All research has ethical implications, whether it involves, humans, animals or anonymised datasets.
Research Ethics Committees (or Ethical Review Boards) help researchers consider and prepare for ethical issues that their research might raise. The main way Research Ethics Committees do this is by reviewing a researcher’s ethics application for their project.
Research Ethics Committee approval of an ethics application is usually a requirement in order to conduct the research project.
The Health Research Authority`s decision toolhelp you decide whether or not your study is research as defined by the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research.
Which ethics committees to apply to for research and service evaluations
There are different Research Ethics Committees to review different research projects. This table will help you figure out which committees would be relevant for research conducted with St George’s.
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| Which Ethics Committees to Apply to | Researcher |
|---|
|
St George’s University London (Students)
|
St George’s University London (Staff)
|
St George’s Hospital Trust (Staff)
|
Other Organisation
|
| Participant or Data |
St George’s University London (Students)
|
SGREC
|
SGREC
|
SGREC
|
Other Organisation’s Process + SGREC
|
|---|
|
St George’s University London (Staff)
|
SGREC
|
SGREC
|
SGREC
|
Other Organisation’s Process + SGREC
|
|
St George’s University London (Animals¹)
|
AWERB
|
AWERB
|
AWERB
|
Other Organisation’s Process + AWERB
|
|
St George’s Hospital Trust / Other NHS Site (Staff)
Recruited through NHS
|
SGREC + HRA
|
SGREC + HRA
|
SGREC + HRA
|
Other Organisation’s Process + SGREC + HRA
|
|
Participants
not recruited through NHS
|
SGREC |
SGREC |
SGREC
|
-
|
|
St George’s Hospital Trust / Other NHS Site (Patients)²
|
HRA + NHS REC
|
HRA + NHS REC
|
HRA + NHS REC
|
Other Organisation’s Process +
HRA + NHS REC
|
|
Other Organisation
|
SGREC + Other Organisation’s Process
|
SGREC + Other Organisation’s Process
|
SGREC + HRA + Other Organisation’s Process
|
-
|
|
Clinical Audits and Service Evaluations³
|
SGREC
|
SGREC
|
Register with clinical audit team in relevant Trust. For St George’s email clinicalaudit@stgeorges.nhs.uk
|
-
|
¹ Any research requiring animals for whatever purpose, requires submission to AWERB (Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body).
² SGREC not required if being reviewed by nationally recognised research ethics committee (usually NHS REC, but would include Ministry Of Defence REC).
³ Ethical approval is not required but a SAFE and protocol should be submitted to the SGREC for review and registration.
All joint faculty students with degrees awarded by Kingston University should submit applications for a favourable ethical opinion using Kingston University Research ethics Online System KUREOS
Please note that if your research falls into more than one category, (eg involving animals and patients) then you may need additional approvals. Please contact the Research Ethics and Integrity Officer for help.
If your research project requires ethical review
If your research project requires review by St George’s Research Ethics Committee (SGREC), please see the Standard Operating Procedure (PDF) and the following page.
If you are unable to view this page please email the Research Ethics and Integrity Officer.