Discovery update - July 2016

1 Jul 2016

ESS Discovery Project updates

Human Ethics (Project Manager: Ms Helen Fraser)  
Following a series of consultation and engagement workshops, the Human Ethics Project Team has developed a recommendations paper to streamline and enhance the quality of LNR review. The recommendations were presented to the ESS Discovery Committee in July and will be communicated once formal approval has been received.

Testing of the NHMRC Human Research Ethics Application online form has commenced and is being supported by information sessions and a range of resources which are available on the Research Management Office website.
 

Animal Ethics (Project Manager: Prof. Craig Franklin)  
Having completed the review of animal ethics forms and best practice from relevant agencies, the project team and key stakeholders will come together in July to take part in a design workshop. The outcome will be a draft of a streamlined online animal ethics form for use across the university. The team is also progressing modifications to processes and practice to enhance the quality and consistency of review. 
 
Grants Management (Project Manager: Ms Cordelia Jackson)

This project team is now concentrating on developing the user specifications and business requirements for a new Research Management System, as well as continuing to identify process improvements and enhance communication.                         

Research Data Management (Project Manager: Prof Nick Hawkins) 

Two pilot projects have been developed. The first is underway and will design and trial an electronic data management plan;  the second (commencing in August) will provide research projects with a seamless allocation of shared storage. Together these pilots will form the foundation of secure, coordinated and efficient storage of research data.                   
 
Corporate Research Data (Project Manager: Dr Amberyn Thomas)  
The  project team has identified a number of opportunities to better identify corporate reporting requirements and data needs, promote the use of ORCID for staff and students, enhance accessibility of information on research performance and enhance research and researcher metrics.    

Research Higher Degrees (Project Manager:Assoc Prof.Jane Stadler)

The  project team has formed three primary work streams to identify RHD Advisor training and development needs, improve candidature evaluation and management, and enhance graduate outcomes, student training and development.

Research Partnerships and Contracts (Project Manager: Prof. Ian Godwin) 
Priority work streams for this project team include identifying enhancements in access to contracts and partnerships data, improving coordination of partnership efforts and streamlining of delegations,  policies and workflows. 

Research Infrastructure (Project Manager: Ms Rebecca Osborne)

This project will enhance the use and maximise the benefit of UQ's research resources, including identifying opportunities to increase the operational efficiency and utilisation of infrastructure and to engage in stronger collaboration for research infrastructure funding. Nominations for project team members are now open

Read more on the ESS Discovery website.

Email enhancingservices@uq.edu.au for further information.

NHMRC Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) Form

As part of the initiative to have streamlined and efficient ethics approval, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has developed the Human research Ethics Application (HREA) as a replacement for the National Ethics Application Form (NEAF). The aim of the HREA is to be a concise streamlined application to facilitate efficient and effective ethics review for research involving humans. The application will assist researchers to consider the ethical principles of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) in relation to their research, rather than focus on requirements for approval. It has been developed with input from representatives from HRECs, public and private hospitals, academic institutions and commonwealth and state government departments.

The University of Queensland and our researchers are fortunate to have the opportunity to beta test the application and provide feedback directly to the NHMRC.In order to provide the opportunity for all disciplines to participate in the consultative process, UQ plans to utilise this form for all new high risk applications as well as staff Low and Negligible Risk applications.

Briefing sessions for researchers are underway and further information is available from the Research Management Office.

Read more about the Beta testing.

Find out more about this and all ESS projects.

A closer look at data planning, storage and access 

The ESS Research Data Management Project will deliver several process and system enhancements to support researchers to manage their data in accordance with global best practice, setting them up to meet future changes in data management requirements.

Two pilot projects have already been approved:

Firstly, to design, construct, trial and refine an integrated Data Management Plan (iDMP)to collect metadata that that will enable researchers to manage their research data according to best practice and allow better governance of Research Data across UQ. This mandatory metadata will inform a durable registry of projects at UQ and include information about where the Research Data is held for those projects and who can access it.

Secondly, the automated allocation of shared storage will provide research projects with a single mechanism whereby project team members can gain access to reliable and secure storage for their research data. Unlike many other universities, UQ currently has no means for allocating shared data storage for researchers upon completion of a data management plan.  

Together, these projects will form the building blocks of establishing research data management best practice as required by The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, national and international funding bodies, and an ever increasing number of research publications.

Read more about research data planning and management.

Find out more about this and all ESS projects.

Important Dates and Events 

July - September 2016: HREA Form Beta Testing period  

Download the original ESS Discovery Update email.

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