Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee

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Introduction

The Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee is a Committee of the Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health and is constituted and functions in accordance with the National Statement in Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans 2007. The Committee shall provide recommendations to the Chief Executive for approval for research having regard to the following:

• Conduct its ethical review and give approval of such research in accordance with the provisions of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007, the ICH Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice and relevant Commonwealth and State legislation;
• Consider the ethical implications of all proposed research protocols to determine their acceptability on ethical grounds;
• Consider the scientific merits of protocols referred to it. The Committee is to work on the principle that it is unethical to involve humans in research protocols that do not meet accepted scientific standards; and
• In carrying out its functions, the Committee needs to take into account local culture and social attitudes, ensuring that procedures relating to providing information to and obtaining consent from research participants are observed. 

The Chief Executive has delegated to the Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee the authority to:

• Approve research protocols
• Request modifications or defer protocols
• Reject protocols
• Monitor approved protocols
• Approve protocol amendments
• Suspend approved protocols
• Withdraw ethical approval for research
• Seek legal advice as appropriate

Membership

The Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee is constituted according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 and its membership is maintained in excess of the minimum requirements of Section 5.1.30 which are as follows:

• a chairperson;
• a laywoman with no affiliation with the institution and drawn from the local community;
• a layman with no affiliation with the institution and drawn from the local community;
• at least two people with knowledge of, and current experience in the areas of research regularly considered by the Committee;
• at least a person with knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people;
• a minister of religion or person of equivalent standing in the Community; and
• a lawyer.

Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee Terms of Reference  (175k)