IHR Ethics Committee

Institute for Health Research Ethics Committee (IHREC)

The purpose of the ethics committee is to provide ethical oversight of research-based activities conducted by staff and students in relevant departments of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. The faculty has two ethics committees, IHR (Institute of Health Research) and IASR (Institute of Applied Social Research).

The IHREC is responsible for ethical approval of all research undertaken by staff and post graduate students within the Faculty of Health and Social Science whose research focus is Health Research rather than Social. Research proposals that are concerned specifically with social rather than health issues should be addressed by IASR. There will be occasions where a proposed project may seem to fit equally well with either ethics committee in which case the researcher should contact the Chair of IHR and/or IASREC and discuss the most appropriate way forward.

It does not matter which committee gives approval as long as it has been given.

ALL research undertaken within the Department of Health, whether primary (involving fieldwork with human beings) or secondary (involving work which draws on already published resources), requires ethical approval. Proposals must be submitted to and approved by the ethics committee before fieldwork can commence.

Proposals for all research based and other academic activities which involve contact with individuals or organisations must be submitted to, and approved by, the ethics committee before fieldwork can commence.

Please download and complete the appropriate application and return one signed hard copy and an electronic copy to Melanie Coulson, Institute for Health Research Administrator at:

E: melanie.coulson@beds.ac.uk
Melanie Coulson
Administrator, Institute for Health Research
Putteridge Bury, University of Bedfordshire
Hitchin Road, Luton. LU2 8LE

T: 01582 743736
F: 01582 743918

All proposals for primary/empirical research must be submitted using the IHREC RA1_RS1 application form:

IHREC Research Proposal Ethical Approval Form - DOC 135.5 KB

Students undertaking primary research must have a hard copy of their form signed by their supervisor as well as signing it themselves.

If the research involves participants from the NHS (patients or staff) approval must also be obtained from the NHS Local Research Ethics Committee via the Integrated Research Application System:

https://www.myresearchproject.org.uk/

Health students doing secondary/non-empirical research, ie, library-based (literature review/systematic review) dissertations, research proposals or service improvement projects should download and complete one of the following forms:

Library-based Ethics Approval Form - DOC,FFV1 96.0 KB for students doing literature reviews (which in some courses also includes some reflection on practice) or research proposals

A Service Improvement Ethics Approval Form - DOC 96.5 KB for use by undergraduate and masters students doing service improvement projects.

Students undertaking secondary research must have a hard copy of their form as well as signing it themselves and should retain a copy to submit as an appendix to their dissertation.

Masters students who will be collecting data from outside the UK MUST complete the following authorised absence form:

Authorised Absence Form - Masters Students - DOC 27.0 KB

PhD students who will be collecting data from outside the UK MUST contact the Research Graduate for the appropriate application form.

Researchers are encouraged to be aware of the Dept of Health’s Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care:

Research governance framework for health and social care: Second edition

Researchers should also refer to The British Psychological Society's Code of Human Research Ethics:

BPS Code of Human Research Ethics

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