University Research Ethics Committee

The University Research Committee (UREC) is comprised of academic staff from Schools within the University and lay members. UREC is chaired by the LJMU Research Governance Manager Dr Dave Harriss. The secretary of UREC is Mandy Williams (Research Support Officer Ethics and Governance) based in the Research and Innovation Services, 1st Floor, Exchange Station, Tithebarn St, Liverpool, L2 2QP.

To contact UREC please email researchethics@ljmu.ac.uk.

UREC will consider ethics applications and administer minimal risk registration forms for principal investigators who are LJMU staff or postgraduate research (PGR) students. School RECs will consider ethics applications and administer minimal risks registration forms for principal investigators who are postgraduate taught (PGT) (including prof Doc) or undergraduate students. UREC will also consider ethics applications for principal investigators who are postgraduate taught (including prof Doc) or undergraduate students if the study is associated with higher than low risk (unless the school REC has established ethical protocols for specific commonly occurring situations and procedures associated with higher than low risks – in which case, the ethics application will be considered by the School REC).

Depending on the level of associated risk, a study may be registered as minimal risk or require full or proportionate ethical review. To determine the level of risk, please complete the decision tool (if you see the “welcome to Office” page, click “sign in”. At the Microsoft sign in page enter your username@ljmu.ac.uk).

Full Ethical review

Studies associated with higher than low risks - complete the UREC ethics application form - submit to FullReviewUREC@ljmu.ac.uk (student applications must be submitted by the supervisor) as one PDF that includes all of the supporting documents (combine the ethics application and supporting documents into one Word document and then "save as" PDF) - by the published submission deadline - for consideration at a UREC meeting. UREC meets approximately every 4-6 weeks with the submission deadline set 11 working days before the meeting date. Once submitted the Chair of UREC will screen the ethics application to ensure the information provided will permit full ethical review. So if requested by the Chair, an applicant must be prepared to update their ethics application and resubmit it at least six days before the UREC meeting date. At the UREC meeting, the ethics application will either be approved, deferred or not approve. Applicants will normally be notified within 1-3 working days. UREC aims to approve or defer resubmitted ethics applications that were deferred following full review within five working days.

To establish the risk associated with a study and to submit an ethics application, please complete the decision tool (if you see the “welcome to Office” page, click “sign in”. At the Microsoft sign in page enter your username@ljmu.ac.uk).

Proportionate Review

Studies associated with Low risk - complete the UREC ethics application form - submit to PR-UREC@ljmu.ac.uk (student applications must be submitted by the supervisor) as one PDF that includes all of the supporting documents (combine the ethics application and supporting documents into one Word document and then "save as" PDF) - no submission deadline - applications usually considered within 10 working day by two members of UREC (one of whom will be the Chair or a Deputy Co-Chair of UREC) who will decide whether the application is approved, deferred, not approved or referred for full ethical review. UREC aims to approve or defer resubmitted ethics applications that were deferred following proportionate review within 5 working days.

Minimal Risk Registration

Studies associated with minimal risks - complete the minimal risk registration form - submit to MinimalRiskUREC@ljmu.ac.uk (student applications must be submitted by the supervisor) - no review - if completed correctly, automatic approval.

To establish the risk associated with a study and to submit a minimal risk registration form, please complete the decision tool (if you see the “welcome to Office” page, click “sign in”. At the Microsoft sign in page enter your username@ljmu.ac.uk).

Minimal Ethical Risk Guiding Principles

The principles set out below cover all studies involving human subjects at LJMU. It is the responsibility of supervisors to ensure that their students become familiar with LJMU research ethics policy and related guidance. All LJMU students and staff (in their capacity as investigators or supervisors) must comply with the LJMU Code of Practice for Research. The key principles can be summarised as follows:

The dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of participants must be a primary consideration in any study. All participants must be warned in advance about any potential risks of harm. Harm to those involved in or affected by the study must be minimised. If you anticipate any potential harm to participants your study is not eligible for minimal risk registration and you should complete an ethics application form.
Central to the protection of participants is ensuring a transparent process of consent is in place. As part of this process, investigators are normally expected to provide potential participants with the following information:

Purpose of the study - the purpose of the study and comprehensive explanation of what their participation would involve (what is involved, when, how much time they will be expected to contribute, how often, with whom, where the study will take place etc.).
Potential risks (including physical, psychological, professional, reputational and legal risks) and how those will be mitigated.
Security of data, including personal details (encryption and password protected to ensure secure storage).
Will the data from participants be collected anonymously, or will it be anonymised by the investigator? (Anonymity means that the provider of the information cannot be identified, even by the person doing the study. This requires techniques such as using an anonymous questionnaire platform (Bristol online survey tool, etc.) or a web forum that employs pseudonyms. Data can also be anonymised after collection, by removing identifiers from the data.
Information on the intended audience of the study and how it will be presented to that audience (for example, examined dissertation, peer reviewed article or book, conference paper).
How participants will be identified or referred to in the final report (fully identified, partially anonymous, directly attributable quotes etc.). It must be made clear to participants if you intend to use direct quotes they have provided during the study, and their permission must be obtained. If specific comments are to be attributed to a person, the terms under which this will happen should be negotiated clearly in advance to avoid confusion.
Contact information for the investigator and/or supervisor.

As a general rule, investigators should provide all potential participants with an Information Sheet and Consent Form. Where traditional written consent is not obtained (for example, signing a consent form), investigators must be able to demonstrate that informed consent has been obtained (for example, by audio recording/ transcribing verbal consent etc.).

Investigators must respect the participant’s right to withdraw themselves or their data from the study either during or after participation without having to provide a reason. Withdrawal of data from the study should be facilitated up until the point that is no longer practically possible.

All study data and personal data obtained from participants should be securely stored in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and LJMU guidance

Ensuring that all participants understand that they are under no obligation to take part in a study. Participants should make their choice regarding participation freely, without any pressure from the investigator or any other individuals (for example, gatekeepers).

Individual investigators must take personal responsibility for the conduct of their study. Investigators undertaking a study that involves human participation or personal data that requires ethical review must not begin their study until approval has been obtained. Investigators are also responsible for ensuring that any other approvals or permissions (for example, gatekeeper approvals, DBS clearance) required to conduct the study are in place before the study commences. If investigators are in any doubt as to the appropriate conduct of their study or its ethical implications they should discuss their concerns with their supervisor in the first instance (where appropriate) or members of the School, Faculty or University Research Ethics. committees.

Contact

Research and Innovation Services
1st Floor, Exchange Station
Tithebarn St
Liverpool
L2 2QP

Telephone: 0151 904 6467

Email: researchethics@ljmu.ac.uk