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There are two requirements for commencement of health and medical research in Queensland and must be addressed in full before a research project can commence:
Reviewing body: Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
Form: Human Research Ethics Application (HREA)
Reviewing body: Research Governance Office/r
Form: Site Specific Assessment (SSA)
More information regarding the site specific assessment authorisation process.
Two pathways exist for ethical review:
| Step | More information | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Prepare research protocol and supporting documents | |
| 2. | Complete HREA form – indicate the low or negligible risk pathway at the end of the form and upload supporting documents *The Low and Negligible Risk review pathway will remain using the HREA* | ERM Applications |
| 3. | Review research fees | Research Fees Procedure |
| 4. | Commence the SSA authorisation process | SSA authorisation |
| 5. |
|
| Step | More information | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Review application closing date | HREC Meeting Dates |
| 2. | Prepare research protocol and supporting documents | |
| 3. | Complete HREA form via the ERM Applications portal | ERM Applications |
| 4. | Review research fees | Research Fees Procedure |
| 5. | Commence the SSA authorisation process | SSA authorisation |
| 6. |
|
Note: If you are conducting a clinical trial, please view our specific information about clinical trials.
From 20 April 2021, the new Queensland Health Exemption Form (accessible via ERM) will now be used for all non-research projects and projects that are exempt from HREC review according to the National Statement Chapter 5.1.22.
In preparation for the release of the new Queensland Health Exemption Form, Metro South Health has created the following protocol guide:
This document will be a mandatory document for the new Queensland Health Exemption Form and will assist Metro South Health applicants to provide all relevant information.
All new ethics applications need to be submitted through via ERM Applications
Login to ERM Applications or create an account if you do not already have one
Select Create Project from the list of actions on the left-hand side.
Enter the Project Title, choose your jurisdiction/s and HREA Form as the Main Form type, then select Create Project.
Complete the questions as prompted, uploading required and supporting documents.
A SSA form can be generated after you create an ethics form (HREA).
Training material and Instructions on how to use the system can be found here.
A low and negligible risk HREA is reviewed, electronically, throughout the month by members of the MSHREC and therefore these do not need to be submitted by the submission deadline for the MSHREC meetings.
From receipt of the application to final ethical clearance can take approximately two - three weeks. This is dependent on the availability of the MSHREC members to review, given their involvement is voluntary and they may have competing priorities.
A greater than low risk HREA will not have a final determination until the MSHREC meets on the first Tuesday in the month. Greater than low risk (standard risk) HREAs must be submitted by the submission deadline.
Any subsequent re-reviews are undertaken by the Chair - often in consultation with other MSH HREC members.
It is strongly recommended that the SSA form, (and associated documents), are submitted in tandem with the MSH HREC submission to facilitate parallel review and timely authorisation of a research project.
Upon receipt of a valid submission including partially executed contracts and signatures from the principal investigator, Head of Department and Finance/Business Manager, clinicians and researchers can expect to receive an authorisation letter within one week.
No, only the investigator with overall responsibility for the conduct of the study needs to sign the HREA application.
It also needs to be signed by an appropriate Head of Department — these signatures can be in an electronic format via ERM Applications.
Following the monthly MSHREC meeting, and usually the following week, the principal investigator will receive a letter from the MSHREC, via ERM Applications, with queries or concerns to be addressed in order to proceed to ethical clearance. In responding, please consider the following:
All responses to queries raised by the MSHREC are to be addressed via ERM Applications. This can be done by uploading documents with additional information/clarification as requested.
Inclusion of a cover letter which addresses each of the points raised in the MSH HREC letter is mandatory and submissions without this will be returned.
Provision of any updated documents such as a research protocol or PICF with tracked changes and version control. Submissions without these will also be returned.
A response to MSHREC comments is required within three months and four meetings.
Email or hardcopies of the response will no longer be accepted by the MSHREC office. All correspondence in relation to a research protocol, must be done via ERM Applications.
The submitted documents are reviewed by the Chair of the MSHREC — often in consultation with other MSHREC members out of session.
The MSHREC comprises members of varying backgrounds and skill sets.
When writing an application and associated documentation, please keep in mind that the person reviewing the application may not have a background in science or clinical care.
Therefore, lay language is recommended in an application and avoidance of jargon that may be confusing to a reviewer. This is particularly relevant for any participant documentation as they need to be able to easily understand what is needed of them in the research project to give informed consent. It is recommended that clinicians and researchers write to a Grade 8 reading level, which means that someone 12 or 13 years old could easily understand the document.
Please also review all submission documentation for grammar, punctuation and accurate spelling. This will greatly assist in getting an application through the review process.
A research fee may be applicable to an application depending on individual circumstances. A fee is always applied to commercial research projects where there is a named sponsor in the application, and they are invoiced directly; so please ensure the relevant invoicing details are included.
For non-commercial studies, a fee may still be applicable depending on whether the clinician or researcher is from Metro South Health, Queensland Health or an external party.
Should a clinician or researcher have any further questions about whether a fee is applicable please contact us discuss further.
No - Amendments which do not affect either the ethical acceptability or site acceptability of the protocol (eg typographical errors) do not need to be submitted to the MSHREC. Rather the Principal Investigator or Study Co-ordinator should maintain a site study log/Master File of any such changes made to study documentation.
No – In early 2020 MSHREC adopted a rolling ethical clearance model. There are now no longer any expiry dates for MSHREC approved studies. The continuation of ethical approval is contingent upon meeting the requirements as set out in the original approval letter and the receipt of an Annual Progress Report, which is to be submitted for all studies by 30 April each year.
