvals for research, and some other types of work, involving the NHS, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) or health and social care services.