University Research Ethics Committee (UREC)
The UREC's key tasks are to promote awareness and understanding of research ethical issues throughout the University, to advise on any ethical matters in research that are referred to it from within the University and to keep abreast of the external research ethics environment and ensure that the University responds to all external requirements.
The actual ethical review of individual research ethics applications is undertaken by academic departments. For further information, follow the right-hand link to a short introductory presentation to the UREC.
Minutes of meetings of the University Research Ethics Committee
The minutes of recent Committee meetings are available on the right-hand side of this page in pdf format; please note that confidential minutes relating to the internal affairs of particular departments have been removed.
Terms of reference
The Committee reports to the Senate, and is responsible for:
i. The ongoing review of the University’s 'Ethics Policy Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data and Human Tissue', including providing guidance on its interpretation;
ii. Embedding the University's Ethics Review Procedure, which includes:
- auditing and accrediting the ethics review arrangements in place within academic departments and reviewing accreditation on a five yearly basis;
- monitoring the ethics review arrangements in place within academic departments, which includes reviewing ethics decision making reports from academic departments on an annual basis;
- providing guidance on cases of uncertainty brought to its attention by academic departments' ethics review panels and for making decisions on cases that cannot be resolved by ethics review panels;
- hearing appeals against the decisions made by academic departments' ethics review panels (the Committee can overrule the decisions of ethics review panels);
- in the event of concerns arising about whether a research proposal or ongoing research activity complies with the University’s Research Ethics Policy, suspending the approval process for that proposal, or suspending the research activity in question, pending further investigation.
iii. Promoting awareness and understanding of ethical issues in research throughout the University's research community (i.e. ethical issues that are relevant to research that involves human participants and also ethical issues that are relevant to other types of research);
iv. Providing advice on any ethical matters relating to research that are referred to it from within the University;
v. Keeping abreast of new externally-driven developments, policies and regulations concerning research ethics and, where appropriate, ensuring that the University meets all necessary requirements.
Committee Membership
| Chair | |
| Professor Chris Newman | Cardiovascular Science, Medical School |
| Deputy Chair | |
| Professor Peter Bath | Information School |
| Secretary | |
| Mrs Lindsay Unwin | Team Leader, Quality & Governance Team, Research and Innovation Services |
| Minute Secretary | |
| Miss Nicola Donkin (currently on secondment) | Quality and Operations Officer, Research and Innovation Services |
| Senate Faculty Representatives | |
| Dr Lynda Partridge | Faculty of Science (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) |
| Dr Felicity Matthews | Faculty of Social Sciences (Politics) |
| Dr Jennifer Burr | Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (ScHARR) |
| Dr Plato Kapranos | Faculty of Engineering (Materials Science and Engineering) |
| Dr Carmen Szabo | Faculty of Arts & Humanities (English) |
| Dr Ana Vivas | International Faculty |
| Senate Professional Services Representative | |
| Ms Louise Knowles | Counselling Service |
| Ex-Officio | |
| Professor Richard Jones | Physics and Astronomy |
| Student representatives | |
| Ms Sarah Hawtree | The Medical School |
| Ms Lykara Ryder | English Literature, Language and Linguistics |
| Lay members | |
| Dr Peter Allmark | Sheffield Hallam University |
| The Venerable Robert Fitzharris | Archdeacon of Doncaster |
| Professor David Mason | Nottingham Trent University |
| Mr Rob Vincent | Advisor at Department of Health |
| Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 11 September 2013 | 2.15pm | Meeting room 1, 2nd floor, New Spring House |
| Wednesday 6 November 2013 | 2.15pm | Meeting room 1, 2nd floor, New Spring House |
| Wednesday 5 February 2014 | 2.15pm | Meeting room 1, 2nd floor, New Spring House |
| Wednesday 14 May 2014 | 2.15pm | Meeting room 1, 2nd floor, New Spring House |