<!DOCTYPE html>

<html data-programme="Research Integrity" data-course="Planning Your Research">

	<head>
		<title>Governance approvals</title>
		<meta charset="UTF-8">
		<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge">
		<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

		<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../css/project.min.css">
		<link id="basic-print" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../css/print.min.css" disabled>
		<link id="summary-print" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../css/print_interactive.min.css">
	<script type="text/javascript" src="../scripts_scorm_12/SCORM_12_APIWrapper.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../scripts_scorm_12/courseFunctions.js"></script>
</head>

	<body onLoad="javascript:Initialize();" onUnload="javascript:Terminate();">
	  
		<div id="app" v-cloak>
			<base-container
				screen-id="pyr_1_40"
				current-module = "Planning Your Research"
				page-title = "Governance approvals"
				screen-time = "4"
				screen-time-period = "mins">

				<page-container>

					<page-row>
						<page-content-main>
							
							<p>Although researchers are generally encouraged to set their own research agendas, approval is often required to determine how they will spend their time or use resources. In this course, we use the term 'governance approvals', which encompasses approvals managed by your institution as well as approvals managed by other entities.</p>
							<p>In the UK, there are specific requirements for research conducted in the NHS, with prisoners and with the military. In situations such as these, you will often need to seek approval and review from external bodies such as the Health Research Authority or Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (see the "Additional information" pod). Additionally, there are some types of research (e.g. research involving animals, medicines, human tissue or participants who lack mental capacity) that are subject to specific legal requirements. Your supervisor or university research office should be able to provide guidance if you believe that any additional approvals might be required for your research.</p>

						</page-content-main>

						<page-content-sidebar>
							
							<!-- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION START -->
							<pod variant="b" has-modal="true">
								<pod-heading>Additional information</pod-heading> <!-- pod title -->
								<pod-content></pod-content>
								<!-- pop-up pod content -->
								<pod-modal-heading>Additional information</pod-modal-heading>
								<pod-modal-content>
									<hosted-link id="RI_INT_pyr_1_40">
										<p><strong>Health Research Authority</strong></p>
										<p>The National Health Service (NHS) is the biggest coordinated healthcare system in the world. The Health Research Authority (HRA) exists to coordinate and manage governance approvals and research ethics reviews for all research involving the NHS. They have an extensive <a href="https://www.hra.nhs.uk/approvals-amendments/what-approvals-do-i-need/hra-approval/" target="_blank">website</a> providing guidance for researchers.</p>
										<p><strong>Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service</strong></p>
										<p>Research conducted with prisoners or in prisons must be reviewed and approved by the executive body, Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service's (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service/about/research" target="_blank">HMPPS</a>) research committee.</p>
										<p><strong>Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee</strong></p>
										<p>Research conducted in collaboration with the military must be reviewed by the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ministry-of-defence-research-ethics-committees" target="_blank">Ministry of Defence's Research Ethics Committee</a>.</p>
									</hosted-link>
								</pod-modal-content>
							</pod>
							<!-- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION END -->
							
						</page-content-sidebar>
					</page-row>
					
					<page-row>
						<page-content-main>

							<h3>Areas that require governance approval</h3>
							
							<instructional-text><p>Click on each card to learn about the different areas that require governance approval.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Continue on to learn about the different areas that require governance approval.</p></instructional-text>

						</page-content-main>
					</page-row>
					
					<page-row>
						<page-content-wide>
							
							<!-- ACTIVITY START -->
							<flashcards show-in-accessible-version="false">
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img1.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Research space</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">If you will need extra space to conduct experiments or interviews, you may need to get approvals and permissions before beginning your project.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img2.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Funding</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">Most research funding, including research grants, is given to the research institution. Therefore, your university must approve funding requests and formally accept the funds on your behalf.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img3.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Human participants</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">A research ethics committee must provide a favourable opinion on any research that includes human participants (as well as research involving human tissue, embryos or identifiable personal data). Work involving the NHS, prisons, the military or participants with limited mental capacity requires additional approvals.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img4.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Animals</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">In the UK, it is a legal requirement that an Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body (AWERB) reviews and approves any research involving animals. Permission and training from the holder (or designated representative) of the institution's animal licence will also be required.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img8.jpg" alt="" /><strong>International travel</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">Research conducted in other countries raises a range of issues (e.g. exporting sensitive technologies). Check to make sure you are aware of the applicable regulations and research governance expectations established by the country where you are conducting your research.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img5.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Publication restrictions</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">Funders sometimes ask to place restrictions on publication (e.g. requesting to review before publication); these restrictions usually require institutional approval.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img6.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Conflicts of interest (COI)</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">Universities that accept government funding must have COI policies, which require researchers to disclose any COI before applying for funding.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img7.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Data management</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">If your research requires access to personal data, or requires special data storage arrangements, you may have to check with your university to see whether appropriate facilities are available. It is also important to take account of any requirements enforced by data protection legislation (e.g. GDPR).</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img9.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Equipment and supplies</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">If your plans require special equipment or supplies, check to make sure that you are adhering to any policies your university has controlling the purchase and use of equipment (including relevant health and safety arrangements).</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img10.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Staff</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">Universities generally have policies covering hiring and promotion. If you will have staffing needs, check the relevant policies before you put together budgets and plans. </flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img11.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Sensitive research</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">Some research on sensitive topics (e.g. research involving classified information) can be subject to special regulations and might require approval before it can begin.</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
								<flashcard size="small">
									<flashcard-front><img class="img-responsive" src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_img12.jpg" alt="" /><strong>Insurance</strong></flashcard-front>
									<flashcard-back variant="text">Your university will have insurance and indemnity policies covering research activities. Check to see that your proposed work is covered and, if necessary, discover what you need to do to ensure it is covered (for instance, a favourable ethics committee opinion is often a condition of insurance).</flashcard-back>
								</flashcard>
							</flashcards>
							<!-- ACCESSIBLE START -->
							<accessible-block>
								<h4>Research space</h4>
								<p>If you will need extra space to conduct experiments or interviews, you may need to get approvals and permissions before beginning your project.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Funding</h4>
								<p>Most research funding, including research grants, is given to the research institution. Therefore, your university must approve funding requests and formally accept the funds on your behalf.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Human participants</h4>
								<p>A research ethics committee must provide a favourable opinion on any research that includes human participants (as well as research involving human tissue, embryos or identifiable personal data). Work involving the NHS, prisons, the military or participants with limited mental capacity requires additional approvals.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Animals</h4>
								<p>In the UK, it is a legal requirement that an Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body (AWERB) reviews and approves any research involving animals. Permission and training from the holder (or designated representative) of the institution's animal licence will also be required.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>International travel</h4>
								<p>Research conducted in other countries raises a range of issues (e.g. exporting sensitive technologies). Check to make sure you are aware of the applicable regulations and research governance expectations established by the country where you are conducting your research.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Publication restrictions</h4>
								<p>Funders sometimes ask to place restrictions on publication (e.g. requesting to review before publication); these restrictions usually require institutional approval.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Conflicts of interest (COI)</h4>
								<p>Universities that accept government funding must have COI policies, which require researchers to disclose any COI before applying for funding.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Data management</h4>
								<p>If your research requires access to personal data, or requires special data storage arrangements, you may have to check with your university to see whether appropriate facilities are available. It is also important to take account of any requirements enforced by data protection legislation (e.g. GDPR).</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Equipment and supplies</h4>
								<p>If your plans require special equipment or supplies, check to make sure that you are adhering to any policies your university has controlling the purchase and use of equipment (including relevant health and safety arrangements).</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Staff</h4>
								<p>Universities generally have policies covering hiring and promotion. If you will have staffing needs, check the relevant policies before you put together budgets and plans.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Sensitive research</h4>
								<p>Some research on sensitive topics (e.g. research involving classified information) can be subject to special regulations and might require approval before it can begin.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Insurance</h4>
								<p>Your university will have insurance and indemnity policies covering research activities. Check to see that your proposed work is covered and, if necessary, discover what you need to do to ensure it is covered (for instance, a favourable ethics committee opinion is often a condition of insurance).</p>
							</accessible-block>
							<!-- ACCESSIBLE END -->
							<!-- ACTIVITY END -->
							
						</page-content-wide>
					</page-row>

					<page-row>
						<page-content-sidebar>
							
							<!-- YOUR CONTEXT START -->
							<pod variant="c" has-modal="true">
								<pod-heading>Your context</pod-heading> <!-- pod title -->
								<pod-content></pod-content>
								<!-- pop-up pod content -->
								<pod-modal-heading>Your context</pod-modal-heading>
								<pod-modal-content>
									<p>Be sure to consult your institution's guidance on the approvals process.</p>
								</pod-modal-content>
							</pod>
							<!-- YOUR CONTEXT END -->
							
						</page-content-sidebar>

						<page-content-main>
							
							<p>The areas covered above are common to most institutions and regions, but your specific institution may have its own requirements. You should always check the governance approvals that are needed within your institution before commencing your research.</p>
							
							<h3>What can go wrong</h3>

							<p>What are the consequences of failing to appreciate the need for governance approval before beginning your research?</p>
							
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Continue on to consider some dilemmas that researchers from various disciplines have encountered due to difficulties with getting approvals.</p></instructional-text-accessible>
							
						</page-content-main>
					</page-row>
					
					<page-row>
						<page-content-sidebar>
							
							<interactive-text>
								<!-- DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC ICON START -->
								<icon-discipline-specific></icon-discipline-specific>
								<!-- DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC ICON END -->
							</interactive-text>
							
						</page-content-sidebar>
						
						<page-content-main>
							
							<div class="pyr_1_40_infographic remove-accessible" >
								<div class="block-container">
									<img src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_avr1.png" class="img-responsive" alt="Image of an Arts and Humanities student."/>
									<h4>Arts & Humanities</h4>
									<div class="speech">
										<p>
											I didn't realise that the harmless interviews we conduct in our research needed approval. If I have to go through the ethics review process, I am not going to be able to complete my degree on time!
										</p>
									</div>
								</div>
								<hr>
								<div class="block-container">
									<img src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_avr2.png" class="img-responsive" alt="Image of an Engineering student."/>
									<h4>Engineering</h4>
									<div class="speech">
										<p>
											Why can't I purchase the equipment I need to run this project? I know my colleague down the hall has the same equipment. I can't be running down there all the time to conduct these experiments, and I doubt a loan is possible...
										</p>
									</div>
								</div>
								<hr>
								<div class="block-container">
									<img src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_avr3.png" class="img-responsive" alt="Image of a Natural Science student."/>
									<h4>Natural Science</h4>
									<div class="speech">
										<p>
											We have dozens of mice in our laboratory. Do I really need special approval in advance to run a pilot study on some of the extra mice we always seem to have?
										</p>
									</div>
								</div>
								<hr>
								<div class="block-container">
									<img src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_avr4.png" class="img-responsive" alt="Image of a Social Science student."/>
									<h4>Social Science</h4>
									<div class="speech">
										<p>
											I need an experienced person to conduct the interviews for my research, but the human resources office is telling me I only have enough funds to hire someone with no experience. If I go with the inexperienced person, I am worried about the reliability of the interviews.
										</p>
									</div>
								</div>
								<hr>
								<div class="block-container">
									<img src="../images/activity_images/course_specific/pyr_1_40_avr5.png" class="img-responsive" alt="Image of a Biomedical Science student."/>
									<h4>Biomedical Science</h4>
									<div class="speech">
										<p>
											I just found out that the computers in our department are not secure, so I can't start collecting data. Does anyone know if we have secure computers on campus? And if we do, how do I get access to them?
										</p>
									</div>
								</div>
							</div>
							<!-- ACCESSIBLE START -->
							<accessible-block>
								<h4>Arts & Humanities</h4>
								<p>I didn't realise that the harmless interviews we conduct in our research needed approval. If I have to go through the ethics review process, I am not going to be able to complete my degree on time!</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Engineering</h4>
								<p>Why can't I purchase the equipment I need to run this project? I know my colleague down the hall has the same equipment. I can't be running down there all the time to conduct these experiments, and I doubt a loan is possible...</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Natural Science</h4>
								<p>We have dozens of mice in our laboratory. Do I really need special approval in advance to run a pilot study on some of the extra mice we always seem to have?</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Social Science</h4>
								<p>I need an experienced person to conduct the interviews for my research, but the human resources office is telling me I only have enough funds to hire someone with no experience. If I were to go with the inexperienced person, I would worry about the reliability of the interviews.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Biomedical Science</h4>
								<p>I just found out that the computers in our department are not secure, so I can't start collecting data. Does anyone know if we have secure computers on campus? And if we do, how do I get access to them?</p>
							</accessible-block>
							<!-- ACCESSIBLE END -->

							<h3>Summary</h3>
							
							<p>You are responsible for providing your university with all the necessary information about your research and getting governance approvals as required. One small oversight can add months to your projected timeline, so it is always important to plan ahead.</p>
							
						</page-content-main>
					</page-row>
					
				</page-container>
			</base-container>
		</div> <!-- END content wrapper -->
		
		<!-- scripts -->
		<script src="../js/vendor.min.js"></script>
		<script src="../js/vue-components.min.js"></script>
		<script>
			new Vue({
			  el: "#app",
			  data: {},
			  mounted: function () {
				var core = document.createElement('script');
				core.src = "../js/core.min.js";
				document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(core);

				var project = document.createElement('script');
				project.src = "../js/project.min.js";
				document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(project);
			  }
			});
		</script>

	</body>
</html>