Research
Research projects cannot commence at SMHS sites until they have:
- ethical and scientific approval, and
- site authorisation approval.
The ethical review and site authorisation are independent processes but can be conducted in parallel.
Ethics
Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) review research proposals involving human participants to ensure they are ethically acceptable and comply with the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) (external site). HRECs also monitor the conduct of research projects until completion to ensure they continue to meet ethical requirements.
All human research conducted in WA Health must undergo ethical and scientific review, approval and monitoring by a HREC.
Researchers wishing to discuss ethics issues should phone 6152 2064 or email SMHS.HREC@health.wa.gov.au
Site authorisation
The WA Health Research Governance Framework (external link) governs the scientific, ethical and site governance review and approval and the conduct and monitoring of human research within WA public health organisations.
The policy and procedures within the framework apply to WA Health employees and non-WA Health employees (including clinical and non-clinical university academics) who propose to undertake, manage, review and govern human research involving patients, their tissue or data accessed through WA Health.
Researchers wishing to discuss ethics issues should phone 6152 2646 or email SMHS.RGO@health.wa.gov.au