Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is an independent committee responsible for reviewing and approving research proposals that involve human participants. It aims to ensure that research is conducted in an ethical manner, that the rights and welfare of participants are protected, and that researchers adhere to the ethical standards set forth by regulatory bodies, such as the Australia National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). It also monitors ongoing research to ensure that it continues to meet ethical standards throughout the duration of the project. Some organisations have their own , including Includovate.
Any research project that involves human participants (such as clinical trials, surveys, interviews, focus groups etc) must be reviewed and approved by HREC, regardless of the funding source, research design, or type of data collection. The Committee is responsible for reviewing research proposals, approving protocols, and ongoing monitoring of the research project. It’s important to note that even if a study involves only minimal risk to participants, it still requires review and approval by HREC
The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all members of the human family. Ethical research, in line with these principles, seeks to protect the rights, dignity, and welfare of all research participants.
The principles of informed consent, respect, privacy and confidentiality, align with several articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For example, Article 3 states that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person. Article 5 states that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 12 states that everyone has the right to privacy and that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference in terms of their privacy, family, home, or correspondence.
By adhering to the ethical principles, researchers can ensure that they are upholding fundamental human rights and promoting the well-being and dignity of research participants. Ethical research also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to promote equity, justice, and sustainable development for all.
Ethical research must also be conducted in accordance with national, professional and all other applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.
Respect for Persons: This involves treating research participants as autonomous individuals who have the right to make their own decisions about whether to participate in the study or not.
Beneficence: This involves minimising potential harms to – and maximising potential benefits for – research participants. Researchers must take steps to protect the welfare of participants and ensure that the potential benefits of the research outweigh any potential risks.
Non-maleficence: This involves not harming research participants. Researchers must take steps to ensure that the research does not cause physical or psychological harm to participants.
Justice: This involves ensuring that the benefits and burdens of research are distributed fairly. Researchers must ensure that participants are not exploited or treated unfairly, and that the benefits of the research are available to all who are eligible.
Informed Consent: This involves obtaining voluntary and informed consent from participants before they are enrolled in the study. Participants must be fully informed about the nature and purpose of the study, any potential risks or benefits, and their right to withdraw from the study at any time.
Privacy and Confidentiality: This involves protecting the privacy and confidentiality of research participants. Researchers must take steps to ensure that the data on participants is kept confidential and that participants are not identified in any way that could compromise their privacy.
If you’re collecting data from humans or researching sensitive topics, you are likely to need a review. If your research involves potential risks to people, data privacy or participant vulnerability, again you are likely to require an IRB review. Consider these questions if you’re still wondering whether your study needs ethical review.
Includovate’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)” supports both internal and external researchers to safeguard ethical standards in their research. Our Committee is an independent body with members drawn from both inside and outside the organisation. The Committee ‘s primary purpose is to improve the quality of the research carried out by Includovate and its partners, while also protecting the rights and welfare of research participants. We have guidelines to ensure that the Review Committee carries out its work effectively and that our research meets the very highest ethical standards.
We believe that ethical, inclusive research can create a better, more equitable world, by providing evidence-based solutions that have the capacity to reshape the social, political, economic, and environmental systems that perpetuate injustice. As a feminist research incubator, we strive to make global programmes and policies more inclusive and to reverse post-colonial legacies in academic research. We take pride in our expertise, and in understanding local, socio-development contexts across the Global South. We empower local researchers in low-income countries to lead, publish, and improve the quality of research in their communities, as a first step to creating localised, evidence-based and co-created solutions to development challenges. We use innovative research models, participatory methods, and inclusive tools (like stakeholder mapping and gender role analysis), and set standards to ensure that research from Includovate and its partners is ethically designed and conducted to make a positive impact on the communities we work with.
To submit your proposal, simply fill out the form provided in the link below. Please make sure that you provide all the necessary information, including details about your research project, your methods, and any potential risks or benefits to participants.
please also read our ethical guidelines before submitting your proposal. Our Review Committee carefully considers all proposals to ensure that they meet our ethical standards and that the rights and welfare of participants are protected.
If you have any questions about the submission process or need assistance with your proposal, please don’t hesitate to email us at ( info@includovate.com ) with the subject : HREC: Proposal . We are here to help and look forward to working with you and reviewing your proposal.
Please use this link to submit your proposal: Includovate research ethics application form
Includovate is committed to promoting ethical research practices, protecting the rights and welfare of research participants, and providing HREC reviews for both internal and external researchers.
If you’re an internal researcher, you are welcome to submit your HREC proposal to HREC Includovate . Please send your proposal at least two weeks before your research start date , as we usually take two weeks to review and provide feedback.
External researchers/organisations are asked to please submit proposals to the same email address ( [email protected] ) at least three weeks before your research start date. You will be required to make payment before sending your proposal, and should fill in and submit the HREC application form 48 hours after your payment. We are committed to reviewing and providing feedback on your proposal within 2 weeks. Payment includes a final last review of your proposal after it has been amended to incorporate our feedback and comments.
We encourage you to review our HREC Terms of reference before submitting your proposal. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact us via ( [email protected] )
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