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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
­­­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), please note that the Biological Research Facility (BRF) at SGUL is temporarily closed.

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.

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