Ethics application

Negligible risk research may be exempt from ethics review if it meets all the following criteria:

• The research meets the definition of negligible risk,
• The research involves the use of existing collections of data or records that contain only non-identifiable information about human beings. The majority of existing collections of data that would be eligible for exemption are publicly available sources of aggregate information, and
• The original data collection and the proposed use of the data are consistent with the ethical principles outlined in the National Statement. Researchers must confirm that conditions of consent were appropriate and that the original consent covers the proposed research.
• Permission from the data custodian is obtained prior to accessing the data and any conditions of access are observed.

An application for exemption must be made through MyResearch.

Should the application for exemption not be approved, researchers will be required to apply to the relevant ethics body at the University (HREC or LNR review).

Projects involving hospitals should first be submitted for ethics review to the relevant hospital HREC using their online form. A project involves a hospital if it includes any of the following:

• collecting data on hospital sites;
• access to hospital data/patients/staff;
• a hospital staff member is part of the research team.

Projects proposals involving defence personnel (serving or retired), defence funding or defence sites need to be reviewed by Defence and Veteran Affairs HREC.

Project proposals involving coronial material (data or tissues) should be forwarded to Forensic and Scientific Services Human Ethics Committee.

Once approval has been secured from the external HREC, ratification needs to be sought from UQ (see the ‘Ethics Review Pathways’ tab on this page).

All applications are made through UQ’s MyResearch system.

Information on using the system is available in the MyResearch Training Hub.

Researchers who wish to make any changes to an approved project will need to apply for an amendment through the approving committee. Amendments are made through MyResearch.

The University of Queensland has two multi-disciplinary Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs). As these HRECs are not discipline-specific, ethics applications will be allocated to the HRECs based solely on the date of submission.

Important documents

 UQ Terms of Reference for HREC A and HREC B (PDF, 105.5 KB) 
 UQ Standard Operating Procedures for HREC A and HREC B  (PDF, 634.4 KB) (PDF, 634 KB)

Submission and meeting dates

Each HREC meets every four weeks on a Thursday with a two week interval between the meeting of HREC A and HREC B. To ensure that your application is considered at a meeting, you need to ensure that your final complete MyResearch application is submitted by 5:00pm AEST of the cut-off date for that meeting. 

HREC A & B calendar - 2022

An electronic copy of the 2022 calendar can be accessed here.

Volunteer on a UQ Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)

The University of Queensland’s world-class medical, behavioural and social science research continues to provide solutions to some of the greatest problems of our time: the needs of young and ageing Australians, investigating new ways to diagnose and treat infectious diseases and address the soaring rates of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, mental illness, and cancer.

For research that involves human participants, UQ’s HRECs review proposals to ensure that values and principles that apply to all human research are fully considered. These Committees include volunteer members from the following categories:

• Lay person — People with no affiliation with UQ and who does not currently engage in medical, scientific, legal or academic work;
• Practitioner — People with knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people; for example, a nurse or allied health professional;
• Pastoral care — People who performs a pastoral care role in a community, for example, an Aboriginal elder, a minister of religion;
• Lawyer 
• Researchers

You can help in an important and practical way. Your input as a Committee member will help us in the ethical review of human research that will be working to deliver the next medical and social breakthroughs for society. 

Please contact us at humanethics@research.uq.edu.au if you are interested in joining our Committees or wish to learn more about the role of Committee members.

An "appeal" here means a written submission from a researcher to the Chairperson of the approving Committee (in the first instance) about a dispute. 

Appeals regarding HREC rejection

Where the HREC has rejected an application, the investigator has the discretion to:

• Submit a new application to the same HREC, taking due account of the HREC’s concerns; or
• Lodge an appeal with the HREC Chairperson (via the Committee Coordinator) specifying the grounds of the appeal in writing. The HREC Chairperson will respond directly to the appellant regarding the outcome of the review.

Appeals regarding HREC approval

Where the HREC has given a favourable decision on an application, and;

• An ethical or scientific issue is subsequently identified by any party; or
• It has become apparent that the decision was based on inconsistent application of policy and guidelines

A written appeal is lodged with the Chairperson (via the Committee Coordinator) in the first instance.

Appeals to Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

If the appellant considers the HREC has failed to follow due process after making an appeal in line with the above and remains unsatisfied with the outcome, they have the discretion to lodge an appeal with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) or request that the Chairperson do so through the Committee Coordinator. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) may refer the matter to another UQ HREC, external HREC, or seek other expert advice as appropriate.

The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (PDF, 658.8 KB) requires registered HRECs to regularly monitor all approved projects. To help ensure compliance the University has the following checkpoints in place.

• Annual Progress Reports: Reports are due on the anniversary of the approval date of your project. For example if the project was approved on 8 January, the annual report is due by 8 January each year until the completion of the project. Annual reports are made through MyResearch.

• Random audits: The ethics committee may undertake audits of the Projects it has approved as a mechanism for monitoring research. The audit confirms that the project is being conducted in accordance with its approval.

• Serious Adverse Events (SAE)/ suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs) are required to be submitted to the reviewing Ethics Committee within 72 hours of the event occurring. Serious Adverse Events are made through MyResearch.

• Final report: On completion of the project the Chief investigator is required to submit a final report. Final reports are made through MyResearch.

• Complaints: It is recommended that research participants discuss any concerns that may arise from their participation in the research with the researchers themselves. However, if they wish to talk to an officer of the University of Queensland who is not connected with the project they can contact the Director of the Office of Research Ethics or Human Ethics Coordinators.

Please see human ethics team contacts at https://research.uq.edu.au/contact