Research Ethics
The College of Science and Engineering undertakes a wide range of research and consultancy work. At one end this covers research with human subjects (surveys, questionnaires, laboratory experiments), through clinically-related research on humans or human-derived tissue, and animals, to fundamental research in the fields of evolution, mathematics, informatics, chemistry, physics, astronomy and engineering.
Experimentation upon human subjects, human tissue (particularly stem cells), and animals is undertaken with strict adherence to the ethical principles laid down in the codes of practice referred to below and overseen by the appropriate research ethics committees. In addition, each School in the College has a member of staff who, with the Head of School, is available for dealing with the ethical issues that may arise from time to time.
In practice, the vast majority of the College's research does not raise ethical requirements that are not handled by the standard disclaimers signed by both Principal Investigator and Head of School. However, in some instances there is a need for ethical oversight and approval of specific research projects and several Schools in the College have instituted Research Committees to deal with these instances (including the School of Geosciences and School of Informatics). For those who do not have access to a School Ethical Committee, but where ethical issues do arise, they are dealt with on an ad hoc basis through the procedures (see link below) for the College agreed by the University Research Ethics Committee in 2004. Annual reports are prepared by the Schools and forwarded via the College to the University Committee.
Further information:
- Procedures for ethical review and approval of research
- Appendix to procedures
- UKRIO Code of Practice for Research
This article was published on Apr 28, 2011