Ethics And Research Integrity
The University expects that staff, students and other individuals permitted to work in the University will, at all times, observe the highest standards of integrity in relation to any research work which is supported by the University and/or conducted on its premises. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) has been designated by the Vice-Chancellor as the senior officer responsible for ensuring good research conduct. The contact person for research ethics is Dr Susan Grey.
UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO)
The University is a full member of the UK Research Integrity Office, which provides expert advice and guidance about the conduct of research. UKRIO is the only dedicated research integrity body in the UK and covers all disciplines.
Ethics Approval
The University has approval processes for:
- Studies involving Human Participants
- Potentially problematic ethical issues relating to Research
The University’s Ethics Committee for Studies Involving Human Participants formulates institutional policies, regulations and procedures to ensure the proper conduct of studies involving human participants. Ethics Committees with Delegated Authority function as sub-committees. Ethics approval for a research project is granted by the relevant Ethics Committee following careful assessment of the protocol. For further information please contact Mrs Janice Allen, Assistant Head Governance Services.
Advice and approval should be sought at an early stage for any potentially problematic ethical issues that might arise in a research project.
NHS Research Sponsorship
The sponsor of a research project is the organisation that assumes responsibility for confirming there are proper arrangements to initiate, manage and monitor, and finance the research study. Any research that falls within the domain of the Secretary of State for health will require research sponsorship and ethics approval from a National Research Ethics Service (NRES) (NHS) Research Ethics Committee (REC). This means:
- all research taking place within the NHS or Social Services (with patients, patient data, staff or premises in England)
- all clinical trials involving a medicine or a medical device
- research involving the Human Tissue Act or the Mental Capacity Act
The University of Hertfordshire has been approved by the Department of Health as a ‘recognised sponsor’ of research. Where a project or trial is led by a member of University staff or doctoral student and is in the UK, the University will consider acting as formal Sponsor in accordance with our internal approval process.
University Policies and Regulations
Listed below are the key University Policies and Regulations (UPRs) in relation to research ethics:
- Bribery and Corruption (Section 7.4.1. Conflict in Interest in Research) – UPR GV12
- Data Management Policy (and Appendices i - iv) – UPR IM12
- Data Protection - UPR IM08
- Ethics Committees with Delegated Authority (ECDAs) – UPR RE01, Appendix II
- Protocol for Reflective Practitioner Work by Academic Staff – UPR RE01, Appendix
- Research Misconduct – UPR RE02
- Studies Involving the Use of Human Participants – UPR RE01
University of Hertfordshire research ethics and good practice guidance: Guide to Good Practice in Research