Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee
Overview
All research with impact has an ethical dimension and all researchers should reflect on the implications of their work, not just in terms of human (and animal) welfare and dignity, but also the social and cultural impact of their research. All research should be undertaken with cognisance of the Trinity College Guidelines for Good Research Practice.
Research involving humans and animals will require ethical review, however, other types of research may often have ethical considerations that should be addressed. In order to provide efficient and timely ethical review it has been agreed that all Schools/Units must have a research ethics approval policy in place. Schools/Units may use their own Research Ethics Committee (REC), use another School/Unit's REC or a Faculty REC.
There will be two levels of REC; Level 1 RECs will have the power to review and approve "low risk" research, while Level 2 RECs will be concerned with "high risk" research. Membership of each type of committee will be commensurate with the level of risk. Full detailsof the types of research associated with each level of REC can be found in the document, Criteria for Research Ethics Committees (2014).
Research involving hospital patients must always be approved by that hospital's research ethics review procedures.
| Trinity College Dublin School / Unit | REC Details | Contact Details |
| School of Dental Science | Level I | Website |
| School of Medicine | Level I | Website |
| School of Nursing & Midwifery | Level I | |
| School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | Level I | Website |
| Animal Research Ethics Committee | Level II | |
| Faculty of Health Sciences | Level II | ethicscommittee@tcd.ie |
| Faculty of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences | Level II | Website |
| Faculty of Engineering Math and Science | Level II | |
St James's Hospital / Tallaght Hospital, |
Level II | Claire Hartin |
Choosing the Right Committee
All research involving animals must be referred to the Animal Research Ethics Committee.
All research involving hospital patients, patients' relatives and medical records must be approved by that hospital research ethics review procedures. Such research will also require approval following this from the appropriate Trinity College REC, unless that hospital REC is the Joint SJH/AMNCH REC (JREC).
All Level I research should be referred to your school's Level I committee, unless you believe another REC is more appropriate for your study.
If your school does not have a Level I committe, you may submit your Level I application to the Faculty of Health Sciences REC.
All level II reserach should be referred to your Faculty REC, unless you believe another Level II REC is more appropriate for your study.
If your faculty does not have a Level II REC, you may submit your Level II application to the Faculty of Health Sciences REC.
EXISTING projects - all amendment requests and reports relating to projects previously approved by the Faculty of Health Sciences REC must continue to be submitted to this committee.
Applications to Faculty of Health Science Research Ethics Committee
Consut the Standard Operating Procedures for the Faculty Research Ethics Committee.
Step 1 Download the Ethics Application Form and Ethics Appendices here.
Step 2 Submit the completed application (form and appendices) to ethicscommittee@tcd.ie by 5.00pm on the published deadline below; late applications will not be accepted. The soft copy must be one merged document, including application form and all appendices.
Step 3 Submit one hard copy to:
The Secretary of the Ethics Committee,
Health Sciences' Faculty Office,
Ground Floor,Chemistry Building,
Trinity College, Dublin 2.
Location of the Faculty Office. (The Ethics post box is just outside the door)
Please note: all queries must be addressed to the Faculty Ethics Committee email account: ethicscommittee@tcd.ie
Amendments to Approved Studies
It is essential that applicants carry out their research study exactly as approved by the Faculty Research Ethics Committee. If new information comes to light after ethical approval has been received and the study cannot be carried out as per the approved application, you must submit an amendment request to the Ethics Committee.
Step 1 Download Ethics Amendment Request Form here.
Step 2 Submit the completed form to ethicscommittee@tcd.ie by 5.00pm on the published deadline below; late requests will not be accepted.
Reporting on Approved Studies
Approved research projects are required to submit a Monitoring Report every six months for the duration of the project. Download Monitoring Report here.
Approved research projects are required to submit an End of Project Report upon completion of the project. Download End of Project Report here.
These reports should be submitted by email to ethicscommittee@tcd.ie.
Schedule of Faculty of Health Sciences REC Meetings 2017-18
Last date for receipt of Ethics Applications (hard & soft copies) or |
Date of Ethics Committee Meeting |
Monday 4th September 2017 |
Tuesday 26th September 2017 |
Friday 6th October 2017 |
Tuesday 24th October 2017 |
Friday 3rd November 2017 |
Tuesday 28th November 2017 |
Friday 1st December 2017 |
Tuesday 19th December 2017 |
Friday 5th January 2018 |
Tuesday 30th January 2018 |
Friday 2rd February 2018 |
Tuesday 27th February 2018 |
Friday 2nd March 2018 |
Tuesday 27th March 2018 |
Friday 6th April 2018 |
Tuesday 24th April 2018 |
Friday 4th May 2018 |
Tuesday 29th May 2018 |
| Friday 1st June 2018 | Tuesday 26th June 2018 |
Note: The maxium number of applications to be reviewed in a calendar month by the Faculty REC is 10. In the event that we receive more than 10 applications in one month, priorty will be given to undergraduate and taught post-graduate programmes.