Human Research Governance
Human Research Governance
From April 2011 Mater researchers are required to obtain Governance authorisation for each human research project.
All research projects involving humans must be authorised by the Research Governance Officer before work can commence at a Mater Health Services site. This requirement is based on NHMRC guidelines, stating that institutions must establish research governance frameworks through which they are accountable for research they authorise at their site. The assessment allows the organisation to consider whether it has the capacity to successfully and responsibly conduct the research.
All applications for Governance authorisation must be made on the Mater Health Services Site Specific Assessment (SSA) Form. This form needs to be completed by the Principal Investigator of each new human research project and submitted to the Research Governance Officer. The SSA application for a research project can be submitted to the Research Governance Officer at any time and is not dependent on an HREC deadline.
The Research Governance assessment may involve, but will not be limited to:
- Compatibility of the research project with the organisation’s research aims.
- Feasibility of the research project with consideration of the required resources at the organisation (e.g. financial, human resources, infrastructure).
- Expertise and experience of researchers, and ensuring that training for research staff is undertaken as required.
- Compliance of the research project with relevant laws, policies and guidelines (such as radiation safety, confidentiality, intellectual property, biosafety and licensing standards).
- Legal considerations including research contracts and agreements.
Human Research Governance Submissions
Please read the documents entitled Researcher Guidelines for Research Governance Authorisation and Minimum requirements for research ethics and governance proposals for details on how to complete and submit your SSA application at Mater. The application and all supporting documentation are required on electronic media (email, CD, DVD, USB). In addition, two sets of hard copies (one original with signatures and one copy), as well as associated documentation are required for all high risk research projects.
For low or negligible risk projects, the Research Governance Officer will review the project proposal upon completion of the low and negligible risk application form.
Approved Projects
Following commencement of a research project, the Research Governance Office will also be responsible for on-site monitoring of approved research projects and handling complaints relating to the conduct of research at the site.
To maintain ethics and governance approval, a progress report must be submitted to the authorising Research Governance Officer on the anniversary date of ethics approval (see the Human Research Ethics page for further details).
Also, as a condition of approval of each project, researchers must report all Adverse Events to both the authorising HREC and the site’s Research Governance Officer (see the Human Research Ethics page for further details).
Contact
Research Governance Officer
Room 67 Level 3, Quarters Building
Annerley Road
Woolloongabba Qld 4102
Phone: 07 3163 8836
Fax: 07 3163 1571
E-mail: research.governance@mmri.mater.org.au