University of Sheffield UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE

2003: Senate approves the University’s Ethics Policy for Research Involving Human Participants, Data & Tissue. 2004: UREC starts to meet. February 2005: University’s Ethics Review Procedure launched. By October all departments/schools accredited to ethically review University research ethics applications (a few undertake ethics review of applications on behalf of other departments). 2006: UREC BEGINS to verify how the ethics review arrangements are working, through receipt of annual reports on ethics decisions and a rolling programme of visits to academic departments.

KEY PRINCIPALS To protect the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of all human participants - research subjects, staff and students - in University of Sheffield research. To facilitate high quality research, through attention to detail. To facilitate grant capture. To provide a service to all disciplines in all Faculties. To keep the University’s Ethics Policy and Procedure, and associated guidance, under regular review. To actively position the University within the national regulatory- policy environment.

Key medium-term objectives The University’s Ethics Policy and Ethics Review Procedure should facilitate research, and be seen to facilitate research, across all research disciplines. The Ethics Review Procedure should be neither a formal ‘box ticking’ process nor inappropriately invasive. UREC should promote awareness of the benefits and value of research ethics to researchers in all research disciplines. The Ethics Review Procedure should be an effective mechanism for protecting human participants. UREC should continue to provide helpful guidance and support to University staff and students, concerning research ethics, and to prioritise activities that will have the most beneficial impact on research.

Key longer-term objectives To improve awareness and understanding of ethical issues in research, across all research disciplines. To encourage all University researchers to address ethical issues, know how to respond to them, and incorporate them in research design and delivery. To further enhance the credibility and reputation of University of Sheffield research, through association in the minds of stakeholders, including the general public, with comparatively high ethical standards.

Members of the UREC Chair: Prof. Richard Jenkins Deputy Chair: Dr Wendy Baird Six representatives of Research Divisions: Dr Peter Bath (Social Sciences) Professor Jonathan Stock (Arts and Humanities) Dr Wendy Baird (Health) Dr Birgit Helm (Biologies) Dr Chris Newman (Medicine) Ms Elena Rodriguez-Falcon (Engineering/Physical Sciences) Co-opted member: Professor Aurora Plomer (Law) Three lay members: The Archdeacon of Doncaster, Bob Fitzharris Professor Ann Macaskill, Sheffield Hallam University One vacancy Secretary: Mr Richard Hudson Over 40 administrators, over 4o principal ethics contacts, over 200 ethics reviewers.

UREC terms of reference To review the University’s Ethics Policy, including providing guidance on its interpretation. To embed the University’s Ethics Review Procedure: - accrediting departmental ethics review arrangements and reviewing accreditation on a five-yearly basis; - monitoring departments’ ethics review arrangements and reviewing annually departmental ethics decision making reports; - providing guidance in cases of uncertainty brought to its attention by departmental ethics review panels; - making decisions on cases that cannot be resolved by ethics review panels; and - hearing appeals against decisions made by departmental ethics review panels.

To promote awareness and understanding of research ethical issues throughout the University. To advise on any research ethical matters that are referred to it from within the University. To keep abreast of the external research ethics environment and ensure that the University responds to all external requirements.

WHAT UREC DOESN’T DO Ethical review of individual applications (unless applicant has appealed, or the department cannot reach a decision). Advise on ethical issues that are not concerned with research.