Research Ethics Policy and Procedures

REGULATIONS/ DIRECTIVES GOVERNING ETHICAL CONDUCT OF RESEARCH
• Declaration of Helsinki
• EU Directive 2001/20EC on Clinical Trials
POLICY AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS ON ETHICAL ISSUES RELATED TO RESEARCH
• Consent in Research - National Federation of Voluntary Bodies - Providing Services to People with
Intellectual Disability
• The Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 - Some implications for public health and medical research -
Health Research Board
• Human Biological Material: Recommendations for Collection, Use and Storage in Research 2005 -
Irish Council for Bioethics
• The Medical and Health Sector - Data Protection Rules in Practice - Data Protection Commissioner
• Personal Information in Medical Research - UK's Medical Research Council
• Operational Procedures for Research Ethics Committees: Guidance 2004 - Irish Council for Bioethics
Guideline document
• Human Ethics Handbook - Commentary on the Australian National Statement on ethical conduct of
research involving humans
• Genetically modified crops: the ethical and social issues - Publication by Nuffield Council on Bioethics
• Organs retained at Autopsy: Ethical and practical issues - Advice of the Australian Health Ethics
Committee
• Embrios, scientific research and European legislation -DG Research Briefing Note No. 14/2001
• Animal to human transplants; the ethics of Xenotransplantation - Publication by Nuffield Council on
Bioethics
COMPOSITION
The composition of the Institute Research Ethics Committee will be as follows:
1. Member of Executive Board (Chair);
2. Independent
3. Chair of Academic Council Research Committee;
4. President of the Student’ Union
5. Two members of research active members of academic staff.
6. The four LYIT Heads of School
The quorum for the Committee will be six.
The Committee will normally reach decision by consensus. If consensus cannot be obtained then the
majority decision will apply with the Chair having the casting vote.
INDEPENDENT MEMBERSHIP OF IREC
Governing Body will approve independent members who may be called upon to sit on the IREC. The panel
list will be valid for three years.