Research Ethics
All research raises ethical issues. Some research cannot be carried out by members of this University without the approval of the Research Ethics Committee. These pages are designed to tell you when that is the case and to explain how that approval may be obtained.
Please follow the links below for more information:
- Guidance Notes (PDF-299kb) - an explanation of the constitution and role of the Research Ethics Committee, with documentation annexed
- What do I need to do? - a guide to procedure for researchers
- Timetable - Research Ethics Committee Deadlines
Research on NHS patients
Researchers proposing to carry out research involving NHS patients, their records or NHS staff (including colleagues) will need, in addition to the approval of this Committee, the approval of an NHS Research Ethics Committee.
The co-ordinator of the Berkshire Local Research Ethics Committee is:
Mrs Jo Jones,
Building L027,
University of Reading,
London Road,
Reading, RG1 5AQ
Tel: 0118 918 0550/1; e-mail: scsha.berksrec@nhs.net
Mental Capacity Act 2005
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 came into force in April 2007 and makes it unlawful to carry out "intrusive research" on anyone who lacks capacity to consent unless it has the approval of a designated NHS Research Ethics Committee. "Intrusive research" is defined as any research which would require consent; and the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) takes a very broad view of this. Accordingly, any research in the University of Reading on human subjects who lack capacity to consent must be referred to the Berkshire Research Ethics Committee.
The National Research Ethics Service website provides comprehensive guidance on making an application under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and provides relevant links.
Human Tissue Act 2004
The Human Tissue Act 2004 states that "material, other than gametes, which consists of or includes human cells" may not be stored or used without the consent of the person from whose body it was taken and, in addition, may not be stored without a licence from the Human Tissue Authority.
The University does not hold a licence under the Act, but a licence is held by the Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences for this purpose. Researchers proposing to store such material will either need to do so in conjunction with the Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, or will need to gain approval from an NHS Research Ethics Committee, which will confer exception from the licensing requirement. "Storage" is defined by the Human Tissue Act as the maintaining of the material under controlled conditions.
The following link provides a summary of the effect of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (PDF-125kb)
Governance and Quality Assurance for Research
The University views ethical scrutiny of research projects as an integral part of its procedures for the Governance and Quality Assurance for Research (QAR). Please see the Quality Assurance in Research website for more information.