Ethics Policy Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data and Human Tissue
As a world-class research institution, the University of Sheffield aspires to produce the highest quality research. At the heart of this is the key principle that governs all research involving human participants, personal data and human tissue: respect for the participants' welfare and rights. Researchers have an obligation to ensure that their research is conducted ethically and with the minimum possible risk to all those involved or affected by it.
This website sets out the University's Ethics Policy Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data and Human Tissue, and provides supporting guidance and materials.
The Policy is in three sections, each of which has the authority of University of Sheffield policy (in each section, the Ethics Policy Governing Research Involving Human Participants, Personal Data And Human Tissue may be referred to as 'the Research Ethics Policy', and the University of Sheffield as 'the University'. The University of Sheffield's Research Ethics Committee may be abbreviated to 'UREC'):
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The fundamental principles governing research ethics at the University, along with the objectives, scope and applicability of the Research Ethics Policy. |
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The practicalities of research ethics review at the University: when and how to obtain ethics approval for a research project. |
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A series of policy documents discussing specific issues in more specialised detail INCLUDING: key definitions; consent; safety & well-being; anonymity, confidentiality & data protection; health and social care research; vulnerable people; administrative research; archival research; retrospective ethics review; human tissue; research involving illegal activities. |
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A range of accompanying Specialist Research Ethics Guidance Papers, educational materials and other resources supporting the Research Ethics Policy. |
Download the Research Ethics Policy as a single PDF document (335 KB)