1. HDR Supervisor Induction
HDR Supervisor Induction
Research Integrity, Ethics and Hazardous Materials
Gail Dixon Manager Research Integrity
18/JUL/2019
Welcome and thank you for taking on this very important role

2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESEARCHERS
Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018
R14
Support a culture of responsible research conduct at their institution and in their field of practice.
R21
Adopt methods appropriate to the aims of the research and ensure that conclusions are justified by the results.
Retain clear, accurate, secure and complete records of all research including research data and primary materials. Where possible and appropriate, allow access and reference to these by interested parties..
Provide guidance and mentorship on responsible research conduct to other researchers or research trainees under their supervision and, where appropriate, monitor their conduct.
R22
R15
Disseminate research findings responsibly, accurately and broadly. Where necessary, take action to correct the record in a timely manner.
R16
Undertake and promote education and training in responsible research conduct.
R23
Comply with the relevant laws, regulations, disciplinary standards, ethics guidelines and institutional policies related to responsible research conduct. Ensure that appropriate approvals are obtained prior to the commencement of research, and that conditions of any approvals are adhered to during the course of research.
R24
Disclose and manage actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
R17
Ensure that authors of research outputs are all those, and only those, who have made a significant intellectual or scholarly contribution to the research and its output, and that they agree to be listed as an author.
R25
Ensure that the ethics principles of research merit and integrity, justice, beneficence and respect are applied to human research.
R18
R26
Acknowledge those who have contributed to the research.
From the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018
Your responsibility as a supervisor is to ensure that you are educating and mentoring your students in adhering to the responsibilities for researchers
Our students need to be well grounded in the responsible conduct of research to ensure their success over time
Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and respect their legal rights and local laws, customs and protocols.
R27
Cite and acknowledge other relevant work appropriately and accurately.
R19
Participate in peer review in a way that is fair, rigorous and timely and maintains the confidentiality of the content.
R28
Ensure that the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) are considered at all stages of research involving animals and minimise the impacts on animals used in research and in so doing support the welfare and wellbeing of these animals.
R20
R29
Report suspected breaches of the Code to the relevant institution and/or authority.
research.curtin.edu.au
Research Integrity Fact Sheet
Version 1, 12/07/2018

3. Research Integrity Office Staff
Research Integrity Office Staff
Responsible Conduct of Research
Manager Research Integrity: Dr Catherine Gangell (Parental leave) / Gail Dixon
Human Research Ethics
Team Leader Ethics: Amy Bowater
Clinical Trials Advisor: Anneli Robbshaw
Senior Research Services Officer: Alina Dmitrieva
Research Services Officers: Diana Della Costa, Heather Johnson, Pam Lee, Stephanie Holmquest
Animal Research Ethics
Animal Welfare
Animal Welfare Officers: Dr Tara Pike, Dr Emily Barrick
Animal Facility
Manager Animal Facility: Dr Beng Chua
Animal Technicians: Kodee King, Carolyn Doyle
Hazardous Materials
Biosafety and Defence Trade Control : Dr Bernadette Bradley
Radiation Safety and Poisons : Ketesse Hansen
This presentation will be made available to you so no need to write these contact details down
The Research Integrity Team is here to provide assistance to help facilitate high quality research that is conducted with integrity and within the legislative framework.
As an office we: provide training & specialised advice;
promote and monitor compliance;
and process applications for permits and approvals.
Here are the staff who are available to assist you and your students
You or your students can get help over the phone, by or in person with the office staff

4. Legislation Poisons Act Radiation Safety Act Gene Technology Act
Legislation
Poisons Act
Radiation Safety Act
Gene Technology Act
Biosecurity Act
Defence Trade Controls Act
National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
Animal Welfare Act
Australian Code for the Care and use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
There are a number of legislative bodies that govern aspects of research and my office can help you and your students to understand and comply with the requirements

5. Policies and procedures
Policies and procedures
There are a number of policies and procedures that outline how to do ethical research at Curtin
There are a number of policies and procedures that outline how to do ethical research at Curtin
These are found at
Curtin University’s Research Management Policy
Curtin University’s Responsible Conduct of Research Policy and procedures
Authorship, Peer Review and Publication of Research Findings Policy and procedures
Conflict of Interest Procedures
Research Data and Primary Materials Policy
These policies are currently being updated in line with the new guides to the Code and communication will come through Curtin Weekly advising once they have been updated

6. Research Integrity Training
Research Integrity Training
All researchers at Curtin University must conduct research in accordance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
Training is provided on-line:
iPerform for Staff Blackboard for Students
Research Integrity Manual
Research Integrity Advisers
Research Integrity on-line training Is compulsory for all research staff as well as all HDR students
For Milestone 1 Students should have completed Research Integrity training
A Curtin Research Integrity Manual is available at the following link
It includes a list of Faculty based Research Integrity Advisers who can provide advice to researchers with queries related to the Code

7. Hazard Identification Tool
Hazard Identification Tool
For Milestone 1 Students should have done a HIT the purpose of which is to:
Identify some of the hazards (biological, radiological, chemical, poisonous).
As well as permissions (human or animal ethics approvals, defence trade controls, field work)
Receive feedback telling you about the major State and Federal legislation that regulate the use of the hazards that you identify.
Help you to seek the necessary approvals and prepare the risk assessment.
When should it be used?
At the very start of a HDR programme, before work commences.
The student completes this but the result gets sent to you as well as the students so that you are able to confirm that all the necessary permissions and risk assessments are in place.
As you go through the feedback with the student the HIT result will outline what needs to be done
Section B covers ethics and approvals, animals, humans, Defense Trade Controls,
Section C chemical safety, poisons, nanomaterials
Section D Radiation safety
Section E Biological safety
Section F Other hazardous materials
Students should also be encouraged to do a data management plan and an authorship agreement for any publications
Online at

8. Human Research Ethics ROC-ethics@curtin.edu.au
Human Research Ethics
Human research is conducted with or about people, or their data or tissue.
- Taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups
- Undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment
- Being observed by researchers
- The collection and use of participants’ body organs, tissues, fluids or exhaled breath
- Researchers having access to the participants’ personal documents or other materials
Access to participants’ information as part of an existing published or unpublished source or database
All human research ethics enquiries
If you are unsure about whether human ethics approval is required please contact one of the ethics officers who will be able to help you.
– human research ethics enquiries
If the appropriate approvals are not in place before the students commence data collection they will be unable to publish.
If this is not the case the students theses and publications may have had to be redacted which could lead to allegations of research misconduct for the supervisor

9. Key Principles of Human Research
Key Principles of Human Research
Respect for human beings
Research merit and integrity
Justice
Beneficence
Chapter 1.1 of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
The ethical relationship between researchers and research participants is founded on four key values:
Respect for human beings: due regard for the welfare, beliefs, perceptions, customs and cultural heritage, both individual and collective, of those involved in research.
Research merit and integrity: scientific validity of the project, and the potential benefit of the research carried out with a commitment to searching for knowledge and understanding.
Justice: no unfair burden on groups, no exploitation, fair distribution of benefits, and the selection, exclusion and inclusion of participants is fair.
Beneficence: benefit of the research conducted must justify any risks to participants.

10. Human Research Ethics Application Workflow
Human Research Ethics Application Workflow
Application submitted
1-2 days
Negligible risk
Low risk
Non-Low risk
2 weeks
Review within the School/Faculty
Advisory Committee
(unless Candidacy has been approved)
1 week
Review by Research Services Officers (Ethics)
Review by Team Lead (Ethics)
Note that the times are additive on the left hand side of the diagram so ethics approval needs to be applied for early as it must be in place before the research data collection commences
The HREC meet 11 times per year approximately monthly and the advisory committee meet between meetings
4 weeks
Human Research Ethics Committee

11.
Animal Ethics Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
An animal is defined as “any live non-human vertebrate (that is, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, encompassing domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, livestock, wildlife) and cephalopods”
Observational studies also require ethics approval
The Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th Edition (2013) (The Code) defines an animal as “any live non-human vertebrate (that is, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, encompassing domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, livestock, wildlife) and cephalopods (eg octopus)”.
Any research involving animals will be subject to review by the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
For observational studies you are required to obtain ethics clearance.
You will need to complete an observational ethics application form.
Studies are considered observational where animals are studied in their natural habitat.
Studies are not considered observational if: 
Animals are taken out of their natural habitat even for a short period of time
Animals are to be trapped
Animals are baited to observe behaviour
The animals natural habitat is disturbed
Or if the animals are approached in a manner that may induce stress to the animal
If using tissues for example from a butcher or abattoir no ethics approval is required with the important proviso that the animals were not killed for the purposes of research
The use of tissue may represent a biohazard and it is worth contacting the hazardous materials team for advice on this

12. Animal Ethics Application Workflow
Animal Ethics Application Workflow
Application submitted
3 R’s
The replacement of animals with other methods
The reduction in the number of animals used by good experimental design and use of statistics.
The refinement of techniques used to reduce adverse impact.
Up to 6 weeks
Animal Ethics Committee
1 week
For animal ethics approval the times are additive again so early application is needed in the case of animal research
It is also advisable to talk to the animal facility staff to ensure that they have the appropriate cages, facilities and feed for the animals to be used
Approval

13. Hazardous Materials & Equipment
Hazardous Materials & Equipment
Chemical, Radiological and Biological Hazards
Compliance requirements
Permits, approvals, licences etc.
Infrastructure requirements
PC2, radioisotope lab etc.
Depending on the type of work being done different approvals and licenses will be required again these can be time consuming and you are advised to seek advice from the hazardous materials team about how long things are likely to take
For hazards the student will need to complete a risk assessment and their induction should include standard operating procedures, Personal Protective Equipment and any other special requirements
If your student needs to work with something hazardous outside of your expertise you will need to arrange training for them in the relevant area

14. Radiation and Biosafety Application Workflow
Radiation and Biosafety Application Workflow
Radiation Application submitted
Biosafety Application submitted
1 week
Assessment of compliance requirements
Assessment of compliance requirements
Up to 1 year
Regulator Approval
Regulator Approval
4 weeks
Additive times again but some OGTR applications for example Dealings not intended for release DNIRs or dealings intended for release DIRs and field trials for genetically modified organisms can take 6 months or longer
Radiation Safety Officer/Committee
Institutional Biosafety Committee

15.
Research Integrity website & resources
This webpage has links to information for ethics as well as safety
Students eed to be directed to go through the links and familiarise themselves with the relevant sections.

16. Applying for project approval - InfoEd
Applying for project approval - InfoEd
Apply for and manage your approvals from Curtin’s :
Animal Ethics Committee, Human Research Ethics Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Radiation Safety Committee
Students can submit the application but cannot be Chief Investigators
- When a Student creates an application, they must assign a Staff member as the Chief Investigator.
- They must add themselves as an investigator on the form to see the application.
- They can find the application by searching for the record number in ‘quick find’.
InfoEd:
InfoEd help guides
As the supervisor you will be the CI on any approvals that are applied for through InfoEd.
It is advisable to read a word draft of the application and ensure that the student has all of the relevant documents before they submit to InfoEd.
The research integrity team can help with applications as required

17. Links Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
Links
Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC)
Curtin University’s Research Management Policy
Curtin University’s Responsible Conduct of Research Policy
Animal Welfare Act (WA) 2002
Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th ed

18. Thank you gail.dixon@curtin.edu.au
Thank you
Thank you for your attention and please ask any questions or me