UK University Research Ethics Committees Forum
Meeting held on Tuesday 28th January 2014, 11:00, at King’s College London
Attendees:
Roger Bone, Canterbury Christ Church University
Martin Brinkworth, University of Bradford
Lorna Carter, University of Oxford
Hazel Colvill, Queen Mary, University of London
Helen Dougal, University College London
Catherine Fieulleteau, University of East London
Mike Ford, British School of Osteopathy
Richard Kwiatkowski, Cranfield University
Marice Lunny, King’s College London
Ann Macaskill, Sheffield Hallam University
Isla-Kate Morris, University of Sussex
Melanie Nakisa, Bucks New University
Bob Odle, University of Westminster
Nicole Palmer, University of Kent
Beverley Pascoe, Anglia Ruskin University
James Patterson, King’s College London
Malcolm Quinn, University of the Arts
Anna Ramberg, City University
Andrew Rawnsley, Teeside University
Rebecca Rees, Institute of Education
Gella Richards, Roehampton University
Julie Scott, Anglia Ruskin University
Birgit Whitman, University of Bristol
1. Introductions
Attendees were welcomed by the Chair.
2. Notes of the meeting held on Tuesday 29th October 2013
2.1
The notes were approved.
3. Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda:
3.1
There was nothing to report.
4. Association for Research Ethics (AfRE) update
4.1
Highlights of Annual Conference
The highlights of the annual conference were summarised. Ron Ibhofen had spoken about the
Academy of Social Sciences project on Generic Ethics Principles (a link to the Academy of
Social Science series is available online: http://acss.org.uk/developing-generic-ethics-principles-social-science/ )
and the was a presentation on publication ethics. Andrew Rawnsley, John Oats and Birgit
Whiteman gave a presentation about the implementation of the Framework of Policies and
Procedures for University Research Ethics Committees.
The conference also addressed ethical issues in internet-mediated research Further
information is available at www.bps.org.uk
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4.2
Update on the Framework of Policies and Procedures for University RECs
The Development Group has discussed the possibility of training for AfRE members. Forum
attendees were invited to suggest ideas for a training programme (see Appendix 1) and these
will be made available to the Development Group.
The Framework has been made available to relevant colleagues working on the EU ethics
requirements and the Framework is currently taking into consideration for the development of
European research ethics standards.
4.3
HRA/AfRE workshops
Currently workshops for supervisors are underway. The final round of this year’s workshops will
focus on Sponsorship.
Forum Attendees highlighted the need for feed-back from AfRE to those institutions who had
hosted a workshop.
5. Watching briefs:
5.1
Human Tissue Act
Nothing was identified
5.2
Concordat to support research integrity activities
A Russell Group working group has been set up. Workshops are expected to cover training
needs and the handling of research misconduct in relation to the Concordat. The group is also
working with funders of research to establish further clarification about the auditing component.
5.3
EU Data Protection Regulation
The European Union (EU) is considering the introduction of new data-protection regulation.
This might prove restrictive to academic researchers. The ESRC have published a joint
statement on EU Data Protection Regulation
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/news-and-events/announcements/29772/Joint_statement_on_EU_Data_Protection_Regulation.aspx
5.4
What has been the major issue in your institution since the last meeting?
Forum members reported issues such as the recruitment of lay members. One particular issue
arising from this is background checks for putative REC members.
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6. Dates of future meetings
11am on Tuesday 24th June 2014 at King’s College London
7. Any Other Business
None.
8. Part 2 discussion session: Training for members of UERCs
- What training is currently available in your institution?
- Training needs analysis with a view of feeding results to AfRE
To find out more information about:
 UK URECs Forum please email rec@kcl.ac.uk.
 Association for Research Ethics (AfRE) http://www.arec.org.uk/index.asp?pageid=525597
enquiries, please email jackiemaull@arec.org.uk
It would be helpful if any changes in University REC contact information could be sent to all.
All minutes, presentations (with permission) and meeting dates are published on the Forum
webpages hosted by King’s College London:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/ethics/training/ukurecforum.html
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Appendix 1: Group work feed-back: Training needs and potential AfRE support
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Support from AfRE for Business case development in support of research integrity training
and support mapping exercises would be welcomed with the aim of recognising that the
AfRE framework provides guidelines and needs to fit with institutional models
Overcome blocks to development of an ethics culture in own institution: ownership,
resources, budget and support from senior management
AfRE workshops to highlight the link of the AfRE Framework with the Concordat to ensure
that there is recognition of the AfRE framework as a “compliance / evidence section” for the
Concordat as the AfRE Framework can help demonstrate quality and transparency in the
institutional ethics infrastructure.
AfRE should seek ways to explore a partnership with Epigeum to develop and integrate
complimentary training for those areas that are not delivered by Epigeum.
AfRE might want to consider training for specific groups within the ethics infrastructure of
institutions such as lay/independent member training and training for Chairs. It might be
helpful to have some guidance about recruitment such as due diligence checks for lay
members.
AfRE might offer a selection of case studies especially to include non UK and multi-site
research
AfREC might develop models in which to support gender, age and ethnic diversity
AfRE might offer input for the Code of practice / policy review at institutional level when
relevant research ethics and integrity policies need reviewing
AfRE needs to explore the applicability of the framework – to non-human research areas
such as animal and non-human non animal research such as environment ethics
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