Module 6: Grant and Contract Administration

1.2 Managing the research grant

1.2.3 Ethical and biosafety clearances

Module 3: Conducting Research Responsibly - Protecting Yourself, Your Research, and Your University addresses the issue of ethical clearances in Topic 3.4, Ethics clearances and committees. Read that topic, and the associated activity, to familiarise (or remind) yourself with its content. While you are there, read Topic 5.1 as well, Regulatory approvals.

The purpose of including the subject in this module is to remind you that you cannot commence your project without ethical and/or biosafety clearances. Your approvals need to be current for the duration of the project, and, as it is easy to overlook the need to update them, use an electronic calendar to record when renewals are due.

IMPORTANT: Many publishers require proof of ethical approval and may even ask to sight it. If this cannot be provided they will not accept your manuscript.

Additional Activities

The following are web links to the policies that impact on ethical and biosafety clearances:

• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans
• http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/health-ethics/human-research-ethics/general-guidelines-research-involving-humans
• Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
• http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/r39syn.htm
• AIATSIS – Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies
• http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/research/docs/DraftGERISrevisionsDec2009.doc
• NHMRC Australian Code of Practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
• http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/ea16syn.htm