Research Ethics

Research involves information gathering. Research Ethics concerns the means (i.e. methods) used for data collection, analysis, reporting and publication. When the information to be gathered is not in the public domain, or where its collection involves using human participants, human tissue, or animals, then it is highly likely that some form of ethical review and approval of the research would be required. Informed consent should be at the heart of any ethical research involving human participants and maintaining the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of participants in the research should be the primary consideration of any research study. Good ethical conduct lies, in the first instance, with researchers themselves. Ethical research is therefore a matter of being risk aware, and not risk averse.

There are three main types of ethical approval routes depending on the type of research being undertaken:

Faculty/School Ethics & Governance committee approval
Sponsorship approval/NHS/HRA approval for work involving the NHS
Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Board (AWERB) for research involving animals.

Research Ethics Application

Faculty Research Ethics & Governance sub committees

The University Research Integrity: Ethics & Governance activities are monitored by the Faculties and Schools with oversight being provided by the University Research Integrity Ethics and Governance Committee.

The University governance structure is divided into three Faculties and eleven Schools.

Research Ethics approval is primarily undertaken by the School Ethics Approval Board and reported to each single Faculty Research Ethics & Governance Sub-Committee. This committee reports to the Faculty Research Impact & Innovation Committee and the University Research Integrity: Ethics & Governance Committee.

Animals in Research

The University is committed to avoiding the use of animals in research unless absolutely necessary. It is fully committed to the widespread promotion and implementation of of the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement and Replacement) and is a signatory to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research.

Research undertaken at the University which involves the use of animals is fully compliant with the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amended 2012) and the associated Code of Practice for accommodation and care of animals.

The University has an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) which:

considers and monitors all projects which involve interventions at the University with live animals*;
considers proposals for field-based studies undertaken by University staff and students which involve interventions with live animals*.

The AWERB may be contacted via erp@swansea.ac.uk

(*=As defined by ASPA 2012)

All other work involving live animals should be referred to the Faculty ethics committees:

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

NHS Research Ethics Committees

If research involves medical records of NHS patients, service users, care professionals or volunteers, or data, tissue or NHS facilities, you may require NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) approval.

There are more than 80 NHS Research Ethics Committees (REC) across the UK and are governed by the Department of Health. They act as part of an efficient, accountable and independent Research Ethics Service and are responsible for review where the law requires it e.g. Mental Capacity Act.

NHS RECs exist to safeguard the rights, safety, dignity and well-being of research participants.
NHS RECs consist of up to 15 members.
NHS RECs review research proposals and give an opinion about whether the research is ethical.
NHS REC also look at issues such as the participant involvement in the research.

The committees are entirely independent of research sponsors (the organisations responsible for the management and conduct of the research), funders and the researchers themselves. This enables them to put participants at the centre of their review.

The HRA provides a decision tool to determine whether your research will require NHS REC approval:

http://www.hra-decisiontools.org.uk/ethics/

Apply for Research Ethics